STATE -- Harlan Community senior Brett Sears was named captain of the Class 3A All-State Team while teammates Luke Schaben and Connor Bruck also received all-state recognition from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association on Sunday, August 11. Sears, who will continue his baseball career at Western Illinois University, had a big weekend for awards after playing four games in the IHSBCA’s All-Star Series August 8-11.

 LA CROSSE, WI. -- Drew Bladt and his father Greg Bladt of Harlan each rode 100 miles in the JDRF Century Ride August 10 to raise awareness and money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Together, they were able to raise $12,800 with the assistance of Hy-Vee and The Lounge. The four-day event was held August 8-11 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

2019 Hawkeye Ten Conference Summer Sports All-Academic Award Winners(Senior letterwinners attaining cumulative 3.5 GPA during high school career)SOFTBALL Atlantic: Karsyn Rush, Baylee Newell; Clarinda: Bryn Morgenstern, Addison Shane, Aliyah St.

 STATE -- Harlan Community senior Morgan Schaben was one of just 45 players statewide named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s Academic All-State Softball Team. The daugher of Gary and Jackie Schaben, Portsmouth, Schaben was also a first-team all-state selection on the field this past season.

 CARROLL -- Harlan Community senior Brett Sears capped his prep baseball career by playing in four games as part of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association’s All-Star Series, held August 8-11 at Merchants Park. Sears played for the Small Schools West squad, which went 1-3 and placed fourth.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community football team will hold its annual preseason “soap” scrimmage, hosted by the Harlan Lions Club, on Thursday (Aug. 22) at Merrill Field. The freshmen team will scrimmage at 6:00 p.m., followed by the varsity scrimmage at approximately 7:30. The area’s other three prep football teams will hold public scrimmages on Friday (Aug. 23).

    MANILLA -- Larry Axland, 81, Manilla, died August 21 at Hansen House.    Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irwin with burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Irwin.  Visitation is Saturday from 9-11 a.m.

    AVOCA -- Wilbert Robert Piittmann, 93, Avoca, died August 20 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca. Visitation is Saturday from 9-10 a.m.

    MANILLA -- Alan L. Jensen, 83, Manilla, died August 19 at the Manilla Manor.      Services will be held Monday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  A masonic service will be held Sunday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Visitation is Sunday from 2-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m.