HARLAN -- How many people have original works from local artists?    That is one question that Brian Byrnes is asking as he officially opens the doors to the Brick Wall Gallery on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16.    The opening will last from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days. On Saturday, featured artists Frank Poepsel and Clay Cunningham will be present.

    HARLAN -- Health care questions hailed upon Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) during her town hall meeting Monday morning, July 10 at Harlan Community High School in Harlan.    The questions came from constituents who formed a crowd of approximately 150.

KIRKMAN -- The Kirkman 1992 Time Capsule came out on July 8 after spending 25 years inside of the town’s bell.    The time capsule was pulled out as part of the celebration for Kirkman’s Quasquicentennial, the 125th celebration of its incorporation.

AVOCA -- Bill and Bernadine Hardisty of Avoca will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on July 30. Their family is planning a card shower in their honor. Cards will reach them if sent to 317 East Jaycee Street, Avoca, IA 51521.    Their family includes Lance and Marilyn Hardisty, Council Bluffs; and Chad and Kirsten Hardisty, Issaquah, WA. The Hardistys have three grandchildren. 

 FONDA (July 7) -- Talk about peaking at the right time. The St. Edmond softball team entered postseason play last week with a record of 9-17 and defeats in six of its last seven games. Five nights and three wins later, the Gaels are one step away from the state tournament. Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton became St.

 HARLAN (July 6) -- In a season marked by inexperience and growing pains, the 2017 Harlan Community softball team mixed flashes of potential with youthful mistakes in a constant battle to get over the hump. The same could be said about Thursday’s Class 4-A regional quarterfinal game vs.

 TREYNOR (July 5) -- AHSTW fought gamely but ultimately came up short in last Wednesday’s Class 2-A regional quarterfinal softball game at Treynor, losing 6-4 in nine innings when Sydni Huisman delivered a two-out, two-run single for the Cardinals. The Lady Vikes trailed by two in the seventh and were down to their final out when Katie Anzalone (error) and Paige Osweiler (single) both reached safely and scored on another Treynor error to tie t

 IRWIN (July 5) -- Two different times the IKM-Manning softball team rallied back to tie Missouri Valley here Wednesday night, but the Wolves were unable to get the big hit they needed to take a lead. In the end, 12 stranded IKM-M base runners proved to be the biggest difference as the Lady Reds scored three late runs to knock off the 15th-rated Wolves, 6-3, in a Class 2-A regional quarterfinal between Western Iowa Conference foes. The final o

 GLIDDEN (July 5) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton softball team is back in familiar territory, posting tournament wins and poised to reach its fifth regional final in six years with just one more victory. The Spartans (16-10 overall) handled their business again Wednesday with an 8-4 win over Audubon in the Class 1-A, Region 3 quarterfinal held at Glidden. They will now face an upstart Fort Dodge St.