COUNCIL BLUFFS -- The Harlan Community softball team saw its Hawkeye Ten record fall to 5-8 earlier this week following a pair of five-inning conference losses to Denison-Schleswig and Lewis Central. HCHS (8-14 overall) lost a home game vs. the Monarchs, 15-4, on Monday before dropping a 12-2 decision at LC Tuesday night.

 NEOLA -- The hits and runs just kept on piling up Tuesday night for the AHSTW softball team. Tied 1-1 after an inning, the Lady Vikes would score three or four runs in each frame the rest of the way, totaling 24 hits in a 21-8 road win over Tri-Center. The Trojans scored seven runs during the third and fourth innings to cut the margin to 8-5 and 11-8, but the Lady Vikes scored 10 unanswered the rest of the way.

 NEOLA -- In a back-and-forth Western Iowa Conference baseball game Tuesday night, Tri-Center answered every AHSTW challenge to post a 10-7 home win over the Vikings. After AHSTW took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, T-C scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning. When the Vikings scored three in the fourth, the Trojans responded with three in the fourth and two in the fifth.

 OMAHA, NEB. -- Ruby Martin, the great-granddaughter of former Shelby County residents, will swim in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials held June 26-July 3 at Omaha’s CenturyLink Center. Ruby, a 16-year-old from Coralville, is the daughter of Jeff and Lisa Martin. She is the granddaughter of Jim Larsen and the late Joyce (Bruck) Larsen.

    EARLING - Services for Laura Sandlin, 60, Earling, will be held Saturday, July 2 at 10 a.m.

    HARLAN -- As the starting pistol is raised into the warm summer air, swimmers raise their marks on the platforms, parents shifted to the edge of the bleachers and the coaches calmly stare through their sunglasses.    The Harlan Swim Team has developed over the course of decades to be a successful, fulfilling program for the community.

    HARLAN – Sports enthusiasts who have gotten used to parking on the north side of Elm Street near Merrill Field during ball games on football Friday nights may have to find a new place to park their vehicles, should a proposal being considered by the Harlan City Council be approved.    The council is proposing to amend current city code by adding a no parking zone on the north side of Elm St. between 10th and 12th Sts. from 3-11 p.m.

    HARLAN – Harlan Community Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner will be paid a base salary of $167,982.20 in 2016-17 under a contract agreement approved by the HCS Board of Education Monday, June 20.    Total salary and benefits package for Wagner amounts to $224,885.60.    The board approved the contract 5-0 (Lonnie Muxfeldt, Al Hazelton, Angie Monson, Joni Larsen and Amy Rueschenberg voted aye).  Absent were Monte Schechinger and Kathy

    DES MOINES -- Kelly Fairchild of Harlan will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday, July 3 beginning at 1 p.m. at an outdoor open house at Saylorville Lake, Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Loop OX-E Site 0251. Friends and family are invited to attend.      Kelly’s family includes Kim and Dick Zimmerman, Cedar Falls; Kristi and Paul Wegner, Harlan; and Karla and Rick Kramer, Harlan.