HARLAN – Mike Nichols described his month of June as phenomenal. The same adjective can be applied to his entire season. Nichols won all 15 of his June starts and 54 times in all en route to his career sixth IMCA Sunoco Stock Car national championship. He joined 2016 Hobby Stock king Shannon Anderson as the first drivers to win six national titles in the same division during the modern era of IMCA.

 CHURDAN -- Sophomore Cole Burmeister finished with 22 points and seven assists on Friday night, leading Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton to a 63-49 boys basketball victory at Paton-Churdan. Drew Buckholdt added 17 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists for the Spartans, who improved their Rolling Valley Conference record to 7-2. Dakota Rold also tallied a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds while blocking six shots.

 HARLAN -- When it comes to defensive strategy, a long-held mantra by Harlan Community boys basketball coach Mitch Osborn is that three-pointers will not beat you. So even though Atlantic finished 15-of-33 from the three-point arch against a combination of zone and junk defenses Tuesday night, it was no surprise that a man with 656 career wins was once again proven correct. Countering Atlantic’s long-range attack with 10 treys of their own, fo

 ATLANTIC -- Nicole Lange led four Harlan Community players in double figures with 20 points while adding seven rebounds and four assists as the Cyclone girls topped Atlantic 67-49 in their first game of the new year Tuesday night. Allison Bruck also had a big game with 18 points and nine steals, Lexi Larsen totaled 11 points, six rebounds and six assists and Bailey Hansen scored 11 points as well. The Cyclones knocked down 9-of-21 three-point

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW wrestling team finished 1-1 in a home double dual Tuesday night, losing to Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 37-28 and beating Riverside 63-13. A.L. won the meet by defeating Riverside 42-33. Five Vikings wrestlers finished 2-0 on the night, led by 106-pounder Joel Sampson recording a pair of first period wins by fall.

Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Spartan Girls Basketball Team Front row, L-R: Sadie Schultes, Rachel Walker, Mara Burmeister, Sophia Peppers, Maggie Rasmussen, Kealey Nelson, Alex Petersen. Back row, L-R: Head Coach Tom Petersen, Assistant Coach Hilary Runyan, Jacey Anthofer, Lauren Hansen, Damian Peterson, Grace Greving, Leslie Caniglia, Kamryn Waymire, Ellie Schultes, Assistant Coach Cory Bartz. (Photo courtesy of Beth Hansen)
 

    APACHE JUNCTION, AZ -- Floyd Jensen, 88, Apache Junction, AZ, formerly of Harlan, died Saturday, Jan.

    ATLANTIC -- Edwin Olson, 93, Atlantic, formerly of Harlan, died January 8 at the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center.    Services were held Thursday, Jan. 12 at 10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN – Faith Sound, the interdenominational, contemporary music group based out of Harlan, has kicked off its concert season  with performances in Harlan and an upcoming performance on Sun., Jan. 15 at 9:30 a.m. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church.    Now in its 42nd year, members of the group are students in 7th-12th grade from Harlan and surrounding communities, representing seven churches from the region.