EARLING -- Arden Hargens of Earling will celebrate his 80th birthday on April 10. His family is requesting a card shower in his honor. Cards will reach him if sent to 304 3rd St., PO Box 68, Earling, IA 51530.

    PANAMA -- Julie Goetz of Panama will mark her 90th birthday on April 16. Her family is planning a card shower in her honor.

 DES MOINES -- Jim Stessman of Harlan was recognized prior to Harlan Community’s Class 3A Boys State Basketball Tournament quarterfinal game on March 10 as the school’s Iowa Farm Bureau Fan of the Game. Stessman, a 1979 graduate of Harlan Community High School, has been employed by the school since 1986 and is a strong supporter of Cyclone athletics.

 DES MOINES -- Harlan residents Kyle Manz and George Applegate were both selected by the Iowa High School Athletic Association to work at the 2020 Boys State Basketball Tournament March 9-13 at Wells Fargo Arena. Manz served as a tournament game official throughout the week while Applegate was one of nine people selected to work on the tournament staff as a scorer and/or timekeeper.

 DES MOINES -- Royce Ranniger, a native of Manning, was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s 2020 Officials Hall of Fame for boys basketball during halftime of the Class 2A state championship game on Friday, March 13, at Wells Fargo Arena. Ranniger began officiating while he was a student at Briar Cliff and has been registered with the IHSAA for 39 years.

 STATE -- The Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union issued a joint release on Tuesday, March 17, announcing the coed state qualifying track meet sites for Thursday, May 14. All spring sports and activities remain on suspension throughout the state until at least May 1 according to an update from the IHSAA and IGHSAU on Thursday, April 2. Pending an abbreviated spring sports season, the IHSAA and IGHSAU

Class 1A, Substate 7Brennan Sefrit, Bedford, sr.Trey Baker, Martensdale-St. Marys, jr.Dawson Frost, Mount Ayr, sr.Tyler Peterson, Stanton, sr.Michael Schafer, East Mills, sr.Creighton Nelson, Exira-EHK, sr.Cooper Nally, Bedford, sr.TJ Harkins, Earlham, jr.Coach of the Year - Joe Franey, Martensdale-St. Marys

    REGIONAL -- Harlan Girl Scout Troop 147 assembled 55 goodie bags for the delivery drivers at Panama Transfer as a special thank you for “Keeping America Moving” especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each goodie bag contained a pop, chips and a cookie or candy bar.

    TRUJILLO, PERU – Halfway across the globe, two Myrtue Medical Center emergency room nurses this week have some sound advice for Shelby County residents now that there are three local confirmed cases of COVID-19.    “Self-isolation works,” says Frannie DeLauter.  “I think people still don’t think this is as big of a threat as it really is.    “Talking to co-workers at home, they are preparing for the worst.  This is likely the calm before t