Stories from Friday, November 28, 2014

Etheleen I. "Peggy" Bryant of Plymouth, Michigan, 91, formerly of Larrabee and Akron, passed away on Monday, November 24, 2014. Peggy was born to Irvin and Leona Morey in Larrabee, and she graduated from Buena Vista College. She taught school for 30 years, primarily at Larrabee Consolidated Schools and Sutherland Community Schools...

LifeServe Blood Center announces a Blood Drive at the Aurelia Community Center, 235 Main Street, on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Schedule a blood donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800-287-4903.

The regular dinner and business meeting of the Cherokee WA TAN YE Club was held Monday evening, Nov. 24 at Danny's Sport Spot. Volunteer hours were reported by the twelve members in attendance. Last year's slate of officers will retain their positions. Carolyn Chase, Molly Hill and Becky Tuttle have been welcomed as new members...

At the request of Police Chief Steve Schuck, the Cherokee City Council passed a motion at their Nov. 26 meeting to advertise only for a certified police officer to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Tim Smith. Officer Smith submitted his resignation in order to take a position as a deputy in the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department...

Cherokee will have a Shopko Store in a new, free-standing building on North Second Street opening in the fall of 2015, the store developer confirmed to the Chronicle Times this week. Negotiations and evaluations continue between Shopko and developer Oppidan of Minnetonka, Minn., according to spokesman Tom Ryan of Oppidan...

Students who will be graduating from high school this year or the next - or even the year after that - should give serious consideration to community colleges. These are the workhorse institutions of economic development, responding rapidly to provide training in whatever skills are needed for current or potential employers...

Recent allegations of misconduct and incompetence have marred the reputation of veterans' hospitals around the country. The allegations primarily result from long wait times, including at the hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader...

PAULLINA - Four seniors and two juniors return to form a solid nucleus of upperclassmen to lead the South O'Brien girls basketball team this year. Those experienced and talented seniors include Brett Struve, Jenna Heemstra, Olivia Sickelka, and Leah Bunkers, and the promising juniors sure to impact the varsity squad are Courtney Rehder and Shay Lund...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia boys were a pleasant surprise last season under first-year Coach Chris Abaray, compiling an 18-5 overall mark. Most of the team members will return this year, but two players who graduated, Jayden VanBerkum and Mitchel McDonald, were the team's leading rebounders last season, and returning vets and newcomers will be expected to step up and provide an inside presence...

MARCUS - Three returning lettermen and a new coach should make for interesting developments for the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn boys basketball team this season. That new coach is Nate McDonald, a 2011 Morningside College graduate and native of Underwood who played a couple years of high school for former Cherokee coach Andy VanFossan, also a Morningside graduate...

HOLSTEIN - Ken Slater, head coach of the Ridge View boys' basketball team, says his team's strength going into the season is experience, with four starters from last year, and eight players overall who have some varsity game experience. He notes, however, that many of the other Western Valley Conference teams also return experienced players, so competition should be strong and fierce in the WVC this season. Slater, however, feels his Raptors "have a lineup that can match up with most teams."...

With just three returning varsity lettermen, this basketball season will be full of challenges and the unknown for the Cherokee Braves and coach Bob Lee. A decided lack of varsity experience will impact the team as it learns too find its sea legs in the loaded Lakes Conference...

CORRECTIONVILLE - Ten upperclassmen, including seven well-experienced seniors, should create some interesting times for the River Valley boys basketball team this season. Among those seniors who have provided firepower and leadership to the Wolverines in the past are Wyatt Fitch, Sam Briese, Kaleb O'Connell, Jordan Droegmiller, and Morgan Carstens, with seniors Trevor Norris and Jason Oliver also capable of impacting the River Valley club as the season unfolds...

At its Nov. 25 meeting, the Cherokee City Council approved four housing rehabilitation projects totaling $59,547. The projects are funded totally through Community Development Block Grants. There remains over $195,000 available for home rehabilitation projects...

Mark Leeds, chairman of the Cherokee County Solid Waste Commission, as well as chair of the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors, updated the Cherokee City Council on Nov. 25 regarding the present and potential future situation at the landfill. City governments are charged a per-capita amount for use of the landfill. The county pays on a per capita basis for the unincorporated portion of the county...