HARLAN -- Gas and cable TV rates will go up April 1 after approval by the Harlan Municipal Utilities board of trustees Feb.

    IRWIN – The City of Irwin has been awarded a grant from the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund for the demolition of a dilapidated property.    The grant was one of three awarded this month by the trust, the others going to Logan and Malvern.  The grants, each of which is for a maximum of $15,000 per property, may be used for up to 50 percent of the actual asbestos removal and demolition cost for one dilapidated residential property in each

    HARLAN -- Doris Rasmussen of Harlan will celebrate her 90thbirthday at an open house on Saturday, March 7 from 2-4 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Harlan. Her family is hosting the celebration.    Friends and relatives are invited to attend. No gifts requested. Cards will also reach her if sent to 1205 16th Street, Harlan, IA 51537.
 

    HARLAN -- Marilyn Wittrup of Harlan observed her 90th birthday on February 23. She celebrated with a family party in Scituate, MA.    Marilyn’s family includes her husband, Richard, and children: Kenton and Sandra Wittrup, Lynn, MA; Alan Wittrup and his wife, Shannon Keith, Scituate, MA; and Eleanor and Steve Sochacki, Valley Springs, CA.

    HANCOCK -- Harold Leonard Hoffmann, Sr., 83, Hancock, died February 27 at his home.    Services will be held Wednesday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.  A wake service will be held Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.  Family will greet friends Tuesday from 4-7 p.m.

    BOONE -- Lois Jean Blair, 90, Boone, died February 28 at Westhaven Community.    Graveside services will be held Wednesday, March 4 at 1 p.m. at the Harlan Cemetery.  Family will greet friends Wednesday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

    SUN CITY CENTER, FL - Funeral services are pending for former Harlan resident Darlene Erickson Philson, Sun City Center, FL.

 LE MARS (Feb. 18) -- For the second straight year and the fourth time in the last seven, Harlan Community will finish the girls bowling season at the Class 1A State Tournament. The Cyclone girls punched their state ticket by winning Tuesday’s 1A State Qualifying Tournament at Sweet 16 Lanes in Le Mars.

 ATLANTIC (Feb. 17) -- The Harlan Community boys basketball team wrapped up second place in the Hawkeye Ten Conference Monday night with a 57-40 win at Atlantic. HCHS improved to 15-5 overall and finished 9-1 in league play. Atlantic fell to 8-12 and 4-6, respectively. The game marked the second in a series of three straight Mondays that the Cyclones and Trojans will do battle. HCHS won the first meeting 71-41 on Feb. 10 in Harlan.