Stories from Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Several Cherokee Washington High School students were recently selected as All-State Speech participants. Three groups were selected as performers and one individual was selected as a non-performer (Special Recognition). For a student in speech, being honored to perform or have special recognition at All-State is like participating in a State Basketball Tournament. These students are in the top 3% of their categories across the state...

Bob Lenz shares the embarrassing, the dark and the inspiring incidents of his life that led him to a career as a motivational speaker, and he shared those experiences with humor and emotion during an assembly Monday at the Washington High School auditorium with high school and middle school students...

In order to consolidate services, the Cherokee Iowa State Patrol Office closed in April of 2010. In order to return to the previous level of service, the Cherokee ISP along Hwy 3, just west of the intersection with Hwy. 59, reopened unofficially in November, 2014 and had an open house this Tuesday,February 24, 2015...

DES MOINES - All three Alta-Aurelia wrestlers qualifying for last week's Class 1A Iowa State Wrestling Tournament here placed in their respective weight classes to cap a shining season for the Warriors' program. Sophomore Skylar Solko (36-3) led the way with a third place finish at 120 pounds after defeating Westwood's Zach Ulven (49-6) 6-5 in an exciting consolation match final...

Off and on I have written a version of the same column about budget concerns at the Cherokee Public Library and how our patrons can help us cope with them. With the city facing some huge problems in the coming year, I think it is time to do it again. Here are five fairly painless ways that the public can assist us...

Today's kids have made an art form out of nagging and begging for certain materialistic items until the poor parents toss their hands in the air and cave in just to quiet the persistent child. In a recent survey, some kids -ages nine to teen - said they do not hesitate to ask their parents 50 or even 100 times for the same thing, until the parent gives in and buys it for them...

The Tree Stumpers genealogy group will meet Thursday, February 26 at 1:30 p.m. in the Cherokee Public Library. Anyone interested in climbing their family tree is welcome.

The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation and the Cherokee Industrial Corporation have moved into a shared building at 201 West Main St., following extensive remodeling of the building. A red ribbon cutting and chamber coffee will be held at that location at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, and an open house will be held until noon...

Jenna and Chad Driesen of Cherokee are proud to announce the birth of their fourth child, a boy. Colten Dale Driesen was born at 7:08 p.m. on February 20, 2015, and he weighed 6 lb. 10 oz. and measured 19 inches long at his birth. He was welcomed into the family by his big brother Dakota and his big sisters, Mikinzie and Breanna...

Katelyn and Westin Barnes of Larrabee are happy to announce the birth of their baby girl, Elsie Marie Barnes, who was born at 2:56 p.m. on February 20, 2015. Elsie weighed 6 lb. 3 oz. and measured 19 inches long.

Fern E. Ballard of Cherokee, 92, passed away Wednesday morning, February 18, 2015 at Cherokee Villa Nursing & Rehab Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 28th, at 1 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Rev. Ethan Sayler will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. Visitation will be on Saturday from 12 noon until service time, with the family present at that time. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com...

This week's Chamber Coffee, at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 27th, will be a Red Ribbon Cutting at the new headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, Cherokee Industrial Corporation and Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation, at 201 West Main Street. An Open House is scheduled to follow the ribbon cutting and coffee and is scheduled to last until 12 noon...