HARLAN -- Richard and Janie Croghan of Woodbine announce the engagement of their daughter, Shelby to Preston Nelson both of Harlan. Preston is the son of Greg and Donna Nelson, Harlan.    The couple will exchange vows on September 28 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan.

 HARLAN -- If 2018 was viewed as a small step, the 2019 season must be considered a giant leap for the Harlan Community softball program. Following three sub-.500 records during head coach Brooke Wilson’s first three years at the helm, including a 15-17 mark last summer, this year’s Cyclones got back on the winning track in a big way. Dominating the Hawkeye Ten Conference at times, HCHS won its first outright league title since 2013 with a spa

 HARLAN -- If all good things must come to an end, it was a heck of a ride for the Harlan Community baseball team. On the heels of eight straight trips to the state tournament, including a 3A championship in 2016 and runner-up finishes in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2018 - a run that saw them average 29 wins per year - the Cyclones had another great season in 2019 but fell one victory shy of their ultimate goal. Ranked in the top five nearly wire-to-

 PORTSMOUTH -- The National League defeated the American League 12-9 in the annual Iowa Western League All-Star Game held Wednesday, August 7. The AL All-Stars trailed 12-3 before scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it close. Both squads finished the seven-inning game with nine hits and stranded seven men on base. The Home Run Derby held before the game was won by Justin Schaben of Portsmouth.

 HARLAN (Aug. 12) -- The Harlan Community volleyball team began practicing for the 2019 season Monday morning as it looks to improve on last year’s 18-21 match record. Third-year head coach Willie Baughman expects to start the season with a roster of approximately 35 players in grades 9-12.

    MANILLA -- Alan “AJ” Jensen, 83, Manilla, died Monday, Aug. 19 at Manilla Manor in Manilla.  Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

    HARLAN -- Dale Ruha, 77, Harlan, died Saturday, Aug.

    CLARINDA -- Mary Ann Assmann, 87, Clarinda, died August 17 at Westridge Quality Care and Rehabilitation.    Services will be held Monday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.  A wake service will be held Sunday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.  Family will greet friends Sunday from 5-7 p.m.

    SUN CITY WEST, AZ - Dorothy Joan Alff, 86, died on Saturday, August 10 in Sun City West, AZ.    Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Public visitation will be Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.    Survivors include her daughter Dr.