Stories from Monday, July 1, 2013

As a lifelong baseball fan, one of the things to which I look forward each summer is the annual induction of baseball greats into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Unfortunately, 2013 will not be a year to remember, as far as Induction ceremonies go. ...

I was not shocked to read recently that participation in the game of golf by the masses in the United States has decreased about 25 percent in the last few years. I shared that with some friends the other day who told me they were seeing fewer and fewer golfers on area courses and they were wondering what the heck was going on...

1. West Burlington/Notre Dame; 2. Sergeant Bluff- Luton; 3. Mid-Prairie;4. East Marshall; 5. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley; 6. Bondurant-Farrar; 7. Monticello; 8.Iowa Falls-Alden; 9. Interstate-35; 10. Crestwood 1. North Union; 2. Treynor; 3. Durant; 4. Highland; 5. Sumner-Fredericksburg;...

PAULLINA - The South O'Brien boys scored a run in the bottom of the 7th Wednesday to win an exciting, well-played War Eagle Conference baseball game against perennial powerhouse Spalding Catholic. The Wolverines' Sam Weber bested the Spartans' All-Conference hurler Michael Grady in a real pitchers' duel. Both allowed only three hits, with Grady striking out nine and walking none, and Weber fanning seven and walking two...

STORM LAKE - The Ridge View Softball Team traveled to Storm Lake Thursday to take on Storm Lake St. Mary's in a non-conference game, and the Raptors came out on top, posting a 13-1 win in four innings. Getting the win on the mound was senior Gretchen Kistenmacher, who threw all four innings, giving up one earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out two. ...

SAC CITY - Ridge View took on East Sac County here in a non-conference baseball game Thursday, but the final score, 17-13 in the Raptors' favor, looked more like a football score. Ridge View coach Shannon Tesch called the contest a "crazy game," saying that both teams hit the ball well (Ridge View had 15 hits as a team and East Sac had 14), and in addition to the 29 hits in the game, the two teams also combined for nine errors, making for a wild night on the diamond. ...

There will be a special meeting of the Public Board of Adjustment at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 9 at Cherokee City Hall. The Cherokee Development Corporation is requesting a variance from the zoning code for a reduction of front yard setback to 20' and side yard setback to 6' for construction of four duplex buildings on lots purchased on Valley View Drive...

The Cherokee Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD) is compiling a report of damaged conservation practices including terraces, waterways, and water and sediment control basins for potential funding to repair the damage. If you have practices that have been damaged by the excessive rainfall this year please contact the Cherokee Field Office to help them get a valid assessment. ...

The Cherokee City Council last week continued its more aggressive campaign to rid the community of vacant, abandoned, dilapidated residential structures by condemning and soon demolishing four such structures. City Administrator Don Eikmeier reviewed a list of vacant, abandoned and dilapidated residential structures that he is requesting be condemned and demolished in accordance with City Code Chapter 50.09...

The Cherokee County Fair Association is seeking contestants for the 2nd Annual Little Miss Cherokee County Fair Competition. Contestants must live in Cherokee County and be entering either the third or fourth grade for the upcoming 2013-14 school year...

The Koser Spring Lake Park Yacht Club Committee and City of Cherokee are hosting a Grand Opening on July 4th from 4-7 pm at the new Yacht Club to celebrate the completion of the $400,000 grass roots project that was largely funded by private donations...

The Cherokee Hy-Vee Distribution Center recently recognized Mike Drefke for attaining one million safe-driving miles. Drefke, who has been a driver with Hy-Vee since September of 2001, reached his milestone achievement on Sunday, April 21, 2013, on his way to deliver a load to one of Hy-Vee's Sioux Falls, S.D. stores...

Hypnotist Ray Thompson will be at the Cherokee County Fair as part of this year's entertainment. He will be performing his Stage hypnosis on the Main Stage at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. Stage hypnosis is a unique audience participation event everyone talks about for weeks. ...

MARCUS - Stephen Smith was re-elected to Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company's Board of Directors at the company's 105th Annual Meeting on June 26. Smith is the secretary-manager of Western Cherokee Mutual Insurance Association in Marcus and has served on Grinnell Mutual's Board of Directors since 1992...

Richard Fred Sump, 79, of Fort Dodge, formerly of Sutherland, died Thursday, June 27, 2013 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel, with Rev. ...