AVOCA (Feb.

 CARROLL (Feb. 18) -- The Harlan Community boys basketball team nearly pulled off an upset at Carroll Thursday night, tying the game twice in the final minute before falling to the fourth-ranked (3A) Tigers 72-68 in the regular season finale for both teams. HCHS, which made 10-of-23 three-pointers and shot 54.3 percent overall, dropped to 9-11 going into Monday's (Feb.

    ELK HORN – Elk Horn’s Public Library has been named a five-star library by Library Journal, and is one of only three libraries in Iowa to receive such an honor.    Library Director Alissa LaCanne said this week the library was notified in December of the award.  Library scores for the honor are based on physical circulation, circulation of electronic materials, library visits, program attendance, public internet computer use, wi-fi session

    HARLAN – Breaking Cylence, Harlan Community High School’s show choir group, kicked off its contest season Saturday, Feb. 20 with a seventh-place showing at the Pella Dutchmasters Show Choir Invitational, also taking home a trophy for having the top band in its class.

     HARLAN (Feb. 20) -- For the first time since 2016, the Harlan Community girls basketball team is back in a regional final and ready for another shot at Denison-Schleswig. The 9th-ranked Cyclones withstood a tough test from Spencer in Saturday’s Class 4A regional semifinal round, overcoming 20 turnovers by shooting 65.7 percent in a 74-61 win over the Tigers. HCHS improved to 16-5 and will now travel to Denison Tuesday (Feb.

    HARLAN -- Edwin and Connie Benson of Harlan will mark their 60th wedding anniversary today, February 26. A family celebration is planned for a later date.    Their family is requesting a card shower in their honor.

    ANKENY -- Former rural Harlan resident Clarence Brinker of Ankeny will celebrate his 80th birthday on March 4.

    ATLANTIC -- Helen Ruth Blum, 99, Atlantic, died February 22 at the Atlantic Nursing & Rehab Center.    A private family interment with memorial Mass will be held at a later date.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.    Blum is survived by daughters Marilyn Munchrath of Omaha, NE, Linda (William) Ebbinga of Griswold, and Dr.

    HARLAN -- Six-year-old Stetson Thurman is much like any other active kindergartner.    He loves Creighton Bluejays basketball, the Omaha Lancers hockey team, and follows Toronto Bluejays baseball.  He plays tee ball with his younger brother, Oakley, and cousin, Easton.    You can find Stetson running around the farm with his siblings or fishing in the pond on any given day.    The Ones That Didn’t Make it Back Home by Justin Moore is just