WATERLOO (Feb. 19) -- Bowling just below his season average, Harlan Community sophomore Darren Stein placed 33rd out of 53 participants in the Class 1A Boys State Bowling Tournament held February 19 at Waterloo’s Cadillac Lanes. Competing as an individual qualifier, Stein rolled games of 155 and 203 for a total of 358, finishing one pin behind Shenandoah’s top two finishers, Jordan Ross and Aaron Whitslar.

 AVOCA (Feb. 19) -- The final chapter has yet to be written in the basketball storybook of Sophia Peppers and Kealey Nelson, but the plot thus far has certainly been well worth the read. Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s senior duo combined for 38 points and 19 rebounds Monday night, clinching a fourth consecutive trip to the Girls State Basketball Tournament as the seventh-ranked Spartans defeated No.

HARLAN - Last spring, an estimated 70 students received local scholarship awards from 48 sponsoring organizations, totaling close to $230,000 in funding.  In 2018 there are 11 new scholarships plus an additional 33 scholarships come from other sources which would likely bring the total to well over $500,000.  
 

    HARLAN – The Harlan Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees and members of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Iowa Council 61 have reached a tentative bargaining agreement.    The board and union representatives met in closed session in early February and came to a tentative three-year agreement.    Union employees will be granted a two percent salary increase per year for the next three years, on July 1, 2

    HARLAN -- Three Harlan Community High School speech students have qualified for the Iowa High School Speech Association state contest to be held next weekend in Nevada following outstanding performances at district competition recently. Jayden Swanson, Tim Mumm and Josh Rihner are heading on to state speech for their individual performances.      On February 24 the HCSD Individual Speech Team, under the direction of Ms.

   DES MOINES -- Iowa Rep. Steven Holt (R-Denison) filed his nomination petitions to the Secretary of State’s office to seek re-election to District 18 in the Iowa House this fall.    District 18 serves all of Shelby County and portions of Crawford and Harrison Counties.  (Photo contributed)

    ELK HORN --  It was the first year for the E/EH-K school champion to attend, and Bricker participated and finished with a tie for 25th place out of 60 school champion spellers. She is the daughter of Nikki and John Bricker of Elk Horn.    The champion will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

    COUNCIL BLUFFS - Allan Hjelle, Elk Horn, will be honored by CHI Health Mercy Hospital on March 24 at the Mid-America Center, where he will be named a Heritage Award recipient which were created to celebrate those who have enriched the community and established a legacy on which future Heritage Award honorees can build.    Hjelle was born on Dec. 23, 1943, to Arnold and Denise Hjelle, a family of educators.

    HARLAN -- The Harlan City Council Tuesday, Feb.