Stories from Wednesday, December 27, 2017

PAULLINA - The South O’Brien boys defeated Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 63-37 in War Eagle Conference basketball play here Thursday. Caron Louscher had 23 points to lead the Wolverines, and Peyton Brasser (12 points) and Jackson Louscher (11) wer also in double figures. Brasser had 10 rebounds, Jackson Louscher had eight, and Carson Lousher seven. Drew Faust had five steals for SOS, which enters the Christmas break with a 5-4 record...

Bill Anderson, Executive Director of the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation, gave up his post as an Iowa State Senator to take the position left by former Director Mark Buschkamp, who resigned a few months ago and was replaced by interim Director John Comstock, who worked with Anderson during the transition process...

The Gardens had its annual Garden of Trees fundraiser wrap up on December 8th. During the event, local businesses and individuals decorate wreaths and trees that are then available on silent auction for two weeks. The money raised is donated to hospice, an organization the tenants chose. The Gardens raised nearly $2,000 this year, the highest amount to date...

Staff members at State Savings Bank in Cherokee held their annual ugly sweater contest Friday. The bank hosted the Chamber Coffee that day and Chamber members voted on the ugliest sweater. Left to right - Dan Berglund, Karen Aduddell, Sheree Booth, Donna Leach, Linda Smith and Sueann Johnson...

Brett and Allosa Friedrichsen are happy to announce the birth of their little boy, born on December 19, 2017. Colt Rodney Friedrichsen was born at 5:50 p.m. and he weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. and measured 21 1/4 inches long. Colt was welcomed home by his big brothers, Henry and Lane, and his big sister Carli...

Al and Barb Henn will be celebrating their 55th Wedding Anniversary on December 28, 2017 with a family dinner. Al and Barb (Thorp) were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. The Henns have two children and seven grandchildren.

Midwest Dueling Pianos is a collection of some of the best entertainers in the industry. They perform their unique brand of interactive entertainment all over the country for events such as weddings, college shows, civic events, corporate functions, and more...

With sufficient planning and a well-balanced menu, it’s possible for us to enjoy our favorite holiday foods without gaining too much weight and making the much-anticipated joyous times stressful and worrisome. •Be realistic. By making small changes in your diet during the holidays you will be able to make sensible choices. As an example, have a light snack an hour before an event. You’ll go feeling less hungry, resisting the urge to over-eat...

Phillip Gulley, the Quaker pastor and author who writes amusing anecdotal stories and observations on life in general wrote about customs in other countries to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. I did some exploring and found some that were rather interesting and noteworthy and would like to share them with you...