WINTERSET (May 29) -- Harlan Community finished with a 2-1 record at last Saturday’s Winterset Softball Tournament, winning by scores of 8-2 over Interstate 35 and 11-0 over Nodaway Valley before losing a nine-inning pitchers duel, 2-1, vs.

 FORT DODGE -- IKM-Manning senior Tyler Brandt shot rounds of 85 and 90 at the Class 2A Boys State Golf Tournament held May 27-28 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course near Fort Dodge. Brandt tied for 43rd place with his 36-hole total of 175 strokes, finishing 31 over par. There were 62 golfers in the 2A field. Beckman Catholic sophomore Nathan Offerman was the Class 2A state champion, shooting rounds of 79 and 70 for a first-place 149.

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Community Library recently revamped the children’s area of the library with a rural theme and a new play area.    The play area, called Monogram Farm, opened to the public last week after nearly three months of construction.

    REGIONAL -- Businesses nationwide have recently experienced shortages and price increases on a wide variety of products, from beef to bullets.    Many of the shortages are a result of slowed production during the pandemic and increased demand as the economy reopens.    Firearms and ammunition have been impacted by shortages caused by soaring demand.

Reporter Molly Blanco spent an evening photographing some t-ball at J.J. Jensen last week. Nothing quite like a beautiful evening at J.J. Jensen Park, where the Braves took on the Royals and the Twins battled the White Sox last Wednesday. A few highlights.....

    GREENVILLE, SC -- Word has been received of the death of Kathleen Kay Malone Ohlinger, 74, wife of Jake Ohlinger.    She is survived by her husband, and children J.J. (Darlene) Ohlinger, Dr. Johnelle (Alan) Brooks and Ken (Kelly) Ohlinger; and grandson Wyatt.

    HARLAN -- Allen Stephen Cox, 72, Harlan, died June 7 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services were held Friday, June 11 at 2 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  A prayer service was held Thursday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Visitation was Thursday from 5-8 p.m.

    PANAMA -- LuAnn Gross, 64, Panama, died June 8 at Methodist Hospital.    Services will be held Saturday, June 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Earling.  A prayer service will be held Friday, June 11 at 7 p.m. at the church.  Visitation is Friday from 2-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m.

    TENNANT -- Gordon Lee Buck, 58, Tennant, died Monday, June 7 in Tennant.    Services will be held Friday, June 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Shelby Cemetery.  Friends were asked to call Thursday, June 10 from 1-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m.