HARLAN -- Marie Greiner of Harlan will mark her 90th birthday on September 27. A family celebration is planned. Her family is requesting a card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to 2004 Garfield #213, Harlan, IA 51537.    Her children are Ken Greiner, Harlan; the late David Greiner, Beccy (Holle) and Brian Kramer, Colome, SD; Mary and Phil Schneider, Lenexa, KS; and Jennifer Ashe, Overland Park, KS. 

    PORTSMOUTH -- Ken and Dorothy Arkfeld of Defiance will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on September 17.    Their children and spouses are Jim and Diane Arkfeld, Manning; Larry and Deb Arkfeld, Omaha; Jeff and Denise Arkfeld, Osakis, MN; Bill and Brenda Arkfeld, Portsmouth; Tony and Kim Arkfeld, Harlan; and Todd and Monica Arkfeld, Burleson, TX. 

    PORTSMOUTH -- Joe and Arlene Springman of Portsmouth marked their 50th wedding anniversary on September 10. Their family is requesting a card shower in their honor. Cards will reach them if sent to 104 1100th Street, Portsmouth, IA 51565.    Joe and Arlene’s family includes Monie Springman, Portsmouth; John and Susan Springman, Portsmouth; Jim and Shari Springman, Portsmouth; and Bryan and Sarah Buckholdt, Underwood. 

    PORTSMOUTH -- Ray and Frances Anastasi of Portsmouth celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on September 14. Their family is planning a card shower in their honor.

    PORTSMOUTH -- A mural is in the process of being painted on the large fence along Main Street in Portsmouth.    “The fence was looking plain for years,” said Connie Juhl, community member. “We are just trying to clean up the city a little bit.”    About a year ago Juhl and Laura Anderson, city clerk, began brainstorming a project for the fence, since it is such a prominent part of Main Street.

    AVOCA – The AHSTW school community has had a special homecoming week this week under the theme “There’s No Place Like HOMEcoming!,” culminating with tonight’s football contest featuring the Vikings taking on Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center.    Homecoming king and queen candidates have been selected, and include (pictured at left):  Front L to R --  Cydney Anderson, Jaycie Schueman, Ashtyn Danker, Cassidy Espeseth and Anna Bauer.  Back L to R --

    HARLAN – The Harlan Community Schools’ preparation for serving ESL (English as a Second Language) students continues this school year with the hiring of a new ESL teacher and ratification by the district’s school board of a Lau Plan to serve English Language learners.    Ana Lucia Gil has served as the district’s ESL associate this past year, and is now certified to become an ESL teacher.  She joins Chery Andersen who also was hired as an

HCHS QB Deren Schmitz’s fourth-down pass went high allowing Glenwood it's second win in 47 games allowing the Rams to defeat HCHS 49-41, pushing HCHS's record to 1-3 and 0-2 in District 7, while the Rams imrpoved to 3-1  and 1-1.

    IRWIN -- The annual Greenridge Steam and Gas Antique Show will celebrate its 40th year when events kick off this weekend at the Greenridge site southwest of Irwin.    This year will highlight a number of special displays including a Birds of Prey presentation, and the show will host the Remembering Our Fallen display which honors soldiers who died while serving the country.    Dating back to 1977, it was two rural Irwin couples, Howard and