COUNCIL BLUFFS (Feb. 15) – Tied at 49 with Fremont-Mills heading into the fourth quarter, the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Spartans hit a big three to start the fourth and then sealed a 64-57 win at the free throw line in boys district basketball action in Council Bluffs Thursday, Feb.

 MANNING (Feb. 15) -- The IKM-Manning boys basketball team survived the dreaded third matchup with a conference rival Thursday night, outlasting Audubon 50-48 in a Class 1A district quarterfinal game in Manning. Alex Lingle led the Wolves with 17 points while Jared Johnson added 10 points, seven assists and four steals.

 DENISON (Feb. 16) -- It was everything that a season rubber match and sixth meeting in two years is supposed to be. And following two overtimes and 40 full minutes of basketball, IKM-Manning kept its season alive Friday night in Denison with a 61-59 girls regional semifinal win over Logan-Magnolia The game was tied 52-52 at the end of regulation and 57-all after one O.T.

 ELK HORN (Feb. 16) -- It wasn’t easy, but the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton girls basketball team gradually pulled away and finished off CAM 63-49 Friday night in a Class 1A, Region 7 semifinal. With the victory, the 7th-ranked Spartans (22-1) moved within one game of a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance and were slated to face No.

 TREYNOR (Feb. 13) -- The AHSTW girls basketball season came to a close last Tuesday night as Madelyn Deitchler scored 31 points for Treynor in the 2nd-ranked Cardinals’ 63-39, Class 2A regional quarterfinal win over the Lady Vikes. Deitchler made 13-of-18 field goals in the game and teammates Kayla Chapman and Konnor Sudmann added 15 and 11 points, respectively.

    MANILLA -- Garland M. Barratt, 90, Manilla, died February 18 at Manilla Manor.    Services will be held Friday, Feb. 23 at 11:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Irwin with burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date.  A masonic service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the church fellowship hall in Irwin.  Visitation is Friday from 10-11 a.m.

    PUEBLO, CO -- Peggy Jo Gragert, 68, Pueblo, CO, died February 8.  A memorial service and private burial in Jacksonville will be held at a later date.    She is survived by her husband, Walter, of Pueblo; daughter Martha Coleman of Colorado; son Daniel Gragert of Colorado; stepdaughters Lindy Pittman of Wisconsin and Jennifer Powell of Alabama; and her parents, Howard and Rhoda Henriksen, of Harlan.
 

    AVOCA -- Donna May Dargin, 82, Avoca, died February 19 at Bergan Mercy Medical Center.    Services and burial are pending and will be held at a later date.  Family greeted friends Thursday, Feb. 22 from 6-7:30 p.m.

HARLAN -- Harlan wasn’t awarded, but was recognized as a finalist in Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative (HSI) during the inaugural HSI awards held Thursday, Feb. 15 in Des Moines.    Winners were awarded in a number of categories including individual, school, workplace and hometown.  Harlan was among six finalists for the hometown award.