KIMBALLTON (July 5) -- Panorama got by Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton 6-5 in non-conference softball action Friday, dropping the Spartans to 11-14 overall going into Monday’s Class 1A regional opener vs. Audubon. Offensively, the Spartans were led by two-hit games from Lexi Madsen, Kami Waymire, Shay Burmeister and Tatum Grubbs. Burmeister scored two runs and Grubbs had two RBI. Ashley Hansen did not have a hit but drew three walks.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (July 1) -- If Monday’s game serves as an omen for the rest of the month, another fun July could be in store for Harlan Community baseball. Entering the final two and a half weeks of the regular season, HCHS put together one of its most complete games of the year at Lewis Central Monday morning, racking up 16 hits and playing error-free defense in a 12-6 win over the Hawkeye Ten-leading Titans. The fifth-ranked Cyclones were on

 SIOUX CITY (July 1) -  Harlan Community scored two go-ahead runs in the top of the sixth and plated two more in the eighth Monday night to outlast Sioux City Heelan 4-2 in an extra-inning non-conference softball game. HCHS improved to 25-6 with its ninth win in the last 10 games while the Crusaders dropped to 15-13. With the score tied at 2-2, the international tiebreaker was used in the eighth as both teams started with a runner at second ba

 ORIENT (July 1) -- Plating 17 runs in the top of the first inning, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton cruised to a 24-3 win over Orient-Macksburg in non-conference baseball action Monday, winning its fourth straight game. Taking the mound with a 17-run cushion, sophomore Hunter Andersen pitched all four innings for the Spartans and improved to 2-1 on the year.

 HASTINGS (July 2) -- Highlighted by a 10-run third inning, the AHSTW baseball team rolled past East Mills 17-0 in four innings on Tuesday night, improving to 9-11 on the season. Sam Porter and Joel Sampson both went 4-for-4 to lead the Vikings’ 13-hit attack. Porter had two doubles, scored two runs and also drove in a pair.

 MANILLA (July 1) -- Scoring five unearned runs in the top of the third inning, Denison-Schleswig built an early 7-1 lead and finished off IKM-Manning 8-2 Monday night in non-conference baseball action. The Monarchs (13-12 overall) threw one of their top two pitchers at the Wolves in senior Dawson Dorhout (4-4), who struck out 10 batters in six innings while allowing four hits, three walks and two earned runs. The Wolves (6-14) got singles fro

 AREA -- Regional softball tournament action will begin on Monday (July 8) for area squads IKM-Manning and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton while AHSTW is set to open postseason play on Wednesday, July 10. IKM-Manning and AHSTW are both part of the Class 2A, Region 3 bracket. The Wolves (8-15 with one regular season game left) will host Tri-Center (1-19) on Monday in Irwin. The winner advances to play at fifth-ranked West Monona on Wednesday night.

    PORTSMOUTH -- Delores Monahan, 80, formerly of Portsmouth, died Saturday, July 13 at Midlands Hospital in Papillion, NE.    Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

    HARLAN -- Alan “Skip” Carlsen, 81, Harlan, died July 13 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Thursday, July 18 at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan with burial at a later date.  Family will greet friends Wednesday, July 17 from 5-7 p.m.