JOHNSTON -- Dallas and Lois McDermott of Johnston will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on August 26.    Their family includes Erin and Jason Gaul, Harlan; Ryan McDermott, Des Moines; and Matt and Katie McDermott, also of Des Moines. The McDermotts have 10 grandchildren. 

    HARLAN -- Fern Knudsen of Jacksonville will celebrate her 90th birthday on Sunday, September 2 from 4 - 7 p.m. at an open house at Faith Family Church (Abundant Life) in Harlan. Family and friends are invited to attend.    Her family includes four children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and six  great-grandchildren. Fern requests no gifts.

    HARLAN -- John Haas of Harlan will mark his 90th birthday on September 1. His family is requesting a card shower in his honor.    Cards will reach him if sent to 1050 Sequoia Loop, Harlan, IA 51537.

    HARLAN -- Helen Bruck of Harlan will celebrate her 95th birthday on September 3. Her family is planning a card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to 708 Euclid Ave., Harlan, IA, 51537.    Helen’s family includes Bill and Mase Bruck, Portsmouth; Jan Lasher, Harlan; Mary and Darwin Gessert, Harlan; Bruce and Karen Bruck, Portsmouth; Craig and Tina Bruck, Persia; and Kevin and Jodi Bruck, Dunlap.

 HARLAN -- Glancing at the preseason depth chart for the 2018 Harlan Community football team, it’s difficult to find a position group that doesn’t feature at least some level of returning talent. In all, the Cyclones bring back nine players on offense and seven on defense who started at least part-time for last year’s 10-2 Class 3A state semifinalist - a team that nearly pulled off an incredible comeback from down 35-0 in a 41-39 UNI-Dome loss

Cyclones’ New Home: Class 3A, District 9 Every two years, the Iowa High School Athletic Association reclassifies the state’s football schools according to enrollment size and issues new district assignments.

 HARLAN (Aug. 25) - Three state-ranked teams will be in the field this Saturday when Harlan Community opens the season by hosting the annual Cyclone Volleyball Tournament. Play will begin at 8:30 a.m. with three pools of three teams each. Pool A will feature HCHS, 8th-ranked (2A) Tri-Center and Underwood on the south court of the high school.

 AVOCA -- AHSTW will host seven other teams Saturday for the season-opening Lady Vike Invitational at 8:30 a.m. The tournament will begin with pool play. In Pool A in the high school gym, AHSTW will compete against CAM, Denison-Schleswig and Essex. Pool B, in the elementary gym, will feature Atlantic, Thomas Jefferson, Earlham and Riverside.

 GLENWOOD -- The Harlan Community cross country team will open the season Saturday by competing in the Glenwood Ram Invite at 9:30 a.m.