SHENANDOAH (June 28) -- The Harlan Community softball team clubbed three home runs, totaled 22 hits and took advantage of 11 Shenandoah errors to sweep Monday’s Hawkeye Ten doubleheader with the Fillies 12-1 and 13-0. Both games lasted just five innings. The Cyclones set the tone for the night with a five-run first in game one, capped by Emily Brouse’s three-run homer.

 MANILLA (June 24) -- An eight-run second inning springboarded the AHSTW baseball team past IKM-Manning 12-7 Thursday night as both squads finished Western Iowa Conference play. The Wolves answered AHSTW’s initial outburst with four runs in the bottom of the second but the Vikings countered with three in the third and were able to hold on after IKM-Manning put together a three-run rally in the fourth. The Vikings improved to 5-11 in the WIC (a

 IRWIN (June 24) -- AHSTW posted a pair of four-spots in the third and fifth innings Thursday and defeated IKM-Manning 11-1 in the Western Iowa Conference regular season finale for both area teams. The Lady Vikes outhit the Wolves 9-4 and won by the 10-run rule in five, improving to 14-11 overall and 11-5 in league play, earning them the number three seed for the WIC Tournament June 29 and July 1.

 DOW CITY (June 25) -- Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton capped a 3-0 week on the softball diamond Friday, staying unbeaten in Rolling Valley Conference play with a 5-2 win at Boyer Valley. The 14th-ranked (1A) Spartans trailed 1-0 after three innings and led just 3-2 after six, then scored two key insurance runs in the seventh to back winning pitcher Macy Emgarten, who fired a five-hitter with one walk and 11 strikeouts. Exira-EHK totaled eight hits

    AVOCA – A fire at a Regional Water Rural Water Association booster station used to pump water to nearby communities was completely destroyed by fire early Friday morning, July 2 which led to a temporary, possible shortage of water, mandatory water use restrictions and a mandatory boil advisory for areas of western Iowa, including Shelby and Pottawattamie Counties.    Nicholas Gaul, manager, said the fire completely wiped out the station, a

    Annie Keupp announces the pageant winners, Riley Cairney and Milo Clingerman, at the first annual Li’l Mr. and Ms. Firecracker Pageant at the Avoca Main Street Farmers Market Wednesday, June 30.  (Photo by Molly Blanco)

    REGIONAL -- Iowa’s blood supply has reached critically low levels in recent months due to a dip in donations, increased demand for blood products and diminished staffing at blood centers.    Danielle West, director of public relations and marketing at LifeServe Blood Center, said the blood shortage has persisted for the past three to four months.    LifeServe is the sole provider of blood to more than 120 local hospitals in Iowa, Nebraska

    OMAHA, NE -- Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles W. Herbster announced this week Ellen Keast as Deputy Campaign Manager.    For the past six months she has served as the Deputy Director of Communications.  Keast is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and former member of President Donald J.

    MANNING – The IKM-Manning School Board of Education has approved a September petition vote following discussion at its recent board meeting Tuesday, June 29 and a presentation by Donovan Group and 10FOLD.    The board voted 5-1 (Heller nay) approving a September vote as opposed to a November vote, and work will begin to educate the public on what a proposed bond issue could entail as well as needs of the district.    Jerry Gallagher from D