Stories from Monday, February 20, 2017

This will make many people smile because we know we live in a great area where we know our neighbors, it takes 5 minutes in "heavy traffic" to drive to work, the air is clean and the people are friendly. But, is this a good thing? We want to people to shop in businesses throughout Cherokee County. We want people to move here, work in existing businesses, open new businesses and provide new services. Our schools want to educate young people. Well, you get my drift.....

Like Independence Day, Presidents’ Day is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance. In its original incarnation as Washington’s Birthday, the holiday gained special meaning during the difficulties of the Great Depression, when portraits of George Washington often graced the front pages of newspapers and magazines every February 22...

The weather seems to have moderated across Iowa, and I don’t hear anyone complaining. The warm temperatures and lack of snow are most welcome as there will be a lot of people travelling during the next few weeks. For example, the state wrestling tournament takes place in Des Moines this week, and the basketballers are at it in full swing. ...

The All-District teams for Iowa Girls’ basketball have been selected, and two members of the Cherokee Braves - junior Paityn Hagberg and sophomore Payton Slaughter -have been named to the honor squad for the Nortwest district. The NW District team is headlined by three players from defending Class 3A champion Pocahontas Area - Elle Ruffridge, the state’s all time career scoring leader, and Faith Meyer and Grace Meyer. All three girls are seniors...

Two members of the Cherokee Braves’ girls’ basketball team have been selected for the first team All-Lakes Conference squad, according to a press release issued Friday. Paityn Hagberg and Payton Slaughter each made the first team All Conference, with sophomore Slaughter being one of six unanimous selections, along with Anna Brown of Spirit Lake, Madison Dreckman of LeMars, Erika Feenstra and Ashtyn Veerbeek of Western Christian and Keeley Petzenhauser of Spencer. ...

Eugene Brown jr. of Cherokee, 95, passed away Wednesday Evening February 15, 2017 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Eugene’s wishes were to be cremated, and there will be no visitation. Graveside services will be held at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee. The Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee is assisting the family with the arrangements, and online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com...

Loy L. Julius passed away on the morning of February 10, 2017 at the age of 96. Loy was bon July 2, 1920 in Cherokee, Iowa. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Iowa, where he excelled in wrestling. He was Big Ten Champion, Team Captain, and an All American, ranked 4th in the nation. He graduated with a degree in accounting...

Dean B. Loshman of Calumet, 81, passed away Thursday morning, February 16, 2017 at his home. Memorial services were held on Sunday, February 19th, at 1 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, and the family greeted friends and relatives on Sunday from 12 noon until service time at the funeral home. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com...

GALVA - Donna Bremer’s next four-week quilting class will begin on Thursday, March 2nd, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Meeting Place, 106 E. Second Street in Galva - located behind Sole 2 Soul’s fitness center and across the street from the Fire Station...

As the O'Brien County Assessment of Wind Energy Conversion Property ordinance requires, MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) recently reported to the assessor's office the final net acquisition cost figure for the recently completed and commissioned O'Brien Wind Energy Project located in northern O'Brien County along Highway 18 near Sanborn...

The Cherokee Educational Foundation has announced that in the last decade it has invested over $266,000 in equipment, programs and opportunities at every grade level in the Cherokee Community Schools. The primary source of these funds has been the annual dinner and auction...

SPENCER - The Clay County Regional Events Center and Positively Spencer Youth will host Clay County's 7th Annual Family Fest at the Clay County Regional Events Center on Saturday, March 4th from 10:00am to 3:00pm.  Family Fest is free for all to attend and is open to the public.  ...

The City of Cherokee is working with the railroad concerning a frequent early morning train passing hrough at the West Bluff Street crossing just prior to Cherokee Washington High School’s start of the school day and the heavy influx of vehicle traffic that generates...

Have you ever wondered what a biologist does for a career? How about a water scientist or an archaeologist? You’ll get your chance to learn more at “Meet the Scientist Day!” at the Sanford Museum and Planetarium from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday February 26...

ALTA - The Alta-Aurelia boys played their first District Tournament game here Thursday, and the Warriors beat Tri-Center of Neola, 54-36. Tri-Center had defeated Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove in first round Class 2A District game on Monday...

The Ridge View boys basketball team saw their season come to an end Thursday in the second round of District Tournament play as the Raptors fell to Gehlen Catholic of LeMars, 66-46. Ridge View Coach Dale Tokheim said he was real happy with this team’s effort and attitude, but commented that they couldn't get some shots to fall at critical times.  He added that they didn't handle some pressure at the end of the first half and the beginning of the 3rd quarter “and they made us pay.”...

DES MOINES - Several wrestlers from the Chronicle Times coverage area competed Thursday on the first day of the 2017 State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Cherokee’s Matt Stines (39-10) won his opening match against Washington’s Austin Hazelett at 145 pounds, posting a 4-3 decision. The Braves’ 170 pounder, Tyler Zeimen, lost a 9-6 decision to New Hampton’s Noah Glaser, then in the consolation round, Zeimen (35-12) lost by major decision, 14-6, to Mile Hoyle of Solon...

Harriet A. Steele, age 89, a former Cherokee resident, passed away February 7, 2017 at the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah after suffering a stroke. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held Saturday, February 18, 2017, 10:30 a.m. at Courtyard at Jamestown in Provo, where she resided. She will be buried in Oakhill Cemetery in Cherokee, Iowa...