MANNING (Dec. 3) -- Trailing throughout much of the game, the IKM-Manning girls emerged on top following a series of late lead changes Tuesday night and opened the season with a 70-66 Western Iowa Conference win over Underwood. The final outcome marked career win number 400 for Wolves’ head coach Gene Rasmussen, who is now 400-89 as he begins his 21st season.

 AVOCA (Dec. 3) -- The AHSTW girls basketball team reached 80 points by the end of the third quarter and improved to 3-0 overall Tuesday night, hammering Riverside 87-20 in its Western Iowa Conference opener. AHSTW jumped out to a commanding 35-8 lead after one quarter and also outscored the visitors 23-6 in the second quarter and 23-1 in the third to make it an 81-15 game.

 ELK HORN (Dec. 3) -- Macy Emgarten just missed a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds and freshman Shay Burmeister tallied 12 points and five boards Tuesday night, leading Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton past Glidden-Ralston 61-25 in Rolling Valley Conference girls basketball action.

 AVOCA (Dec. 2) -- The AHSTW boys basketball team opened the season in strong fashion Monday night with a 68-39 win over Woodbine. The Vikings built a 32-17 lead at the half and pulled away by outscoring the Tigers 21-10 in the fourth quarter. The Vikings shot an impressive 13-of-14 at the free throw line. Sophomore Raydden Grobe led the Vikings with 20 points, including 4-of-10 made three-pointers.

    HARLAN – A standing room only crowd turned out on less than a day’s notice for a town hall meeting with Democratic Presidential Candidate Cory Booker and Iowa Congressional Candidate J.D. Scholten at the C.G. Therkildsen Center Friday morning, Dec. 6.    The two shared their messages with Shelby County residents of hope, common sense, morality and values in helping the nation heal and come together to move forward into the future.

    HARLAN -- Jeremy Taylor, republican candidate for the District 4 U.S. Representatives seat, made a campaign stop in Harlan Thursday, Dec.

HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center announces the addition of Tina Flores, MD, as a family practice physician.    Flores will be joining Myrtue Medical Center’s team of seven family medicine physicians and 14 advanced-level practitioners who serve at Myrtue’s nationally recognized Critical Access Hospital and at its medical clinics.    Flores will replace Dr. Roger Davidson, MD, who retired last year.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Schools Interim Superintendent Lynn Johnson has been an offered a one-year contract extension, the terms of which were approved last week by the HCS Board of Education.    Board members Amy Rueschenberg, Jessica Anderson, Al Hazelton, Tarah Devlin-Lawler and Seth Piro approved the contract 5-0.  Board members Monte Schechinger and Joni Larsen were absent.    Johnson was hired this year as interim superintendent f

    PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth has filed a petition in Shelby County District Court seeking title to an abandoned property.    The defendant named in the petition is Scott Phillips, believed to reside at 206 4th Ave.  Also named is Tiger 111 Partnership, which may claim interest in the property by virtue of an installment contract with Phillips as the purchaser.    According to the petition, Phillips is the owner of the real estate an