STATE -- On Friday, July 17, Iowa Gov.

    AVOCA -- Laverne Roy Mertz, 94, Avoca, died July 17 at Avoca Speciality Care.    Services will be held Wednesday, July 22 at 11 a.m. at St.

    HARLAN -- Shirley Christensen, 84, Harlan, died at her home Saturday, July 18.    Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.
 

    HARLAN -- The City of Harlan is moving forward with a plan to install new welcome signs at the four corners of the community.    The new signs will be located at at the corner of Cyclone Ave. and Highway 59 near the water tower from the north; by Van Diest Supply from the south; by Western Engineering and Counsel from the west; and in the same location by Exchange St. from the east.

    AVOCA -- Barbara Befort of Avoca will mark her 80th birthday on July 26. Her family is requesting is card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to 563 South Maple Street, Avoca, IA 51521.    Her family includes Greg and Teri Becker, Avoca; Steve and Angie Becker, Johnston; Darren and Paula Becker, Harlan; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, expecting 8th greatgrandchild in October.
 

    HARLAN -- Minehart Brasch of Harlan will celebrate his  80th birthday on July 20. His family is planning a card shower in his honor. Cards will reach him if sent to 3002 12th St., #90, Harlan, IA 51537.    His family includes his wife of 56 years, Karen; children: Ryan Brasch, Bennington, NE; Marcy Ann, Harlan; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
 

 MANILLA (July 7) -- Considering that his team was playing its first game in 12 days - on just one practice - IKM-Manning head baseball coach Cory McCarville felt pretty good about the Wolves’ 7-3 home win over Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton here Tuesday. IKM-M fell behind twice - 1-0 in the third and 3-2 in the fifth - but responded with a two-spot both times and added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

 DALLAS CENTER (July 7) -- A wild seventh inning ended with Harlan Community on top Tuesday night as the Cyclones knocked off second-ranked (3A) Dallas Center-Grimes 5-4 in non-conference baseball action. HCHS trailed 2-1 after six well-played innings, then scored four runs in the top of the seventh with the help of four walks. DC-G, now 13-2 overall, fought back for two in the bottom of the inning to make it close, but left the tying and winn

 CRESTON (July 6) -- The Harlan Community baseball team wrapped up Hawkeye Ten Conference play with an 11-8 win at Creston Monday night, finishing 8-2 in the league standings and tying Kuemper Catholic for third place. The Cyclones nearly let a 9-2 third-inning lead slip away before scoring two sixth-inning runs - both on steals of home - to provide some insurance for relief pitcher Joey Moser (1-1), who finished the game with three and a thir