Stories from Monday, July 8, 2013

The 2015 Baseball Hall election will have three first-time candidates (all pitchers) who should receive serious Hall consideration, as each of them was a dominant pitcher for several years. The left hander in the group, Randy "The Big Unit" Johnson, would seem to be the best bet for first ballot election. ...

It's sad but true that too many children drown needlessly every year, and too many parents are either resistant to teaching their toddlers to swim, or teach them the wrong way. No child has to ever drown in a swimming pool if they are taught how to survive in the water the right way and at the earliest possible age...

Post-season tournament play begins this week for Iowa High School girls' softball teams. Here are the first-round games for area high schools : Monday July 8th River Valley vs. Gehlen Catholic at LeMars (winner will meet Akron-Westfield at Akron on Wednesday)...

Graduates from Ridge View, Galva-Holstein, Schaller-Crestland, Schaller, and Crestland Early, ranging from the class of 1980 to the class of 2012, participated in the Ridge View Raptors Alumni Baseball Game held June 29 in Holstein. Those participating included, kneeling, left to right, Brian Hoeppner, Chris Wandrey, Dan Cuthrell, Austin Graff, Shannon Tesch, Kyle Wessling, Scott Mitchell. ...

FONDA - The Alta-Aurelia and Newell-Fonda girls squared off here on Wednesday for the Twin Lakes Conference softball championship, and the teams delivered a game worthy of the event, with Newell-Fonda pulling out a 5-4 win over Coach Dave Turnquist's Warriors...

This Cherokee girls 4x100 meter relay team recently won first place at the Hershey Track Meet in Marshalltown and will advance to the National Meet in Hershey, Pa. Team members are Lexi Pingel, Teagan Slaughter, Grace Anderson, and Jemae Nichols. Jemae Nichols also won the 100 meters and Teagan Slaughter placed 3rd in the softball throw. Photo contributed...

The Cherokee Major League girls' softball team, coached by Todd Williams, Heath Hagberg and Brandon Slaughter, won their league championship this summer, with the girls posting an unblemished record on their way to the championship. Front row, left to right, Kylie Knipper, Sydney Zindel, Payton Slaughter, Paityn Hagberg, Lindsay Williams. Back, Kami Wych, Lily Anderson, April Mesler, Kassidy Pingel, Skylar Gerdes. Absent, Brooklyn Wisbaum. Photo contributed...

LYTTON - The Ridge View softball team took on a young South Central Calhoun team in non- conference softball action here on Wednesday, and they came away with a 12-0 win in four innings. Picking up the win on the mound for the Raptors was Dana Hustedt , who threw all four innings and pitched a no-hit shutout, walking two and striking out four. Ridge View coach Scott Phelps said, "Dana did a nice job of being around the plate all night and mixing things up. "...

LYTTON - The Ridge View boys scored twice in the top of the 5th inning in their non-conference baseball game against South Central Calhoun, but it wasn't enough, as the Titans hung on for a 3-2 win over the Raptors, in a game shortened by rain and lightning after Ridge View finished their half of the 5th...

Sammy Erickson and Alex Volkert of Cherokee are happy to announce the birth of their baby boy on June 30, 2013. Bensley Thomas Volkert was born at 8:38 a.m., weighed 7 lb. 13 oz., and measured 21 inches long. Grandparents are April Jones of Springfield, Illinois and Carolyn and Phil Wright, Larry Volkert and Dan Erickson, all of Cherokee...

Robert "Bob" Nelson of Cherokee, age 81, passed away Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at the Gardens Assisted Living in Cherokee. Funeral services were held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, July 6, 2013, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, with Pastor Kathy Wicks officiating. ...

Jewett Chiropractic and Acupuncture and Irwin Family Chiropractic recently held a "Pantry Party" to collect donations for the Mid-Sioux Pantry in Cherokee, and on July 3rd, they presented Sara Lively, the Cherokee Mid-Sioux Co-ordinator, with food items and cash contributions to Mid-Sioux Pantry which were donated at the Pantry Party. The two businesses each donated $150 to Mid-Sioux as well...

Local Realtors in Cherokee County who belong to the United Counties Board of Realtors have been soliciting donations to help flood victims in Cherokee County. The Iowa Realtor's Foundation pledged to provide matching funds for the first $1500 of donations raised. ...

"Things With Wings" is the theme of the Cherokee County Conservation Board's summer day camp. Just as the theme suggests, children will be learning about and searching for things with wings: birds, bats, and bugs! Camp will be full of fun activities like hiking and games that will help children enjoy and discover the outdoors...

(Editor's Note: The following Op-Ed piece was contributed by the Iowa Association of School Boards) It has alternately been described as "the most important volunteer job in this country" and "the toughest job in American elected government." It is the epitome of democracy in action...