DENISON (March 26) -- The Harlan Community track teams combined to win exactly zero meet titles during the course of a weather-marred 2018 season, so it’s understandable why Coach Doug Renkly had his girls squad soak up the joy of a cool-down victory lap following Tuesday’s Denison Monarch Co-Ed Relays. Renkly’s Cyclones held off a strong challenge from Denison-Schleswig and Atlantic to win their half of the meet while Sam Brummer’s boys squa

 HARLAN (March 26) -- The Harlan Community boys tennis team was unable to win a match in Tuesday’s season opener vs. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, losing 9-0 on the Harlan courts. The closest varsity battle of the day came at number four singles, where HCHS senior Jack Buman lost an 8-10 decision to AL’s Carter James.

    EARLING -- Dian Sonderman, 72, Earling, died March 25 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital.    Services will be held Friday, March 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  A wake service was held Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.  Visitation was Thursday from 3-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m.

The Harlan Jazz Experience has qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships (IJC) Tuesday, April 2 and will take the stage at 1:15 p.m.

HARLAN – An alleged incident involving a teacher utilizing students to dole out physical punishment against another student made its way to the school board table Monday, March 25 as a school patron advocated for student safety and suggested ineptitude or a possible cover-up by administration.    Meanwhile the husband of the teacher at the center of the alleged incident defended her calling it a “rumor” that was already investigated by adminis

HARLAN -- A small group of students turned out to hear a presentation Saturday, March 23 from Ryan Nesbit about suicide prevention and survivor assistance at Harlan Community High School.    The program was part of the first-ever Teen Health and Resiliency Fair, which also included presentations on teen resiliency and online safety. 

    COUNTY -- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Saturday, March 23 announced that U.S. President Donald Trump had approved the disaster declaration for 56 counties, including Shelby County, freeing up federal aid for areas devastated by flooding.

    SHELBY – Citizens of Shelby will head to the polls Tuesday, April 2 to cast ballots in a special election to fill a vacant city council seat.    Polls will be open from noon-8 p.m. at the Shelby Community Hall.  Absentee ballots also will be accepted, and absentee voting in person will take place from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

 STARKVILLE, MISS.