REGIONAL -- Lack of rain has kept mosquitoes and ticks at bay so far this summer, but a change in weather could lead to an increase in population later in the season.    Iowa State Extension Entomologist Donald Lewis said the dry weather in Iowa this summer has resulted in fewer mosquitoes and ticks.    “The drought in the last year has made it difficult for ticks to survive and thrive,” Lewis said.

    REGIONAL -- Homeowners may want to watch out for a new species of earthworm, nicknamed the “crazy worm,” on their properties this summer.    The worm, commonly referred to as the Asian jumping worm, is similar in appearance to a common earthworm, but is easily identifiable by its erratic, snake-like behavior.    The jumping worm behaves like a snake, wiggling and thrashing when disturbed.    They will typically be found at the surface of t

    HARLAN -- When Lauren Jones and Sarah McDonald moved to Harlan to begin their careers at the Shelby County Historical Museum, they had never even heard of the town.    Now, they are well-versed on the history of Shelby County and apply their expertise to update and enhance the museum.    McDonald began her position as executive director of the museum in April 2018.

 HARLAN (June 15) -- Revenge is a dish best served in five. Twelve days after issuing 14 walks in an ugly 8-5 loss at Denison-Schleswig, the Harlan Community baseball team needed just five innings to avenge the Monarchs, 12-2, at Jim Goeser Field Tuesday night. Finishing things off with six runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Cyclones played one of their best all-around games of the year and snapped a three-game conference losing streak. Soph

 HARLAN (June 15) -- Jordan Heese had a four-hit game, Julia Schechinger popped a late home run and Tianna Kasperbauer pitched a two-hit gem here Tuesday night as the Harlan Community softball team beat Denison-Schleswig 11-1 in six innings to sweep the season series. Winning its fourth straight Hawkeye Ten Conference game, HCHS built momentum for the rest of an extremely busy week and improved to 13-5 overall and 8-2 in league play. The Cyclo

 KIMBALLTON (June 14) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton softball team picked up a 5-1 non-conference home win over Nodaway Valley on Monday, improving to 15-3 overall. Junior Macy Emgarten pitched all seven innings on the mound, allowing four hits and striking out 11.

 ELK HORN (June 14) -- Boston DeVault’s first-inning three-run homer set the tone for Nodaway Valley Monday night as the Wolverines put up four crooked numbers in a 14-4 baseball win at Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton. It was a mistake-filled non-conference game for the Spartans, who committed five errors, walked seven batters and hit five more in dropping to 6-7 overall. Nodaway added three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and four in the seve

 AVOCA (June 14) -- The AHSTW baseball team won 12-2 Monday night at Riverside in five innings and lost by the same score at home to Treynor Tuesday night in six. The Vikings seized command of the Riverside game by scoring four runs in the third, five in the fourth and three in the fifth, outhitting the Bulldogs 12-3. Nick Denning had three hits and scored three runs to lead the offense.

 GLENWOOD (June 14) -- Harlan Community softball pitchers Tianna Kasperbauer and Emily Brouse stole the show in Monday’s doubleheader sweep at Glenwood, striking out a combined 25 batters and allowing no earned runs as the Cyclones handled the Rams 10-0 and 7-1. Kasperbauer (5-1) pitched a three-hit shutout in game one, racking up 15 strikeouts and walking none.