Stories from Friday, November 11, 2016

ALTA - Alta-Aurelia student Jordan Wendel signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday to play baseball at Butler University of Indianapolis, Indiana. This marks the first time that the Alta-Aurelia program has had a Division I baseball signee. Wendel, a catcher, batted .361 last season with six doubles, three triples, six home runs and 21 RBI...

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans, that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. ...

Roger and Janet Sleezer are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an Open House on Saturday November 19th, and invite their friends to join them. The Open House will be held at the Cherokee Depot, 119 S. 4th Street, from 2 - 4 p.m., and resume at Loft 101, 101 N. 2nd Street, from 6:30 - 8 p.m...

Harold and Aileen (Schneider) Larson of Cherokee are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. The couple were married on November 22, 1951 and they have seven children: Dave (Diane) Larson of Newton, Joy (deceased), Doug (Ginny) Larson of St. Louis Missouri, Mike (Kathy) Larson of Dublin Ohio, Nancy (Charley) Jensen of Leawood Kansas, Dan (Jodi) Larson of Ankeny and Karl Larson of Cherokee. ...

Robert H. Beck, 74, passed away Thursday morning, November 10, 2016 at his residence in Cherokee. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee.

Cherokee city workers were recently acknowledged for their assistance to the National Weather Service in collecting data in Cherokee, using weather equipment located at the city water treatment plant. They are (front) Todd Miller, Luke Klashen, Seth Thill, Chris Horton, Dan Conley (back) Todd Larsen, Randy Rupp, George Schmidt and Rob Steins...

For the 21st consecutive year, Cherokee Regional Medical Center Hospice will once again have lighted Christmas trees in Cherokee, Marcus, Aurelia and Holstein during the holiday season. These trees are a special way of remembering your friends and loved ones. ...

A friendly competition is generated each year in bidding on the Iowa State (left) and Iowa (right) book baskets at the Cherokee Library. The annual Friends of the Library fund raising event this year features 39 book baskets, each containing a book and various items on a theme. Bids are submitted for each basket with bidding concluding at noon on Saturday, Dec. 3...

Because of my love of music and the wondrous poetry of meaningful lyrics, I fondly remember and often listen to golden oldies from the likes of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot and Kris Kristofferson. One of my favorite lines of an old Kristofferson tune is, "From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse, the going up was worth the coming down."...

As we pause to remember our courageous and incomparable military this Veterans Day, it is fitting to share this poignant life’s message penned by an anonymous Korean War veteran to his fellow soldiers: “At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel on our side. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone...

I have to admit that Donald Trump’s victory (winning the projected electoral college vote but being slightly behind in the popular vote), came as a surprise to me; but, unlike many of the day-after commentators, I totally get what happened. We didn’t overestimate how much Trump is disliked. ...

Awarding a contract for the demolition of the old first street water plant, dominated the short Cherokee City Council meeting on Nov. 8. The now unused water plant is located on the east side of First Street , just before First Street ends at Linn Street. There were six bids for the project. The lowest bid was from Kellen Excavation at $54,000. There was an option for removing the fence around the property but the Kellen bid did not involve any extra charge for removing the fence...

Judy A. Kruse of Vernon Hills, Illinois, 73, formerly of Cherokee, passed away Thursday morning, November 10, 2016 due to complications from a stroke. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee,

Eleanor F. Sokolowski of Marcus, age 93, passed away Sunday, November 6, 2016, at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2016, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus. Monsignor Kenneth Seifried will officiate. ...

Luverne Nelson of Marcus, age 87, passed away at his residence on Monday, October 17, 2016. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus.There will be no visitation prior to the service. A private family burial will take place at a later date. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com...