PORTSMOUTH -- Mary Ellen Reisz, 89, Portsmouth, died March 31 at Bergan Mercy Medical Center.    Services will be held Tuesday, April 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portsmouth with burial in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Portsmouth.    A rosary was held Monday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the church.  Visitation was Monday from 4-8 p.m.

    HARLAN – Long-time Kountry Kids Childcare Director Pam Klinkefus has announced her retirement, and her replacement, Samantha Nerem, began duties on March 1.    Kountry Kids is a licensed childcare center serving up to 133 children in Harlan.    Nerem grew up in Renwick and has her bachelor’s degree in early childhood administration from Purdue University Global.  She and her fiancé, Stephen McAtee, a combine mechanic in Avoca, live in Harl

    HARLAN – Prairie Rose Lake will play host to an exciting angling event in May when the Student Angler Federation (SAF) will hold the Iowa State Fishing Championships for junior and senior high school students at the state park.    Approximately 30 youth anglers and their families will head to Harlan and participate in the event, set for Saturday, May 22.    The SAF is one of the fastest growing, youth-related movements across the country d

 HARLAN -- Following 27 outstanding seasons, Steve Daeges has announced his retirement as the Harlan Community High School head baseball coach. Daeges, who guided the Cyclones to three state titles and five runner-up finishes during a hall of fame career, notified his players, assistant coaches and HCSD Activities Director Davis Pattee of his decision on Tuesday, March 23. A 1972 graduate of Harlan Community, Daeges returned to his alma mater

 CARROLL (March 25) -- The Harlan Community track and field teams opened the season on a chilly and damp night at Carroll Thursday, combining for 12 gold medals and both placing second at the Carroll Early Bird Track Meet. Glenwood swept the team titles in a competitive battle with HCHS. The Ram girls scored 159 points, followed by the Cyclones with 138 and Carroll with 101.

HARLAN -- U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) met with students at Harlan Community High School Tuesday, March 30, in an open dialogue and question and answer forum.  Among the topics were border policies, defunding the police, second amendment rights, political divisions, former President Donald J. Trump, and the election.  Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone (FMCTC) taped the full discussion.  Watch for airing dates.

    EARLING -- Troy’s Bar and Grill, Earling, has been named as one of the top 10 in Iowa having the best burger.    Iowans submitted nominations between February 15 – March 15 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.    The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2021 Top 10 restaurants.

    WALNUT -- Seth Gene Gregersen, 20, Elk Horn, died March 13 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    A family-directed graveside service will be held at 1 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Lee Nelson, 80, Harlan, died at his home on Wednesday, March 31.    Survivors include his wife, Judy Nelson of Harlan; children Jeff (Teresa) Nelson of Seattle, WA; Wendy (Matt) Steckler of Glenwood Springs, CO; stepchildren Jeff (Kristin) Pierce of Atlanta, GA; Gina (Michael) Kervan of Cranbury, NJ; sisters Donna (Rick) Collins of Stromsburg, NE; Judy (Lowell) Berg of Lincoln, NE; Barbara Nelson of Alexandria, VA.    All service