AVOCA -- Leo and LaVonne Bargenquast of Avoca will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on May 29. Since they are not able to have a formal celebration for this milestone due to the COVID-19 issue, their family is requesting a card shower in their honor.    Cards will reach them if sent to 409 N. Elm St., Avoca, IA 51521-3520. A formal celebration will be held later in the year at a date to be announced.
 

HARLAN -- Shirley (Dreager) Knudtson of Harlan celebrated her 94th birthday on May 16. Cards will reach her if sent to 2105 9th Street, Harlan, IA 51537.    Her family includes Lynn and Maria Knudtson, Cindy and John Masters, Lee and Cathy Knudtson all of Omaha; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
 

    HARLAN -- Abigail Lefeber, a junior at Harlan Community High School, has earned first place at the state level in the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, and will represent Iowa competing at the national level.    Lefeber, the daughter of Kelly and Jennifer Lefeber of Harlan, is a student of Doug Renkly, art teacher at HCHS.    The winning state entry was inspired by Lefeber’s desire to spark a happy emotion.

    MANNING -- IKM-Manning seniors throw their graduation caps in the air, excited about being 2020 graduates.  Although the end of the academic year was anything but traditional, the seniors were able to get together for this photo.

    REGIONAL – Iowa’s top academic students have been chosen for the 2020 Governor’s Scholar Program, including five from area school districts that include Harlan Community, IKM-Manning, Exira-EHK, AHSTW and Tri-Center (Neola).    The Governor’s Office, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and its title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau, are presenting this recognition which began in 2003.

    HARLAN – The World Food Prize Foundation hosted its ninth-annual Iowa Youth Institute (IYI) on April 27 featuring the participation of 264 students and 110 teachers from 93 Iowa high schools, including Tianna Kasperbauer from Harlan Community High School.    This virtual, day-long event was the first of its kind for the IYI supported by more than 90 experts from across Iowa.

    REGIONAL – Many high school seniors in southwest Iowa were treated to a virtual commencement ceremony this past weekend, and are anxiously awaiting the possibility for in-person graduation in June or July.    To further celebrate their accomplishments and offer encouragement during an unprecedented time of COVID-19 and the year-end school disruptions, an innovative Facebook project aims to “adopt” a senior and provide gifts, cards, etc.

    REGIONAL – Shelby County residents have turned out in a positive way to fill out the Census.  It’s an important step in ensuring the community will receive its fair share of federal funds, grants and support for local hospitals, first responders, health clinics and many other programs such as the school lunch program and services for needy families.    To date, Shelby Countians have done well filling out the 2020 Census, with 68.4 percent

    HARLAN -- The Boy Scouts of Troop 90 announce that they will place flags in and around Harlan on Memorial Day as usual.    During these challenging times when we have been unable to celebrate important events together and publicly as usual, the Scouts are committed to providing this “Star Spangled Streets” service to the residents of Harlan to allow the community to come together in pride and patriotism to honor those who died while servin