GRISWOLD (May 10) -- The IKM-Manning boys earned a championship banner and the AHSTW girls placed second at Friday’s Class 1A State Qualifying Track Meet in Griswold. Together, the two area schools combined to qualify 27 entries for the State Track and Field Championships in Des Moines later this week (May 16-18). IKM-M ran away with the boys team title, scoring 145 points and qualifying for state in 10 events.

 REGIONAL (May 10) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton and IKM-Manning boys golf teams both advanced from sectionals to district play on Friday and will play again May 16-17 in an attempt to get back to the state meet. Exira-EHK placed first at the Logan-Missouri Valley Country Club with a team score of 330, led by medalist Ev Carroll’s 72.

    MINDEN -- Madeline Mae Ehlers, 91, Minden, died May 21 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services will be held Friday, May 24 at 4 p.m.

    ELK HORN -- Tivoli Fest, Elk Horn’s annual Danish festival celebrating their Danish heritage, was a fun and exciting time for Danes as well as visitors from around Iowa and the nation.  With the rise in new businesses coming to town, the Museum of Danish America becoming accredited and the historic Danish Windmill being restored to working condition again, they had many reasons to celebrate!    This 40th annual festival was packed with an

    HARLAN -- Librarians put a lot of work into making sure their services stay relevant to the times. For Kristen Bieret, Harlan’s adult services librarian, that meant bringing the concept of an escape room to the Harlan Community Library.    Escape rooms are entertainment venues cropping up in cities everywhere: participants sign up to get locked into a room with a group of people for a set period of time.

    HARLAN -- As the school year comes to a close the four foreign exchange students who have spent the year at Harlan Community High School reminisced about their experiences and  memories.    Natalie Brockt of Germany, Valeria Chirila of Moldova, Sina Fluor of Switzerland and Luiza Oliveira of Brazil will all return to their home countries in June.    Natalie Brockt is the daughter of Sabrina and Thomas Brockt who live in a small town about

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Community Schools Board of Education voted 6-0 Wednesday, May 22 to hire Grundmeyer Leader Services to find both its interim superintendent for the upcoming school year and permanent superintendent for the 2020-21 school year.    Approving the hire were board members Amy Rueschenberg, Jessica Anderson, Monte Schechinger, Al Hazelton, Tara Devlin-Lawler and Joni Larsen. 

    COUNCIL BLUFFS - Maxine Brandes of Council Bluffs will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 30. Her family is planning a card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to Maxine Brandes, Room 215, Northcrest Living Center, 34 Northcrest Drive, Council Bluffs, IA 51503. 

    SIOUX CITY -- Cara Shanks and Gabe Ferry both of Harlan will exchange marrige vows on July 5 in a ceremony at Country Celebrations in Sioux City.    Parents of the couple are Steve and Michelle Shanks, Le Mars; and Brandt and Stacy Ferry, Kirkman.