Stories from Monday, August 24, 2015

John "Jack" Dawson of Chandler, Arizona, 79, formerly of the Washta area, passed away at his home, with his family present, on July 23, 2015, after courageously fighting Multiple Sclerosis for more than 50 years. Jack was born to John and Myrtle (Heinis) Dawson on February 19, 1936, on the family farm near Washta, Iowa. He graduated from Grand Meadow High School in 1954 and served in the 86th Army Infantry in Germany...

Denny and Valarie Paltz of Cherokee are the proud parents of a baby boy, born on August 18, 2015. Calvin Werner Paltz was born at 11:45 a.m., weighed 8 lb. 13 oz., measured 21 inches long, and was welcomed home by his big sisters, Samantha and Haleigh...

The choice of Rio de Janeiro as the site of the 2016 Olympics, is the latest questionable decision by the International Olympic Committee. Recently 13 members of the U.S. team, on a "trial run" for the games, came down with stomach illnesses due to water contamination in Brazil. This should come as no surprise, since sewage in Brazil usually just empties into waterways untreated...

A new two-classroom Head Start school building on North Roosevelt in Cherokee could be in operation as soon as next spring, according to Mid-Sioux Opportunity Executive Director Dick Sievers. "We're hoping to get started on construction this fall," Sievers said...

MaKenna Carver of Cherokee recently competed in the Iowa State Fair Cowgirl Queen contest representing the Heartland Paint Horse Club. There were 81 contestants competing in five preliminary rounds, and three judges picked the top four girls from each round to return for a final run. ...

The Cherokee Regional Medical Center Auxiliary is conducting an Iowa, Iowa State, and Nebraska cookie sale fundraiser this fall, aka "The Big 3 Cookie Challenge." This is an opportunity to show team spirit and support a great cause leading up to the big intrastate rivalry football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, Sept. 12...

Cherokee Washington High School held an orientation for incoming freshmen last week in advance of the opening of school this week.

David Wiley of Newell,age 93, died Friday, August 21, 2015 at Loring Hospital in Sac City, surrounded by his grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell. Burial will follow in the Newell Cemetery with full military rites by the Newell American Legion Post #193. ...

OK. I graciously request that 75,000 people please send me $10 apiece, 7,500 people send me $100 apiece, or 10 people send me $75,000 apiece so I can fund the renovation or relocation and installation of a new tennis court complex for the City and schools of Cherokee...