Stories from Friday, March 27, 2015

Cherokee Depot Renovation Inc. received major help from Haselhoff Construction and Christensen Brothers Construction on Thursday in getting a bunk car moved to the grounds of the Old Depot. A crane was used to load the 32,500 lb. former bunk car (donated by the Cherokee Regional Medical Center) from where it has been for the last few months along Hayward Street onto a lowboy trailer. ...

In 2011, President Barack Obama all but declared victory in Iraq, "Today, I can announce that our review is complete, and that the United States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq through a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. This strategy is grounded in a clear and achievable goal shared by the Iraqi people and the American people: an Iraq that is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant."...

Randall M. "Randy" Voss of Cherokee,74,succumbed to the complications of Alzheimer's Disease and was called home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday afternoon, March 25,2015, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 30th, at 10:30 a.m. ...

Cherokee Regional Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Comstock, has announced that he will retire in September 2015. CRMC's Board of Directors and UnityPoint Health have named CRMC Senior Vice President David Liebsack as Comstock's successor, following a transition process...

LeMARS - The Turn Around's GK Blaze competitive gymnastics team continued their competitive meet season on February 28th and March 1st, competing in the Mardi Gras Xcel Gymnastics meey in Urbandale. GK Blaze brought 16 gymnasts, competing in four levels, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum...

HOLSTEIN - Several area track and field teams will kick off their 2015 outdoor season here Tuesday at the Ridge View Co-ed Relays, formerly known as the Holstein Relays. Among the area boys and girls teams participating are Cherokee, Alta-Aurelia, River Valley, and host Ridge View...

Cael Wood of Cherokee (front row,left) posted a 3-1 match record for Northwest District 1 B grades 5-6 team at last week's Iowa AAU State Wrestling Duals in Des Moines. Wood's team placed third. Wood also has been invited to wrestle for Team Iowa at the National Duals April 4-5 in Des Moines. Cael's dad, Jason Wood, back, second from right, helps coach the team...

The annual meeting of the Cherokee Commercial Club for the purpose of electing officers was held at the city hall last Thursday evening. The recent banquet and get together affair at the Armory has stirred up enthusiasm for the work of the club, and without solicitation the following men applied for membership:...

A new social host law in Iowa makes adults responsible for knowingly allowing consumption of alcohol by anyone 17 or younger on property over which the adult has control. This adult does not necessarily have to be the property owner. It can be a tenant or an adult in authority at the property in the absence of the owner...

At the March 23rd Cherokee School Board meeting, the board approved a certified budget for the next fiscal year without knowing what revenue the school district will receive. This is the same situation as in school districts throughout the state, since the Iowa legislature remains gridlocked on the per-pupil funding for school districts...

A change in a Cherokee City Ordinance will require a secure fenced-in area for swimming pools of 24 inches of depth or more, if approved upon the second and third readings. The first reading of the ordinance was approved at the March 24 meeting of the Cherokee City Council...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Corbet Butler, will be participating in Class 2A at the 40th Annual Iowa Jazz Championships on Tuesday, March 31st, 2015 in Des Moines, Musco Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa sponsors the event, in cooperation with Iowa Jazz Championships, Inc., Jazz Educators of Iowa, and the Iowa Music Educators Association...

March 26 - Hallie Dessel of Cherokee March 27 - Gayle George of Meriden

Brittany Layton of Cherokee is happy to announce the birth of her baby boy on March 20, 2015. Kyle Mason Ford was born at 7:07 a.m., weighed 7 lb. 0 oz., measured 20 inches long, and was welcomed home by his brothers - Hayden, Tristen and Thomas. Grandparents are Stephanie Ford and Kyle Woltman...

Allison and Justin Kinney of Holstein are happy to announce the birth of their baby boy on March 18, 2015. Brock William Kinney weighed 7 lb. 11 oz., measured 20 inches long, and he was welcomed home by his big sisters, Chloe and Leah. Grandparents are Paul and Steph Egger of Galva and Pat and Diana Kinney of Belleville, Illinois...

The ongoing paid administrative leave of Cherokee Middle School Principal Larry Weede was again a topic of discussion at the March 23 school board meeting, at which citizens criticized the administration's handling of the matter. Administration critics also attended earlier school board and management team (board members and administrators) meetings in March, February and January...

Cherokee County Environmental Health wants area farmers to be aware that the well water they are drinking could possibly contain harmful coliform bacteria and nitrates that are hazardous to their health, and they urge Cherokee County farmers to call their office at 712-225-6721 to schedule an absolutely free test of their well water...