PORTSMOUTH -- Bill and Mase Bruck of Portsmouth will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 8. They plan to celebrate with a family vacation this summer.    Their family includes the late Michelle “Mitz” Zaiser, and her husband, Dave Zaiser, Logan; Todd Bruck and friend, Emily Mullen, Grimes; and B.J. and Tracy Bruck, Earling. Bill and Mase have seven grandchildren.

HARLAN -- Ken Weber, Harlan Municipal Utilities General Manager, issued an overview of three of HMU’s utility performances through Jan.

HARLAN – The Harlan Education Association and Harlan Community Schools Board of Education have approved a three-year agreement following exempt-session negotiations held during the past few weeks.    Due to legislative changes implemented at the state level this year, specifically a revision of Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code regarding collective bargaining, the district and association only were able to bargain on wages.    Staff will receive a $

HARLAN – The Harlan Education Association and Harlan Community Schools Board of Education have approved a three-year agreement following exempt-session negotiations held during the past few weeks.    Due to legislative changes implemented at the state level this year, specifically a revision of Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code regarding collective bargaining, the district and association only were able to bargain on wages.    Staff will receive a $

HARLAN -- Hundreds of people turned out Tuesday night, March 28 for the second-annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Extravaganza held at the Harlan Community Schools.    The Southwest Iowa regional STEM hub hosted the event in the primary and intermediate gyms in the Harlan Community Schools.  The extravaganza was a celebration of all things STEM, with more than 28 booths of student and community businesses representing vari

AMES -- Kassidy Chadwick, a seventh-grader from Exira-EHK Community School District, finished in a tie as state runner-up in the Scripps State of Iowa Spelling Bee Contest, held March 25 at Iowa State University.  The spelling bee was sponsored by the ISU Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  Kassidy is the daughter of Jared and Hollie Wedemeyer of Elk Horn and Kris Chadwick of Harlan.    The word that she misspelled in the fi

    WALNUT -- Jack and Judy Ploen of Walnut celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday, March 26.    Jack and Judy have four children: James and Brooke Ploen, Jennifer Ploen, Jessica Ploen and Jared Ploen all of Walnut. The Ploens have two grandsons.

    HARLAN -- Gary Lee Smith, 71, Harlan, died March 31 at his home.    Services will be held Wednesday, April 5 at 9:30 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  Visitation is Tuesday, April 4 from 4-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m.

    ELK HORN -- Connie A.