Stories from Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Here's encouraging news for anyone who wants to protect the environment. Plastic bag recycling has increased significantly, and there are easy steps you can take to contribute to this important trend. Over 1,000 million pounds of post-consumer plastic bags were recovered last year, but many more weren't and ended up as litter and in our shrinking landfills...

The students are back to school and it's always an adjustment for me. I miss them sitting at the computers, coloring at the coloring table, sharing new books with everyone, hearing giggles and squeals in the playhouse, etc. But now it's time to start planning library programs for our youth...

Since the early 1990's, Cherokee Depot Renovation Inc. has led the efforts in restoring the historic Cherokee Depot. This past week, the group has come one step closer. Anyone who has driven by the Depot recently may have noticed all the activity surrounding the southern part of the property...

Cherokee Cub Scout Pack 199 will hold their annual Sign-Up for Scouting event on Wednesday, September 3rd, 6:30 p.m. at the Cherokee Middle School Library. Boys in 1st thru 5th grade can come learn how they can "Catapult into Scouting" and build a wooden Catapult to take home with them that night. For more information, contact Michelle Clark, Pack 199 Committee Chair at 712-253-2870 or michellereane12@gmail.com...

Cherokee County Conservation Board Naturalist Laura Kohn put bright smiles on the faces of Cherokee Board of Education members at their recent August meeting with an intriguing presentation about establishing a prairie reconstruction project on a two-acre tract of land immediately north of the Cherokee Middle School...

SUTHERLAND - Plans for another spectacular Sutherland Labor Day Celebration have been announced. The popular three-day event starts off on Saturday morning with a Sausage and Pancake Breakfast provided by the South O'Brian FFA at the Sutherland City Park from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m...

Here is the updated list of vendors and the items you will have available for sale during the Cherokee Area Farmers Market under the canopy at the depot from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Thursday. This will be the thirteenth market of the 2014 season. yukon gold, red pontiac, and kennebec potatoes, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeņo peppers, radishes, cucumbers, kohlrabi, eggplant, carrots, kale, zucchini, turnips, and beets...

Cherokee County Conservation Board (CCCB) knows you have great pictures from the last time you visited a county park, so why not share them? The CCCB is sponsoring a photography contest open only to amateur photographers. Selected photos will be displayed in our rental facilities...

Matthew Anthony Aguirre Sr.of Quimby, 45, passed away Saturday, August 23rd, at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 28th at 10:30 a.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, . Rev. Magrey deVega will officiate. It was his wish to be cremated. There will be no visitation. On line condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com...

Irene Anne Schuknecht,89, passed away at Careage Hills Nursing Home in Cherokee on Sunday, August 24, 2014. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Sutherland, with Pastor Leroy Riemer officiating, and burial was in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Arrangements were by Warner Funeral Home - Sutherland, www.warnerfuneralhome.com...

Robert Vesgaard of Aurelia,41, died on Sunday, August 24, 2014, at his home. Memorial services will be held at a later date. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Robert Vesgaard, the son of Dennis and Alice (Larson) Vesgaard, was born in Cherokee on December 19, 1972. He spent his youth in the Aurelia community and graduated from Aurelia High School. Robert continued his education at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, studying auto mechanics...

Harriett L. Laws of Mallard, a former resident of Cherokee, passed away Thursday, August 21, 2014, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, at the age of 74. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mallard. Rev. Neil Hayen officiated. Burial was held at Powhata Cemetery in Plover, Iowa. Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home...

This Friday's Chamber Coffee, at 9:30 a.m., will be hosted by the VFW, located on West Maple Street.