Stories from Friday, October 2, 2015

Our elections in the United States often feel as if we are watching a football game instead of choosing a leader. We cheer on our "team" and bash opponents with disparaging remarks, often in good fun, but from time to time those disagreements get serious quickly...

The opening line of Charles Dickens' classic historical novel 'A Tale of Two Cities' - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." - comes to mind when I look at the 2015 seasons (so far) of some of Iowa's college and university football teams...

During its Sept. 22 meeting,the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors continued a discussion from previous meetings regarding the possibility of a road project to accommodate the heavy truck traffic in and out of the Little Sioux Corn Processors ethanol plant near Marcus...

JOHNSTON, IA - Connie Grienke of Cherokee was recently honored by the Iowa Bankers Association (IBA) for her more than 50 years of service at Cherokee State Bank. The award was presented to Connie during the IBA's Annual Convention in Des Moines on September 22nd. Connie was one of nine individuals recognized for reaching the 50-year service milestone...

Jonathan and Emily Paulsen of Sioux Falls are happy to announce the birth of their son, who was born on August 20, 2015. Wyatt Jonathan Paulsen weighed 8 lb. 1 oz., measured 21 inches long, and he was welcomed home by his brother, William Stephen...

Ben and Amanda Gloyd of Spencer are happy to announce the birth of their so, who was born September 18, 2015. Elijah Wilson Gloyd weighed 6 lb. 12 oz., measured 19 inches long, and was welcomed home by his sister Amelia Joy. Grandparents are Verdene Paulsen of Cherokee and the late Stephen Paulsen, and Levi and Elaine Gloyd of Milford. ...

Jeff Hayes of North Star Community Credit Union has been elected to serve on the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) Board of Directors for 2015-16. By serving on the ICUL Board, Hayes represents the collective interests and future of Iowa's 104 credit unions and their more than one million members. ICUL is the trade association for Iowa's not-for-profit credit union industry...

Roy Townsend of the Grand Meadow Heritage Center came to the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors meeting on Sept. 29 to request help from the county for tuck pointing of the two-story brick building that formerly served as a school building and now serves as a museum...

The Alta-Aurelia High School candidates for 2015 Homecoming King and Queen include: (front) Isabel Hinkeldey and Caitlin Eckerman; (middle) Jacob Husman, Jacee Ahnemann, Tiernan Kolpin, Abigail Anderson and Bryce Radke; (back) Chase Damewood, Jack Glienke and Josh McCormick...

The Washington High School marching band recently performed in St. Louis prior to a St. Louis Rams football game, and while there,the group posed in front of the St. Louis Arch. More photos can be viewed in the 'September Area Happenings Photo Gallery.'

Senior Class winners for "Disney Day" during the Washington High School Homecoming week included Taylor VandeLune, Rebeca Fajardo, Cierra Guttau and Atlanta Shaw. Look for more homecoming event photos in the 'October Area Happenings' Photo Gallery next week...

If the present plans are carried out there will be some nice automobile drives in Cherokee a year hence. At the meeting last night the city council ordered a resolution of necessity prepared to cover the paving of 23,000 feet, or about four and a third miles...

1. Albia; 2. Spirit Lake; 3. Tama South Tama; 4. Anamosa; 5. West Union North Fayette; 6. Wellman Mid-Prairie; 10. Mount Vernon --- 1. Iowa City Regina; 2. Dike-New Hartford; 3. Hinton; 4. West Branch; 5. Underwood; 6. Madrid; 7. Panora Panorama; 8. West Lyon; 9. Alburnett; 10.Calmar South Winneshiek...

Funeral services for Verla J. Thompson of Sioux City, 86, are pending at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home in Holstein. Verla passed away on Thursday, October 01, 2015 at the Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove.

A new City Administrator for Cherokee was to be determined Thursday night and announced today following a special City Council meeting Thursday night. Current City Administrator Don Eikmeier said that "20-plus" candidates had applied for the opening after Eikmeier earlier this year announced his pending December 2015 retirement...

ONAWA - The Ridge View volleyball team split two matches in a triangular here Monday, losing 1-2 to Siouxland Community Christian and defeating host Westwood 2-0. Game scores were 25-22, 14-25, 10-15 against Siouxland Christian, and 25-18, 25-16 in the win over Westwood...

The 4-1 Cherokee Braves host 3-2 Class 2A District 1 foe MOC-Floyd Valley for homecoming tonight to lead the area football slate. In Class 1A action, South O'Brien (3-2) hosts Alta-Aurelia (0-5) for the Wolverines' homecoming in Paullina, and Ridge View (4-1) hosts Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (0-5)...

Bibs Schmillen of Cherokee, age 86, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Father Dan Guenther will officiate. ...

The Cherokee Washington High volleyball team overcame a tough first game to register a 3-0 sweep of Storm Lake in Lakes Conference action in Cherokee Tuesday night, claiming game scores of 25-19, 25-9, 25-12. "It was a great night at our annual 'Jam the Gym.' We had the 5-8 grade volleyball girls and their families attend, and the gym was full for a great night of volleyball," noted Cherokee coach Julie Hummel...

AURELIA - The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn volleyball team finished with a 1-2 match record at last week's Alta-Aurelia Tournament, losing to eventual champion Cherokee 7-21,11-21; falling 22-20, 19-21, 13-15 to Remsen St. Mary's; and beating Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 21-4, 21-13...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia varsity girls' Cross Country team continued their fine showing Monday at a meet run on the Alta Golf Course. Alta-Aurelia coach Wendell Larson commented, "The girls faced a very tough Sheldon team that they have seen before. Tonight they closed the gap, but it was not enough to beat a very fine 2A team." The Warriors totaled 53 team points to the champion Indians' 30 in the final Team Standings, and Cherokee finished 3rd...

It had to happen eventually, questions about how someone could magically give gifts to everyone across the land would generate explanations that would not be credible. Once an explanation is offered, hope for maintaining the fragile fantasy is already lost. It's like someone explaining the physical nature of Santa's bag or the aerodynamics of reindeer - when an explanation becomes necessary, only the most naive believers will stubbornly accept the illusion...