SUN CITY CENTER, FL -- Former Harlan residents Dean and Darlene Philson of Sun City Center observed their 70th wedding anniversary on June 27. They have been celebrating with more than 30 family members in Sun City Center during the past week.    The couple’s three children and their spouses include Steve and Pam Philson, Lincoln, NE; Michelle and Greg Caudill, Manassas, VA; and Kim and Ken Conte also of Manassas.

    HARLAN -- Chris and Joni Larsen of Harlan announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren to Scott Opperman, son of John and Nancy Opperman, Manning.    Lauren and Scott will marry on July 14 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan.

 SERGEANT BLUFF (June 22) -- It wouldn’t be an official trip to Sergeant Bluff for the Harlan Community baseball team without some seventh-inning peculiarity. Two years ago, HCHS finished a 4-3 loss to Sergeant Buff-Luton playing under protest when the tying run was sent back to third base despite an overturned ‘out’ call at first that kept the Cyclone seventh inning alive.

 SHENANDOAH (June 21) -- The Harlan Community softball team continued its run of success against the southern half of the Hawkeye Ten Conference on Thursday, sweeping a doubleheader at Shenandoah by scores of 7-2 and 13-0 in four innings. HCHS is now 7-1 in varsity twin bills vs.

 AVOCA (June 22) -- Peyton Gross pitched a one-hit shutout and Grace Youngren blasted a solo home run Friday night as the 2nd-ranked (2A) IKM-Manning softball team blanked AHSTW 4-0 to sweep the season series. Gross struck out seven Lady Vike batters, walked one and hit one while recording her 10th shutout of the season. IKM-M scored three runs in the second inning to give Gross all the support she would need.

 AVOCA (June 22) -- IKM-Manning plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh Friday night to rally past the AHSTW baseball team, 2-1, in Western Iowa Conference action. The Wolves snapped a five-game losing skid in the process, improving to 4-12 overall and 4-10 in the WIC as junior Alex Lingle was the victor in a pitcher’s duel vs.

 AREA (June 25) -- The annual Western Iowa Conference Baseball and Softball Tournaments will be held this week, with the championship games slated for Thursday night in softball and Friday night in baseball. The 2nd-ranked (2A) IKM-Manning softball team, last year’s WIC Tournament champion, is unbeaten in conference play so far and will be the top seed.

 ELK HORN (June 21) -- Cole Madsen went 3-for-3 and Tyler Petersen pitched six innings for the win Thursday as the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak by topping Boyer Valley 9-4 in the rain. The Spartans (4-8 overall, 3-7 in the Rolling Valley Conference) actually led 11-4 when play was halted in the bottom of the sixth - still batting with two on and nobody out - but the official final score reverted bac

    ELKHORN, NE - Dennis John Kenkel, 78, died Tuesday, June 26 here. A Rosary was held at 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Earling on Thursday, June 28, followed by family greeting friends  from 5-8 p.m. and a 7 p.m. wake service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 29 at 10:30 a.m. with burial in the St.