Stories from Monday, November 18, 2013

I'm baaaackkkkk ... with more brief reviews of my recent dips into the entertainment pool (which I guess would be one of those "Polar Plunges" at this time of the year). For anyone who enjoys the music of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and other country artists who hail from the Bakersfield, California area, I would recommend the CD "Bakersfield." The great country tenor/guitarist/fan Vince Gill does the vocals, along with some fine guitar work, on this collection of classics from Owens, Haggard and a few others, supported by the excellent steel guitar of Paul Franklin.. ...

The holiday season is a time for celebration and for getting together with family and friends. But, as we feast, give gifts, decorate, and travel, we also consume lots of resources and generate lots of waste. We should all think about conserving such resources all we can...

CEDAR FALLS - Elk Horn-Kimballton/Exira, led by quarterback Drew Peppers' 220 yards rushing and five touchdowns, crushed Newell-Fonda Thursday in a semi-final 8-Man football game at the UNI-Dome. It was Newell-Fonda's first ever trip to the UNI-Dome in the State 8-man football semifinal. ...

These Cherokee Braves recently earned Class 2A All-District football status. front row, left to right, Levi Lundquist (All-District punter), Kevi Fajardo (Academic All-District), Luke Zeimen (1st Team All-District), Micheal Rosewall (1st Team All-District), Jon Anderson (1st Team All-District)...

DES MOINES -- The Watershed Improvement Review Board recently approved ten applications totaling $2,307,554 in grants to support projects that will improve water quality or reduce flooding in the state. The grant funds will be matched by recipients, who will provide $6,523,949 in funding from the local communities to support these projects. As a result, $8.8 million will be going to support conservation work in priority watersheds throughout the state...

The Cherokee City Council met jointly with members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board last week to discuss future plans for the use of Wescott Park. Parks & Recreation Board members present were Matt Royster, Deb Hankens, and Sheree Hausmann. City Recreation Director Dave Ellis and Parks Superintendent Duane Mummert were also present...

Ridge View High School presented the entertaining hit musical "Guys & Dolls" before packed houses this past weekend at the Rosemary Clausen Center for Performing Arts in Holstein. The musical and its large cast were directed by Kris Kistenmacher and Carmen Koth. Photo contributed...

Knights of Columbus members Ronald Honsbruch and Butch Glover were recently out promoting this year's Knights of Columbus Creamed Chicken Dinner, which will be held on Nov. 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cherokee VFW Club. Cost for the dinner will be $7 for adults and $5 for children. Photo by Mike Leckband...

The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 15th Annual Wonderful World Lighted Christmas Parade through downtown Cherokee on Thursday, Dec. 5. The parade begins at 6 p.m., with the parade route traveling down Main Street from Sixth Street to Euclid Avenue...

Comic book fans are in for a treat this month at Cherokee's Thiel Sanford Museum, as artist D. Ryan Allen of Des Moines is this month's Sanford Museum Artist of the Month. Allen is an eclectic, passionate and creative artist and writer. He works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, sculpting, stained glass and mixed media...

Nearly two years ago Becky Roland Bryant returned home to find a manilla envelope on her front porch. The outside had the message,"We love your barns." Inside were several copies of the Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine. Jackie Andre Schmeal, the founder of the Iowa Barn Foundation, was on a scouting trip...

Saturday, November 30 has been designated as 'Small Business Saturday'. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce will be doing live call -in remotes with KCHE throughout the day on November 25-27 and Friday, November 29. Chamber Executive Director Julie Hering Kent will schedule time slots for small retail businesses that choose to participate, and she will spend a few minutes interviewing small business owners on these days to build awareness for Small Business Saturday...