Stories from Monday, March 28, 2016

The U.S. Senate is on a two-week break, including the week before Easter and the week after. Usually during such a break, Senator Chuck Grassley schedules public appearances in Iowa as part of his 99-county-every-year tour of the state. This year, he is only holding three closed door meetings during this two-week break...

The former Wilson School Building, along North 2nd St., Cherokee, is in a condition of severe dilapidation, according to an inspection last summer and the matter has come before the Cherokee City Council at the March 22 meeting. A letter from the city in August of 2015 to Guts and Hope Goodknight (f.k.a Bert J. ...

Cherokee city officials have decided they can no longer allow foot traffic over an unstable section of sidewalk at the corner of South Second and West Maple. Barricades have been put in place pending the void under the sidewalk being filled. The void is under the sidewalk of a property owned by Gay Lynn Strub, who had operated the Natural Foods Store there. ...

In January, the MMC School Library received a very generous donation from the Endowment Board of Holy Name Parish. They had been informed by Becky Whited that the library was in need of books for Middle-School Age Students in particular. Pictured are Becky Whited and some of the 5th and 6th grade students from Holy Name Catholic Church. ...

Kyle and Nicole Stieneke of Cherokee are the proud parents of a baby boy, born on March 21, 2016. Miko Stieneke was born at 12:41 p.m., weighed 8 lb. 6.5 oz., and measured 21 inches long. He was welcomed home by his big sisters, MacKenzie and MaKinley. Grandparents are Sue Stieneke and Shellie Butler...

Tyler and Ashley Jorgensen of Sheldon announce the arrival of their second child, Natalie Lynn, who was born March 16, 2016. Natalie weighed 7 bs 7 oz., and she was welcomed home by her big sister Kailey. Proud grandparents are Deb Jorgensen of Cherokee, and Brian and Char Woelber of Sheldon. Great-grandparents are Weber and Joan Koester and Helen Jorgensen of Paullina...

March 26- Steve Doohen of Ankeny March 28 - BJ Massmann of Cherokee

Next fall's kindergarteners at Ridge View Elementary were treated to a taste of the future at the annual Kindergarten Roundup at the school on March 21. The members of the Class of 2029 are pictured here.

AURELIA - The business of handling farmers' grain has always been important in the town of Aurelia. Aurelia's first grain warehouse was started in 1871 by my great-great grandfather, Reuben Whitney, and the town's first grain elevator was opened by Clarkson and Simpson a year later...