Stories from Thursday, December 19, 2013

Plans for the 14th Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival are finalized, and the popular musical event will kick off on Friday, Jan. 17 and continue on Saturday, Jan. 18. This year's festival will offer something for everyone, including returning acts The Northwest Iowa Musicians, The Mearl Lake Orchestra, and Damon Dotson...

Cherokee residents Carrie and Stacie Stoelting are the authors of a new book called "Unite the USA: Discover the ABCs of Patriotism." "Unite the USA" is released just in time for Christmas. Life-long Iowans, the two sisters, only in their 20s, wrote "Unite the USA" to honor veterans as well as current servicemen and women...

The Historic Cheroke Depot Renovation, Inc. will be hosting two events this Saturday from 9 a.m. till noon. The Depot volunteers will again host a Christmas Bake Sale and a Visit With Santa! Members and friends of Depot Renovation, Inc. will donate baked goods to be sold during the Christmas Bake Sale from 9 a.m. until noon, with proceeds dedicated to ongoing rehabilitation of the Cherokee Depot...

Nominations are being accepted for the 24th Annual Citizen of the Year Award, which is presented by the Mayor of Cherokee to recognize an "individual who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of the entire community of Cherokee, outside their chosen trade or profession."...

This week's Cherokee Chamber Coffee will be hosted by The Gathering Place in downtown Cherokee at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

SIBLEY - The gritty Cherokee Braves wrestling team notched three first-place finishes, two seconds, and a third at the rugged Sibley-Ocheyedan Wrestling Invitational Saturday to take third place overall in the team race. MOC-Floyd Valley won the team title with 198.5 points, followed by host Sibley-Ocheyedan 180, Cherokee 163, Ridge View 153, West Lyon 140, Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn 137.5, Graettinger-Terril 135, and Alta-Aurelia 121.5...

MARCUS - The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn boys rolled to an impressive 78-29 victory over Clay Central-Everly Friday in non-conference basketball action. MMC Coach Mark Fisher said his team "Came out much more aggressive tonight. We ran the floor much better and moved the ball better on offense," though he felt that the Eagles could still do a better job on defense...

SLOAN - The River Valley basketball teams split a twin-bill at Westwood last week, the RV girls falling 47-20 in the opener, and the Wolverine boys racing away to a 52-32 victory. The RV girls got off to a terrible start after being held scoreless in the first quarter and then managing six points in the second frame to trail 20-6 at halftime. Westwood then outscored the Wolverines 17-6 in the third quarter to march on to the convincing win...

CORRECTIONVILLE - The River Valley girls faced a winless West Monona team here on Tuesday, and the Wolverines gave the Spartans an early Christmas present - their first win of the season, a 48-35 triumph over the Wolverines, now 1-7. Senior Olivia Goettsch was the only River Valley player to score in double figures, netting 11 points on three field goals and 5 of 7 free throws. ...

HAWARDEN - The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn girls got off to a slow start in their basketball game against West Sioux on Tuesday, trailing 14-3 at the first quarter break. The Lady Eagles chipped away from that deficit the rest of the night and outscored the Falcons 14-7 in the 4th quarter, but in the end, they came up a little bit short, and West Sioux came away with a one-point victory, 40-39, over Coach Tim Dreckman's Eagles...

HAWARDEN - West Sioux led all the way in a 67-54 boys basketball victory here on Tuesday over Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn. Reece Jackson led the Eagles in scoring with 18 points, while Dylan Spieler added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Isaiah Petersen scored 12 points...

The Bethlehem Lutheran Church Choir performed a Cantata entitled "Festival of Lessons and Carols" on Sunday. The choir is directed by David Hickman. Photo contributed

The Cherokee Industrial Corporation (CIC)recently presented a check to the IC Church food bank on behalf of John Loughlin, who has generously provided legal counsel and work for CIC. This has assisted the organization with the land purchase for redeveloping the industrial ground to build the new ethanol transload facility in the south industrial park and new business recruitment. ...

Fashionette owner Kurt Clabaugh and Chapter TTT EZ president Phyllis Parrott happily drew the names of the winners of two $200 shopping sprees at the store. Kim Leutkeman and Roni Timmerman will enjoy shopping during the holiday season. Funds raised support camping for girls and local scholarships. Photo contributed...

Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) presented a check to the IC Church food bank on behalf of John Loughlin. Pictured are: John Loughlin, Greg Stieneke, and Les Todd. John has provided pro bono legal counsel and services assisting CAEDC with the purchase of land for industrial redevelopment to recruit new business to the County. Photo contributed...

Chris and Jessica Elliott of Omaha are happy to announce the birth of their baby girl, born on December 2, 2013. Emma Lynn Elliott was born at 9:41 a.m., weighed 8 lb. 4 oz., and measured 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Steve and Lois Elliott of Cherokee and Dave and Ruty Hoogland of Sanborn...

Eric and Meagan Conover are happy to announce the birth of their first child, a girl. Addie Mae Conover was born at 3:45 p.m. on December 12, 2013, and weighed 7 lb. 2 oz. and measured 19 3/4 inches long. Grandparents are Kim and Denise Conover and Jerry and Tina Paulsen,...

Eric and Gwen Van Houten of Mapleton are happy to announce the birth of their baby girl on December 13, 2013. Sophia Lorraine Van Houten was born at 8:43 a.m. and weighed 7 lb. 2 oz. and measured 19 1/4 inches long. She was welcomed home by her big sister, Mikah Van Houten...

Jewell (Leonard) Park passed away on Nov. 21 after battling a brief illness. There will be a graveside service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee at 2 p.m. on Friday Dec. 20, with a luncheon afterward on the lower level of the VFW Hall, from 3-5 p.m. All are welcome...

Doris M. Dunn of Cherokee, a long-time resident of Meriden, passed away Monday, December 16, 2013, at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. today at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee. Pastor Ethan Sayler officiated. ...

What would you say if you had to explain Christmas to someone who knew nothing about it? You might begin with the shepherds in the fields by night or Santa at the North Pole, or even the druidic appeal of a winter festival that comes just when the sun seems most meager...

Deck the library with children's creations. Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. The boys and girls have been helping decorate the library with some crafts they have made during story time and other library programs. So stop in at the library and see how they have decorated the playhouse, and the story time door...