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Evans retires after decades of serving veterans

Dana Evans pictured with a deuce-and-a-half military truck dedicated to the approximately 58,220 Americans who died during the Vietnam War.
For 25 years, veterans across Cherokee County have known that if they needed help, a conversation or simply someone willing to listen, they could call Dana Evans. Whether assisting with disability …
Cherokee’s Mark Martin poses in his home under a framed treasure of the medals earned during his military service.

Veteran Mark Martin

At 77, Mark “Magic” Martin has traveled many long and winding roads, but none mean more to him than the path he walked in military service. Fifty-six years ago, the May 4, 1970 edition of …

A renovation at Spring Lake

Shown are the effects of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Rotenone treatment of Spring Lake. Fish washed up on Spring Lake’s shoreline earlier this week. The DNR applied Rotenone to the …

At the Sanford

Don’t miss the Sanford Museum & Planetarium’s fall exhibit: “Those Who Served: A Tribute to the World Wars and the people at home and far away.” Work by Jessica Glaza of Waterloo is …

Professionals awarded for resilience and dedication to real estate service

Amid the challenges the real estate industry spent much of 2026 navigating, exceptional professionals continued to raise the bar on service, leadership, and results. EXIT Realty Corp. International …

Cherokee hires Simmering-Cory to write more wastewater grants

The Cherokee City Council hired Simmering-Cory of Storm Lake to prepare a pair of applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency in connection with improving the city’s flood-damaged …
A skeleton band rocks outside Rasmus Realty.
The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce sponsored its Annual Costume Parade Saturday. Trick-or-treaters of all ages converged downtown to show off their costumes and collect treats from businesses. …
From Left: Kathy Hupke, Patsy Day, Fr Dan Rupp, Mike Bunt, Dale Allen, Tony Puffett and Randy Kane.
Cherokee Mayor Tony Puffett is continuing with his pledge to give his salary back to the community. He was joined by CAP food pantry volunteers and Dale Allen from   Cherokee Locker to deliver …

Knights of Columbus combines charity, community through fall outreach efforts

As the weather turns colder and the holiday season approaches, members of the Knights of Columbus are busy serving the community in more ways than one. Through their Coats for Kids program and annual …

Republicans cruise in Cherokee Co.

Voters line up to turn in ballots at the Cherokee Community Center on Tuesday.

Republicans swept Cherokee County’s election results on Tuesday night.  Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, notched 71% of the vote in his bid for another term in the Iowa Senate against Storm Lake …

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Local fire departments receive grants from Farmers Mutual

Presenting the $1,500 check is Rhonda Thompson. Accepting the check is Kristian Freed from the Larrabee Fire Department.

In honor of Fire Prevention Week Farmers Mutual Insurance of Hull is providing a $1,500 grant to the Cherokee Fire Department. This grant was made possible by a nomination from the Hopkins Insurance …

Opinion
‘We don’t ride bicycles in Iowa’
It’s November, and I’m still riding my bicycle to work. Iowa Congressional hopeful Joe Mitchell boasted to the president recently that Iowans don’t ride bicycles. Huh. I guess that makes me a …
Voters lose when journalists don’t push for candidates’ tax returns
Iowa voters have spent this fall hearing two men who want to be the next governor call each other rich, rootless and dishonest. What Iowans have not seen, however, are documents that would settle …
Rick Morain
Congress vs. the President
“There’s Got to Be a Morning After” — 1973 hit song, sung by Maureen McGovern (no relation to George McGovern) I’m writing this column before Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. That’s by …
Letter to the Editor: The patient who will never know the donor's name
The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce’s October calendar included a blood drive at Cherokee Regional Medical Center on Oct. 8. On a busy community calendar, that is the kind of event someone can easily …
Editorials: Election relief
What a relief! The torrent of malicious TV ads faded to black with the election. Kim Reynolds will not be governor; Democrat Rob Sand will be. Josh Turek will help put a check on President Trump as …
Sports

Third time’s the charm: Cherokee volleyball wins first in school history at State Tournament

CORALVILLE - After making trips to the State Volleyball Tournament in 2023 and 2025 the Cherokee volleyball team picked up their first win at the State Tournament on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over …

Friday Night Lights: Playoffs

MMCRU fell to West Monona 46-28 Cherokee lost to Spirit Lake 34-20 Ridge View lost to South Hardin 28-14

Braves win State semifinal over Dutchmen, head to final against Western Christian

CORALVILLE - The team’s had met four times this past season. The Braves won their first face-off 2-0, but the Dutchmen won the next three, 2-1, 2-1 and 2-0. None of that mattered to the Braves as …

Braves sweep home win over Clarinda, move on to regional final

The Cherokee volleyball team hosted Clarinda for the Class 3A Region 7 semifinal on Thursday and swept the match for a 3-0 victory. The first set was close most of the way through until after a …

Ridge View’s Chavez, Hustedt, Alta-Aurelia’s DeMuth head to State

HOLSTEIN - The Ridge View, Alta-Aurelia, MMCRU and South O’Brien cross country teams competed in a Class 1A State Qualifying Meet in Holstein on Thursday where two Ridge View girls, Destiny Chavez …

Obituaries
Robert Grienke
Robert D. “Bob” Grienke, 71, of Cherokee passed away on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Cherokee Regional Medical Center. It was Bob's wish to be cremated. Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee is …
Alice Frye
Alice J. Frye, 94, of Cherokee, and formerly of Washta, passed away on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Accura Healthcare of Cherokee. It was Alice's wish to be cremated. Private family graveside …
Ralph Riggs
Ralph P. “Chop” Riggs, 85, of Washta, passed away on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s in Sioux City. There will be a come and go celebration of life on Saturday, …
Darrell Nelson
Darrell E. Nelson, 84, of Cherokee passed away on Saturday morning, Oct. 17, 2026, at Accura Healthcare of Aurelia. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church in …
Mary Larson
Mary Jane (Beeson) Larson, 79, passed away at Heartland Care Center in Marcus on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Visitation with the family present will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee on …
Births
Amanda and Trey Bush of Cherokee are thrilled to announce the birth of their new son, Toby Edward Lee Bush. He was born on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at 8:06 a.m. Toby weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces …
Bethany and Jacob Lourenco of Primghar are thrilled to announce the birth of their new son, Lindon Orion Lourenco. He was born on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 3:07 p.m. Lindon weighed 9 pounds, …
Maylissa and Keith Wells of Cherokee are thrilled to announce the birth of their new daughter, Angeleah Rose Wells. She was born on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at 6:38 a.m. Angeleah weighed 6 pounds, …