AMES -- Katie Andersen, a fifth-grader from Exira-EHK Schools, finished in 15th place in The Scripps State of Iowa Spelling Bee Contest held March 12th at Iowa State University.    The spelling bee is sponsored by ISU Greenlee School of Journalism & Communication. 

    AVOCA -- Virginia Lee Smyser, 97, Avoca, died March 20 at the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center.    Services were held Thursday, March 24 at 11 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Arnold Rae Murray, 87, Harlan, died March 20 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services were held Thursday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Funeral arrangements are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, for Arnold Rae Murray, 87, Harlan, who died Sunday, March 20 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan.    He is survived by his daughters, Gail Murray and Lyla Smith.    Please call the funeral home at 712-755-3135 or visit www.pauleyjones.com for more information.

    ELK HORN -- David Burns, 78, Elk Horn, formerly of Oakland, died March 18 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Wednesday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Visitation will be Tuesday, March 22 from 3-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m.

    LAS VEGAS,  NV -- Barbie Caroline Saenz of Merida, Mexico and Kyle Robert Bogler of Greensboro, NC were married in a private 1:30 p.m. double ring ceremony on December 21, 2015 at the Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, NV. A family celebration will take place in Mexico in June.    Parents of the couple are Olga Osorio Martinez, Monterrey, Mexico; and Bob and Jannette Bogler, Harlan. 

HARLAN – For the first time in school history, three teams have qualified for the state mock trial competition to be held in Des Moines March 28-29.    The top four teams from regional competition move on to state, and Harlan Community High School earned 2-0 records at regionals, qualifying them for state competition.  Regionals were held March 9 at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.  There were 13 teams in regional competition

    HARLAN – Thirty-seven community members, Harlan Community School District staff members and HCSD board of education members gave unanimous approval to a school calendar proposal that will be brought to the board of education for formal vote.    Those words come from HCS Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner who presented the information and calendar recommendation via e-mail to school district patrons this week.

    HARLAN – A dramatization of The Living Last Supper is being presented by First United Methodist Church, Harlan, at various locations in the region this month.    The first performance was Sunday, March 13 at Altamont Baptist Church in Harlan.  Next up is a Sunday, March 20 performance at Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan at 7 p.m.    Additional performances include:   •  Wednesday, March 23, St.