Stories from Friday, August 5, 2016

Americans often feel that there is no point in voting, that their votes don't matter. It's true that one person's vote will not decide a presidential election, but in order for America to function as a democracy, a large portion of the citizenry needs to participate in shaping the direction of communities, counties, states and the country...

Dennis Bush, chairman of the Cherokee Board of Supervisors, reported to the board at the Aug. 2 meeting that the Cherokee Mental Health Institute faces further budget cuts as the length of patient stays is growing. Bush had recently attended a citizens advisory board meeting at the MHI campus and reported on the concerns expressed by the MHI administration...

During their 20-year reunion, the Washington High School Class of '96 will use coming together as a way to support their classmate Chad Pritts and his family, by opening up the festivities to the people of the Cherokee area as a benefit for the Pritts Family...

Todd M. Kelly, 54, died August 2, 2016, due to cardiac arrest. He was a 22-year resident of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He was born March 7, 1962, in Cherokee, Iowa to Clinton and Marlene (Jensen) Kelly. He was raised in Cherokee. Prior to graduating from Washington High School he enjoyed playing football, biking, creating art, attending car races with his dad and visiting Spring Lake Park with his mom. ...

Mr. Francis Wendt, age 79 of the Marcus and Remsen areas, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus. ...

Mary T. Flores, 67, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away, Monday evening, August 1, 2016 in Unity Point Health-St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. Memorial services will be held on Friday, August 12th, at 10:30 a.m.at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. ...