HARLAN -- Rick Chipman said he used to “pray to God that he didn’t send me to Africa to be a missionary.”    Now, Rick and his wife, Cheryl, say they are “blessed” to participate in the Tanzania mission trips with the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan.    Cheryl and Rick are devoted members of the church and avid supporters of the church’s mission trips to Tanzania, an East African country more than 8,000 miles from Iowa.    Despite the m

   AVOCA -- Anthony “Tony” L. Reinig, 99, Avoca, died August 6 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services will be held Friday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan with burial in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Portsmouth.  Visitation is Thursday, Aug. 12 from 5-8 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Lauretta Catherine Kenkel, 85, Harlan, died August 6 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan.    Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Panama with burial in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Panama.  Visitation is Friday, Aug. 13 from 5-8 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Parish Center.  A rosary will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at the parish center.    Kenkel is survived by brothers Fr.

    STORM LAKE -- Larry Phillips, 77, Storm Lake, formerly of Harlan, died July 16 in Storm Lake.    Services will be held Friday, Aug. 27 from 2-5 p.m. at Lake Avenue Lounge in Storm Lake, with a brief memorial service at 2 p.m.

    EARLING -- Duane Albert Finken, 70, Earling, died August 4 at CHI Health - Lakeside.    Services were held Saturday, Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.  Visitation was Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with family greeting friends from noon-2 p.m.

    HARLAN – Harlan Girl Scout Andrea Rietveld has earned one of the highest honors bestowed in the program - the Silver Award presented to those Girl Scout Cadettes who focus on any issue they care about, learn the facts, and take action to make a difference.    Rietveld, 14, the daughter of Andy and Tricia Rietveld, earned her Silver Award May 15, 2020, raising funds for and completing a cement bench and leash holder project for the new dog

    HARLAN – The Harlan Municipal Utilities has revised its water conservation policy pertaining to the “usage allocation” section.    HMU is currently operating under a Tier I Water Warning, effective June 11 and continuing, due to drought conditions and well maintenance updates while it also works toward its plan for the drilling of up to four new wells to serve the community.    The HMU Board of Trustees has revised the policy.  The usage a

    MANNING -- The IKM-Manning Community School District and Board of Education will hold several community meetings focused on the September 14 bond issue vote.    The meetings will allow residents to learn more about the district’s needs and the solution that will appear on the ballot.    Attendees will also be able to ask questions and provide feedback.    The meetings will take place Tuesday, Aug.

DESTIN, FL -- Cali Hlavac is a country girl at heart, but she is living out her dreams on the beaches of Florida as a social media influencer, digital marketing specialist and the host of a local fishing show.    Hlavac is the daughter of Lori and Kevin Hlavac, Harlan residents who owned the Do it Best Hardware store for 20 years.    Hlavac was born in David City, Nebraska, but moved to Harlan when she was in the first grade.