AVOCA -- Lavern Walter Botcher, 82, Avoca, died June 23 at Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital.    Services will be held Tuesday, June 27 at 10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Dolores B. Mickelson, 91, Harlan, formerly of Irwin, died Friday, June 23 in Harlan.    Services were held Monday, June 26 at 11 a.m.

EAST PEORIA, IL -- Harlan Community High School coaching legends Curt Bladt and Mitch Osborn received national honors on back-to-back days last week at the 2017 National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Il. On Tuesday afternoon, June 20, longtime HCHS football coach Curt Bladt was inducted into the NHSACA’s National Hall of Fame.

PORTSMOUTH -- The Portsmouth Little League baseball team had its first home game of the season recently and it was a special night.  It was the first game teammate Jaxon Rold, who is battling cancer, was able to attend.  He led off each inning hitting and made it around on every hit.  He also played left field a few innings.  Portsmouth played Glenwood in the contest. 

HARLAN - The Harlan Community School District board voted last week unanimously to offer Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner a 1.38 percent wage increase, the same increase approved by the board for staff earlier this year.    There were no other changes to the three year rolling contract.    The Board agrees to pay the Superintendent a base salary of $171,135 for the period commencing July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2020.    The salary i

HARLAN -- Proposed modifications to the Electric Utility and Water Utility rates were tabled at the HMU June 22 meeting but are expected to be acted on at their July 13 meeting.    The proposals show some billing change and “step” modifications to the electric rates but most customers will not notice a change in their monthly billing.  Water rates, however, will increase at approximately 3.25 percent for all classifications as well as restruct

    HARLAN -- One thing is for certain – you can’t buy a llama in any old Iowan sale barn.    Laura Heimerman and her husband, Trent, are all about their livestock. Laura grew up with sheep and pigs and cows, but Trent’s grandpa was into, and around, all different kinds of animals.

Harlan City Administrator Gene Gettys, Jr. issued a statement Wednesday on behalf of the city elected officials and employees, following the release of a special investigation report by the state auditor's office that outlined improper and unsupported disbursements.
In part, the statement said the contents and outcome of the report are expected to be of concern to the community. 

    HARLAN -- Auditor of State Mary Mosiman today released a report on a special investigation of the City of Harlan for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2016.    The special investigation was requested by city officials as a result of concerns regarding certain travel reimbursements issued to the former city administrator, Terry Cox.    Mosiman reported the special investigation identified $144,872.32 of improper and unsupported disbu