NEWTON (May 23) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton boys never got their second chance after some opening-day struggles at the Class 1A Boys State Golf Tournament. The Spartans posted a team score of 364 at the Westwood Golf Course Thursday, finishing last out of eight teams when Friday’s second day of competition was cancelled due to very wet course conditions.

 HARLAN (May 24) -- Connor Bruck pitched five scoreless innings of relief and Brenden Bartley drove in four runs from the eight hole Friday night as Harlan Community erased an early 6-3 deficit and beat Sioux City Bishop Heelan 9-6 in an early-season matchup of Class 3A state baseball powers. Bruck, who struck out all six batters he faced in last Monday’s season opener at Carroll, was extremely sharp once again against the fifth-ranked Crusade

 WINTERSET (May 25) -- Harlan Community finished 1-1 at the rain-shortened Winterset Softball Tournament on Saturday, beating ninth-ranked (2A) Van Meter 3-1 in five innings and losing to Interstate 35 (Truro) 5-3 in six.

 UNDERWOOD (May 20) -- Morgan Schaben pitched six hitless innings and drove in five runs at the plate to lead the Harlan Community softball team past Underwood 15-3 in last Monday’s season opener. The Cyclones scored three runs each in the first three innings and blew the game open with a six-run sixth to win by the mercy rule. Schaben, who has signed to play collegiate softball at Central College in Pella, struck out eight and walked three, a

 HARLAN (May 24) -- The Harlan Community girls soccer team finished the regular season by winning three out of four home games last week, beating AHSTW, WCV/Nodaway Valley/ACGC and Creston while losing to Panorama. The four-game set included a sudden-death, double PK shootout win over WCV/NV/ACGC on Wednesday and Friday’s match being moved from Creston to Harlan due to the forecast for severe storms in southern Iowa. The Cyclones will take a 9

 OAKLAND (May 22) -- AHSTW goalie Lucas Young will be the first to tell you that stopping penalty kicks isn’t nearly as easy as he made it look here Wednesday night. Locked in a PK shootout vs. Underwood, Young made three lunging saves and one other Eagle attempt sailed wide left.

 DENISON (May 22) -- Avenging a 3-0 loss from the regular season, the Harlan Community boys soccer team went to Denison Wednesday night and beat the 12th-ranked Monarchs 2-1 in a Class 2A, Substate 8 semifinal. Michael Heithoff’s first-half penalty kick and Levi Culp’s second-half goal put the Cyclones up 2-0 and they were able to hold on for the win.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (May 20) -- Nearing the midway point of the second half Monday night, Harlan Community was outplaying Glenwood but still trailed 1-0 as time started to become a factor. Barely two minutes later, the entire complexion of the soccer match had changed. Getting back-to-back goals from Aaron Wollaston and Michael Heithoff in a matter of 142 seconds, the Cyclones suddenly led by one and never let go of their momentum, holding off the

    HARLAN -- John M. Klein, 104, Harlan, died Sunday, June 2 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan.    Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.
See a PDF below of their obituary, if one was provided by the family or funeral home.