Stories from Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Panama Papers leak has linked European investors to illicit schemes to stash wealth in Panama. But the scandal that has been exposed by a multi-national cooperative effort of journalists should motivate America to overhaul its own leaky tax code...

There is nothing I like better in my reading life than to discover a new author who I enjoy but have not read. In the past couple of months I have found three and I am busy catching up on their books. T. Greenwood writes a great story. Her books have multiple narrators which I like as it gives different flavors and perspectives. ...

Elwin Beers (Bid) Woodward of Mapleton, 83, died Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Burgess Care Center in Onawa. Services will be Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Onawa, 722 15th Street, with Pastor Larry Ostercamp and Pastor Mark Smeltzer officiating, and burial will be in Grant Cemetery in rural Rodney, Iowa, with military graveside honors by American Legion Post #496 of Mapleton, Iowa and Leslie Seaton Post #0666 of Smithland, Iowa. ...

Thomas LeRoy Hetrick of Waterloo, age 75, died Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Unity Point Health-Allen Hospital of a natural causes. Tom was born in Sioux Center on January 9, 1941, the son of Lyman "Bud" and Geraldine (Wedlock) Hetrick. He married Carol Mehlin on July 21, 1968 in Waterloo...

Vera L. Brandt of Cherokee, formerly of Holstein, 98, passed away on Feb. 6, 2016 in the Thomas Rest Haven at Coon Rapids. Graveside memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the Holstein Cemetery. Pastor Jean Morse will officiate. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, is in charge of the arrangements...

Brandon and Samantha Billings of Cherokee are happy to announce the birth of their son, born on April 16, 2016. Corbin Donald Billings was born at 10:19 p.m., weighed 8 lb. 9 oz. and measured 19 1/2 inches long. He was welcomed home by his big sisters, Keira and Millie...

Aaron and Nicole Hinkeldey of Aurelia are happy to announce the birth of their baby boy, Davis Lynn Hinkeldey, who was born on April 15, 2016 at 4:18 p.m. Davis weighed 6 lb. 8 oz., measured 18 inches long, and was welcomed home by his big brother Harlan...

CHEROKEE - The Cherokee Washington High School girls' golf varsity had a very competitive golf match with Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove Friday, losing to the Falcons by just seven team strokes, 220-227. Cherokee's Chandler Hohbach and OA-BCIG's Amy Bennett were co-medalists, with each girl shooting a 47, and OA-BCIG's Anna VanDusen was Runner-Up, with a 52...

SAC CITY - Though both Ridge View Coach Dale Tokheim and Alta-Aurelia Coach Wendell Larson said it was nice to run in some warmer weather here Friday, it was still unfortunately very windy for most of the meet, which was won by South Central Calhoun, with host East Sac County finishing second. Alta-Aurelia's boys finished third in the meet and Ridge View placed fourth...

SPENCER - The Cherokee boys competed in the rugged Spencer Invitational Golf Meet on the beautiful Spencer Country Club course here on Saturday and lowered their season average by a couple of strokes. The Braves' Charlie Wych continued his strong play, shooting 41-41 for a team- leading 82, and Coach James DeVos said Wych "managed his game nicely in the gusty conditions."...

STORM LAKE - The Cherokee girls tennis teams posted a pair of 8-1 victories here Friday against Lakes Conference rival Storm Lake. In varsity matches, Cherokee's #1, Dusty Wright, won 10-3 over Stephanie De La Torre; #2 Clare Conley won 10-4 over Yolanda Vang; #3 Jordyn Bingham won 10-7 over Cindy Vang; #4 Grace Boyle won 10-7 over Kartina Chaiyawong; #5 Kylie Mongan won 10-6 over Monika Hill; and #6 Jen Baker won 10-2 over Destiny Syhavong...

On Sunday, May 1, at 4 p.m. on the upper level of the Cherokee Community Center the Cherokee Symphony will present its annual "Student Soloist Concert." Six applicants competed and three outstanding musicians were selected to perform with the Cherokee Symphony. Conductor Ted Hallberg, LeMars and violinist Laura Haverdink, Orange City, acted as judges...

April 19 - Roger Braun of Cherokee April 20 - Richard Boothby of Cherokee

At the April 19 Cherokee County Board of Supervisors meeting, the supervisors approved an agreement with ISG Field Services for their supervision of Dakota Access Pipeline during construction of the pipeline through northern Cherokee County. Due to concerns about the wording of a previously submitted agreement, the matter was tabled at a previous meeting for review by Cherokee County Attorney Ryan Kolpin. ...

On, Friday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hy-Vee Pharmacy at 800 N 2nd St. Cherokee, is having a drug take back day for unused expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials, and pet medications...

On Sunday, May 1, Marcus will be having its second Museum Day from 1 to 5 p.m. This will include three venues: 'The Barns', owned by Junior Pearson, which displays his collection of buggies and horse drawn machinery, is located southwest of the fairgrounds next to the horse arena;...

World class bass/baritone singer Simon Estes delivered a powerful message of respect, faith and forgiveness to the Washington High School and Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn High School students and staff gathered Monday in the WHS auditorium. On Sunday, Estes had performed at the WHS auditorium, making Cherokee County one of over 50 of Iowa's 99 counties that have had the privilege of a concert on the Roots & Wings Tour. ...

Over 500 music lovers gathered at the Washington High School Auditorium on April 17 for a concert by world renowned bass/baritone singer Simon Estes, with guest bass/baritone singer Blake Burroughs (Burroughs is a professional singer now living in New York who is a WHS alumnus and former student of Estes), pianist Jodi Goble, accompanist Teresa Adams, the WHS Choir directed by Natalie Barkley and three members of the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Choir...