KIMBALLTON (June 4) -- One night after losing its first regular-season game since 2019, the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton softball team quickly righted the ship here Friday with an 8-4 Rolling Valley Conference win over Boyer Valley. Junior ace Macy Emgarten pitched a two-hitter and the 11th-ranked (Class 1A) Spartans chipped away by scoring in all but one inning and totaling a dozen hits. After Boyer Valley pulled within 3-2 in the top of the fo

    ELK HORN -- Travelers driving hybrid and electric vehicles between Omaha and Des Moines on Interstate 80 can unplug and recharge at the same time by hopping off the interstate at exit 54 and taking a short drive north on the Western Skies Scenic Byway to the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn.    “We are excited to offer travelers the latest generation of ChargePoint® EV stations,” said Lisa Steen Riggs, the Windmill’s manager.

    REGIONAL -- Regional Water Rural Water Association is moving to an Action Level Yellow in its water conservation plan, which calls for mandatory water use restrictions.    In a statement released June 4, Regional Water stated that due to heightened customer usage while dry water table conditions persist, and in order to protect public health, the move to a water conservation plan is warranted.    “All Regional Water users in the ATP System

    WALNUT -- On March 8, 1944, Ronald Paasch witnessed the tragic death of seven men in a bomber crash in Walnut.    Today, Paasch owns the land where the accident occurred and has dedicated a memorial to the victims with a replica of the B-24 Liberator aircraft that crashed.    Paasch, now 93, was a sophomore in high school when the incident occurred.

    DES MOINES – A Harlan alum and former student musician from Harlan Community High School has helped lead his theater students at Des Moines Christian (DMC) High School to top awards in the state’s high school musical theater awards showcase.    Jeff Johannsen was the musical director this past spring for the school theater department’s production of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, which has garnered a number of awards includi

    AVOCA -- Mary Ann Coenen, 87, Avoca, died June 11 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services were held Tuesday, June 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Earling.    A Catholic Daughters rosary was held Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at the church.  Visitation was Monday from 5-8 p.m.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (June 2) -- The Harlan Community girls soccer team can take heart in the fact that their season was ended by one of the top programs in Iowa’s Class 2A. Lewis Central, which won three consecutive 2A state championships from 2016-2018, looks poised for another possible title run in 2021. The 2nd-ranked Titans beat HCHS 8-0 in a Region 2 semifinal last Wednesday, breaking open a close game as Haley Bach scored four goals during a

 AMES -- IKM-Manning sophomore Kylie Powers shot two solid rounds in last week’s Class 1A Girls State Golf Tournament, placing 11th out of 77 competitors at the Ames Golf and Country Club. Powers carded a 90 on Tuesday, June 1, and was 13th at the halfway point of the state meet.

 HARLAN (June 1) -- The Harlan Community baseball team won its first two games of the season Tuesday night at Jim Goeser Field, sweeping Creston in a Hawkeye Ten Conference doubleheader by scores of 10-6 and 8-0. Six two-out runs in the fourth inning, followed by a three-spot in the fifth, allowed the Cyclones to take control of game one as Stephen Leinen earned the pitching win in relief and Joey Moser locked down the save. Game two was all a