Stories from Wednesday, July 29, 2015

SPENCER, Iowa - The 2015 Northwest Iowa Amateur Golf Tournament will begin this Thursday, July 30. 387 participants have registered so far, and the golfers come from all over the state of Iowa, surrounding states and many other states. The age of the golfers ranges from as young as 14 years old to 75 years old...

I like to share interesting things that happen at the Cherokee Public Library and I believe this incident is a fun one to write about. This week I received an email from a person I do not know. He had been looking for an old children's book,'Binky McNabb Learns to Drive,' and the only reference on the Internet to it led him to a 2012 newspaper column I had written about children's books I had been collecting to share with my first grandchild. ...

With a Republican House and a Democratic Senate, the Iowa legislature does not easily reach agreement. When it does, the resultant compromise is a broadly representative manifestation of the will of the state's citizens. The compromise on school funding was reached after more than a year of contentious wrangling. The decision on funding four Mental Health Institutes rather than two was a decision to provide needed access to a critical service for the people of Iowa...

FORT DODGE - River Valley played highly-ranked New London here on Friday in the Class 1A Third Place game at the 2015 Iowa High School Softball Tournament, and the gritty Wolverines, comprised solely of underclassmen,came up against a stellar pitching performance for the second straight day. ...

Several players from Chronicle Times coverage are school have been selected for the Northwest District Class 1A and 2A teams, according to a released Monday from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. In Class 1-A, Alta-Aurelia junior Bryce Radke, who pitched and played third base for the Warriors, was named to the First Team All NW District at a Utility spot and Alta-Aurelia senior Ross Friedrich was named to the Second Team at shortstop...

(u) Brady Plueger,Spencer; Brady Kluender,Spencer; Logan Backhaus,Spirit Lake Matt Ellefson,Le Mars;(u)Keaton Leach,Spirit Lake Dayton Rand,Le Mars (u)Trey Jacobson, Estherville; Trent Hillbrands, Le Mars; (u)Chase Habben, Spencer;(u)Tyson Kooima, HWC...

(Ed. Note: The following is a letter from Calvin Carver, Director of Cherokee County Work Services, to the families of CCWS clients and the Cherokee community in general) Dear Family and Friends, I am saddened to announce that my last day at CCWS will be July 31, 2015. ...

Roger Norman Negus of Sutherland, 82, passed away at the Spencer Hospital on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday July 25, 2015 at United Methodist Church in Sutherland, with Pastor Kristy May officiating. Roger Norman Negus, the son of Orson and Elsie (Heinze) Negus, was born on September 2, 1932 in Sutherland, Iowa. ...

Gardeners have an opportunity to attend the last 'Growing Season' webinar offered at the Cherokee Extension and Outreach office on August 12 at 6:30 p.m. The office is located at 209 Centennial Dr. This is the sixth year for the Iowa Master Gardener program's annual summer series. It is open to all interested gardeners; participants are not required to have completed master gardener training to attend...

Summer is the best time to apply livestock manure for crop fertilization, but getting the right level is a science. To aid farmers in nutrient management, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy specialists are offering a workshop to fine-tune manure applications with soil management practices and testing...

A large crane hoists the blades for one of many wind turbines under construction on O'Brien County's Highland Wind Farm, located between Paullina and Sutherland. More than 200 turbines are projected for the Highland project, with a second wind farm northeast of Primghar, featuring 100 turbines,scheduled for next year.

Kelsay Parrott has had a long and difficult struggle since an accident at the age of four left her scarred and traumatized. The 16-year-old Washington High School student still struggles, but she is winning that struggle and has plans for a bright future...

This week's Chamber Coffee will be hosted by Miller, Miller and Miller Law Firm at 216 West Main Street, as the firm welcomes back Associate Lisa Mazurek. Coffee and treats will be served on Friday, beginning at 9:30 a.m.