Stories from Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Friday's Cherokee Chamber Coffee, at 9:30 a.m., will be hosted by Careage Hills, 725 N. 2nd St.

The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors took care of some routine matters at the Dec. 2 meeting before getting started on the multi-week process of working on the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2015. Stu Hogg was hired as an Information Technology (IT) director...

Ronald C. Johnson of Cherokee, 72, passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday morning, December 2, 2014, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 5th, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, with Pastor Jon Riggert officiating, and a private family burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. ...

The Cherokee Community School District encourages spectators to donate non-perishable food items at Cherokee Middle School basketball games and wrestling matches this year to help replenish the loal food pantries. A collection site will be available in the CMS Lobby for local events...

A few Cherokee Main Street businesses reported brisk sales for the start of the Christmas season. Others who choose not to be named note that changes in shopping patterns are having a negative impact on small town businesses, including those in Cherokee...

Lucille Mae Larson of Golden Valley, Minnesota, 90, formerly of Cherokee, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2014. In accordance with her wishes, no funeral will be held, but a celebration of life will take place in the spring. Lucille was born to George and Ida Josephine (Klein) Bong, and was a graduate of Cherokee High School. ...

Beryl Lucille Hansen of Butte, Montana, 96, passed away on November 26, 2014. Lucille was a lady who refused to make a fuss about herself, and requested her obituary to simply state, "Lucille was here yesterday and is gone today." And then she proceeded to have a great laugh with herself!...

The annual Cherokee Library Book Basket Fundraiser has baskets on display for public viewing in the Library through Saturday, Dec. 6, the final day of bidding. This is the major fundraiser by Friends of the Library. Anyone having a basket to contribute, contact the Library as soon as possible...

Andrew (Andy) Barriger joined North Star Community Credit Union on November 17th as a Vice President of the organization. Andy comes to North Star Community Credit Union with over 27 years experience in the credit union industry in Michigan, Florida, and most recently Texas. Andy brings a wide range of experience focused in the areas of lending, business development, sales and service, and credit union operations...

In September, Amy Bice from Cherokee stamped her child care business, Big Blue House, with a Level 5 on the Quality Rating System (QRS). Amy has been a child care provider for twenty-four years and for the 3rd time, has received Iowa's highest Level 5 QRS rating...

That old historian Evan Knapp is making some history himself, turning 80 years young on December 9, 2014. All are invited to send him a card at 808 W. Bluff St., Cherokee, Iowa 51012, or give him a call at 225-4115 to send along your best wishes.

Floriana Hayes of Urbandale, who works excusively in pastels, is the December Artist of the Month at the Sanford Museuem. Photo by Ken Ross

Local people took a break from shopping during the weekend for free daytime matinees at the American Theater. Admission is by ticket only and the tickets can be picked up at several participating businesses.

The annual meeting of the Cherokee County Compensation board took place on Dec. 1. The comp board provides recommendations to the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors regarding pay increases for elected officials. Pay raises for all county employees, other than a raise at the conclusion of a probationary period or other change in employee status, are implemented at the start of the fiscal year that begins July 1 each year...

It's beginning to look like Christmas at the Cherokee Public Library. Please stop in and take a break in our atrium. The tree decorated with gold is always a favorite with our patrons and the area is a wonderful place to relax and read a holiday magazine or book...

People had been saying, "I'll be glad when it's over," in speaking about the lengthy and often acrimonious process of selecting public officials. While the relief is understandable, we must also view the process with gratitude toward our ancestors who established this democracy...

SCHALLER - The Ridge View boys basketball team beat Alta-Aurelia Monday, 70-46,with what the Raptors' coach, Ken Slater, said was "a terrific performance for the first night out. "Alta-Aurelia is a scrappy bunch that pressured us all night and made things difficult." said Slater, " but the guys handled it well and followed the game plan of getting the ball inside."...

SCHALLER - The Alta-Aurelia girls ran their record to 3-0 with a 60-47 non-conference basketball win over Ridge View here on Monday. Micah Barnes led three Warrior who scored in double figures, with 22 points, while Jenna Snyder scored 13 points and DJ Flores added 10. Ridge View's scoring was led by Megan Wiese, who tallied 11 points, and Emily Egger, who scored 10. Emily Brosamle took down 11 rebounds for Coach Jessica Christensen's Raptors...

MANSON - A talented Manson NW Webster team outscored the young Cherokee Braves 45-16 in the second and third quarters to run away with a decisive 76-34 season-opening basketball victory here Monday night. The Braves played it close in the first period to trail 24-16, but the Cougars went on 22-11 and 23-5 scoring runs in the next two frames to seal the deal early...

MANSON - The fast-striking Cherokee Washington High girls broke out with a 24-15 lead after the first quarter, and at one time led by 19 points in the second half before holding off a determined, 10th-ranked Manson NW Webster team 82-73 here Monday night...

The Cherokee Depot Open House will be held Thursday evening after the Lighted Christmas Parade. Beginning at about 6:30 p.m. Cherokee Depot Renovation members will serve cookies, hot chocolate and coffee and have the model trains operating in the Little Sioux Valley Model Railroad display...