Stories from Monday, June 15, 2015

For all of you (all 2-3 of you, that is) who have been patiently waiting for my next "travelogue" column, here it is. I recently spent a couple of hours at Iowa's newest tourist attraction.We were in the general vicinity of our state's capital city on the "fake" (i.e., not the real May 30th date) Memorial Day Weekend, when the "womenfolk" took a hankerin' to go shoppin' at the General Store (otherwise know as the mall) in the Capital City, so us "menfolk" (my brother-in-law Ken and I) decided we'd mosey on down the road a piece to the town of Winterset, and take in an attraction which had just opened for business a couple of weeks earlier.. ...

HOLSTEIN - The Ridge View baseball team came out swinging here against Western Valley Conference rival River Valley in baseball action Tuesday night, with the Raptors putting 10 runs on the scoreboard in the first three inings en route to a five inning 14-4 win over the Wolverines...

PAULLINA - Monday night, the South O'Brien baseball team opened the week by hosting Trinity Christian. The teams came into the game with one win apiece, and Trinity started the scoring Monday in the top of the third inning. Mark Maassen was walked and then moved up to second on a passed ball. After a sacrifice bunt, Maassen was driven in by Ethan Van Bemmel's ground out to the second baseman. The Wolverines would respond by putting up six runs on three hits in the bottom of the 3rd...

The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen-Union baseball team has won three of four recent games, defeating River Valley 12-2 and South O'Brien 18-6 at home, beating Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 18-6 in Hartley, and losing 6-4 at Orange City Unity Christian. In the win over RV, Tristan Olson got the pitching victory, allowing two unearned runs on two hits and no walks, with five strikeouts in five innings of work...

HOLSTEIN - The Ridge View boys defeated Westwood 11-6 in Western Valley Conference baseball action here on Wednesday. Peyton Boyle got the win for the Raptors, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking five and striking out two in 5.1 innings of work. Josh Gross picked up a save, striking out one of the two men he faced in the 6th inning, and Aaron Cuthrell finished up, pitching one inning, allowing no hits and fanning two batters...

The Ridge View softball team lost by the score of 10-4 to Westwood in Western Valley softball action Wednesday. Taking the loss on the mound was Katie Davidson, who threw all seven innings and gave up 12 hits and 10 runs, six of which were earned, while striking out three and walking one. ...

Carol Otto of Johnstown, Colorado, formerly of Centennial, Colorado and Cherokee, Iowa passed away on April 9, 2015. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. this Thursday, June 18, 2015 at the Diamond Cemetery in rural Aurelia, with a reception to follow at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 501 Locust in Aurelia. Funeral arrangements were made by Horan and McConaty Funeral Home in Centennial, Colorado, and you may share memories and condolences with the family at HoranCares.com...

CUSHING - The third annual Uncle Ben 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by Pedersen Duct Cleaning has, been slated to be held here Saturday, August 15, beginning at 9 a.m. Each of the last two years, nearly 250 participants showed up for the event, doubling the size of this small town in Woodbury County as they raised almost $20,000 for local elementary schools...

Duffy Hudson will be presenting his portrayal of the life of Audie Murphy, war hero and movie star, at the Sanford Museum tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 1 p.m., as part of the Cherokee Public Library's summer "Every Hero Has a Story" program. The Library will be closed from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. during the free program at the Museum...

The Ames straw poll, a traditional Iowa Republican Party fund raiser, has been canceled, apparently permanently. We don't have to refer to the event that took place the August before every election year in which the GOP presidential nomination was contested, as "What was formerly known as the Ames straw poll," since plans to move the poll to Boone will never occur...

The Cherokee County Fair Association is seeking contestants for the 4th Annual Little Miss Cherokee County Fair Competition. Contestants must live in Cherokee County and be entering either the third or fourth grade for the upcoming 2015-16 school year. The competition will take place on Thursday, July 16, from approximately 1 p.m. concluding with a crowning ceremony at 5 p.m. during the Cherokee County Fair...

It's summer time. Classes are over, swimming pools are open, little league is in full swing, and without planning your child's learning will be on vacation too! But summer can provide an opportunity for learning, if parents are purposeful in planning...

The Cherokee Community Theater production of 'Peter Pan the Musical' will have its first performance on Thursday June 18th at 7:30 p.m., and additional performances at the Cherokee Community Center will be Friday June 19th and Saturday June 20th at 7:30 p.m., Sunday afternoon June 21st, at 2 p.m., with a similar schedule the following week. Final performance will be Sunday June 28th at 2 p.m...

NEWELL - Alta-Aurelia took on Newell-Fonda in Twin Lakes Conference baseball action Wednesday, and shut out the Mustangs 11-0, scoring in five different innings, including three runs in the 7th frame. "Bryce Radke was outstanding on the mound, being "very efficient with his pitch count, throwing strikes and pitching to contact all night long," in the words of A-A coach Dan Wendel, who added that the Warriors' hitting and base running was very good as well, and that the team's defense was lights out again.. ...

GALVA - The Ridge View softball team lost by the score of 10-4 to Westwood last week in Western Valley softball action. Taking the loss on the mound was Katie Davidson, who threw all seven innings and gave up 12 hits and 10 runs, six of which were earned, while striking out three and walking one...

The Cherokee Farmers' Market is eligible to receive coupons for fresh fruit and vegetables for eligible WIC (Women Infants and Children) program recipients and low-income older Iowans. The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs provide eligible Iowans with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through Oct. 31, 2015...

CORRECTIONVILLE - The River Valley softball team ran its impressive record to 11-2 with an 11-1 demolition of Whting here last week, scoring five runs in the third inning and four in the sixth to seal the deal. Alycen Knnack got the pitching win for the Wolverines, allowing just three hits and no walks and one earned run, with five strikeouts in six frames...

The 2012 Sioux Valley Amateur Men's Match-Play Golf Tournament champion, Matt Pitts of Cherokee, carded a sweet 66 and dazzled the field to date in qualifying for this year's tourney, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the venerable Cherokee Golf Course...