Stories from Wednesday, September 6, 2017

September is a great month. There are so many great things that happen in just 30 days! Fall starts, so that means I can watch my favorite spooky movies; my anniversary and baby will both come this month; and, most importantly, we break out the Leaves scented candles in the Freking-Smith household. That’s not to say exciting things aren’t happening in Libraryland as well!...

The recent flurry of media coverage on the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana caused me to take another look at where I was when I heard the tragic news of her death. I had always thought I was in a motel in Ames, having attended an ISU football game the previous day. But when I realized the death occurred on August 31st, I wasn’t entirely sure of that...

In 2013, the two U.S. senators from Texas (Ted Cruz and John Cornyn) voted to reject a $50-billion recovery package for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, which struck New Jersey and neighboring states. Now that Texas has been struck by a devastating storm, those same senators urge the federal government "to provide any and all emergency protective measures."...

For the month of September the Sanford Museum East Gallery will display the mixed media work of Tonja J. Ihlenfeldt. A native Iowan, Tonja's career began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Arizona State University. While married to her high school sweetheart for over 28 years and raising seven children, Tonja has shown her work in galleries and participated in art shows all over the United States. Her work has found homes in places as far away as Australia, Taiwan and Japan...

Dr. Rachael Etnier and Lon Etnier of Sheffield, Iowa are proud to announce the birth of their son, who was born in Mason City on June 6, 2017. Owen Michael Etnier weighed 7 lb. 14 oz. and measured 21 inches long, and he was welcomed home by his big sister, Charlee Denise, and his big brother, Otto Lyle...

Josh and Jana Naslund of Cherokee are happy to announce the birth of their son, born on August 28, 2017. Ashton Alexander Naslund was born at 11:46 a.m., weighed 8 lb. 2 oz., and measured 20 3/4 inches long, and he was welcomed home by his big brother, Emmet...

Michael “Mike” Vaughn Rekemeyer of Albia, age 49, passed away on Friday, September 1, 2017 after many years of pain and suffering. Mike was born on April 10, 1968, to Ross and Phyllis Rekemeyer at Story City, Iowa, where he grew up and attended school, staying active in wrestling, 4-H, and mischief.  He moved with his family to Albia and finished high school, enjoying Pops Choir and the Art program.  Summers were spent with Richard Burkman painting and pranking each other.  ...

The Cherokee County Veterans Freedom Rock at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Cherokee will be dedicated during a ceremony at 1 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the courthouse. Steve Reinert of the Cherokee County Veteran Affairs will open the ceremony, followed by singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Staci (Stoelting) Hudzinski. ...

The Grand Meadow Heritage Center will hold its 41st annual celebration on Sept. 9 and 10. Events include: 9 a.m. - McNeil Family Band 10:30 a.m. - Tractor Parade 11 a.m. - Alumni Recognition Noon - JK Country 1 p.m. - Antique Tractor (1950 and older) Pull...

Among the duties of county auditors across Iowa is to serve as commissioner of elections. This is a duty that Cherokee County Auditor Kris Glienke takes seriously, as do Cherokee Auditor's Office employees Samantha Boothby, Stephanie Thill, Shelly Pick and Emily Heidesch...

Several workers poured cement Thursday morning for four new horseshoe pits at the Cherokee Horse Arena. Bob Leach and Sheree Hausmann spearheaded the project, with the assistance and cooperation of the Cherokee Parks and Rec Department and the Horse Arena Committee. ...

SIOUX RAPIDS - The Alta-Aurelia football team evened its season mark Friday at 1-1 with a 40-13 non district win here Friday over Sioux Central. Senior running back Kaleb Sleezer gained 141 yards on 12 carries for an 11.8 average gain. The speedster scored two touchdowns, including a 61 yard scamper. Sophomore Anthony Krier also scored two running touchdowns for the Warriors, including one on a 25 yard run, and sophomore quarterback Logan McCoy completed five of eight pass attempts for 63 yards...

After a week one loss to Storm Lake, the Cherokee Braves attemped to get in the win column last Friday night against visiting Okoboji. And although the Braves looked much improved and made some adjustments, Okoboji was able to sneak out a late 20-12 victory on the Braves’ home field...

MARCUS - The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen Unio boys hosted Westwood here Friday in a Class A non-district football game, and the Rebels from Sloan slapped a 26-0 loss on the Royals. MMCRU junior QB Andrew Prescott completed 3 of 10 pass attempts, good for 23 yards. and on the ground for the Royals, Prescott gained 53 yards on 14 carries, Hunter Tentinger gained 45 yards on six carries, and Evan Cluck had 23 yards on 15 carries...

SHELDON- The South O’Brien football team traveled to Sheldon Friday night and faced the Class 2A 10th ranked Orabs on a rainy, damp evening. The game started with a 65-yard kickoff return by SOS’ Drew Faust that put the ball on Sheldon’s 5-yard line. Four plays later, the Wolverines punched it in on a 1-yard run by senior Clay Leng. Faust kicked the extra point, and the Wolverines led 7-0...

LAKE PARK - River Valley faced a stiff challenge here Friday when they took on Harris-Lake Park, the #1 ranked team in the state in 8 Man football, and H-LP took a 44-0 win over the Wolverines, who are now 1-2 on the season. Yards were hard to come by for River Valley, as they gained 28 yards through the air and 16 on the ground. Dominic Schirmer gained 54 yards on 10 carries for the Wolverines and Schitmet and Tyler Towne each caught one pass,...

IDA GROVE - The Ridge View football team team saw its season record evened at 1-1 when they dropped a 21-0 non district game to Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove here on Friday. Ridge View coach Dale Tokheim commented, “I thought OABCIG just out - played us and had more intensity.  I am not sure if the boys thought they were just supposed to win because things went so smoothly last week and they were ranked, but we were just off a little all night. “...

The Cherokee volleyball team hosted its first home match of the season on Thursday night against former Lakes Conference rival Emmetsburg, now a member of the Twin Lakes Conference.  The Braves won the match 3 games to none, by game scores of 25-17, 25-8, and 25-11. ...

This Friday's Chamber Coffee, at 9:30 a.m., will be hosted by Accura Health Care (the former Countryside Estates) at 921 Riverview Drive.