HARLAN -- The chance for a season-high four-game winning streak was there for the taking Friday afternoon (June 23), but the Harlan Community softball team was unable to seize it. Trailing Glenwood 2-1 as the two teams resumed their June 15 suspended game in the top of the fifth, HCHS missed an opportunity to tie the score and committed three costly errors that led to an 8-2 defeat. The Cyclones finished the week with a 3-3 split and took an

 IRWIN -- Just three outs removed from tying Logan-Magnolia for a possible Western Iowa Conference regular season softball title, IKM-Manning did everything but finish in Thursday’s latest clash between southwest Iowa powers. Building leads of 4-1 after four and 6-3 after five, the Wolves still led 6-5 in the seventh before Lo-Ma put together a three-run inning, capped by Kenzie Cunard’s two-run homer, and left Irwin with an 8-6 victory. The 1

 MANILLA -- The IKM-Manning baseball team was held to four hits by Audubon pitcher Josh Lange Friday night (June 23) in a 6-1 home loss to the Wheelers. Both teams wrapped up Western Iowa Conference regular season play on the night, with IKM-M finishing seventh in the standings with a WIC record of 9-9 (10-10 overall).

 MANILLA -- A five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth lifted IKM-Manning past Logan-Magnolia 7-3 Thursday night (June 22) as the Wolves earned a sweep of the season series. Jared Johnson had a huge game at the plate for IKM-M, going 4-for-4 with a grand slam home run, six runs-batted-in and three stolen bases. Nick Halbur went 3-for-3 and Chris Monson was 2-for-3, each scoring a run.

 ANITA -- In a matchup of two top-10 baseball teams in Class 1-A, sixth-ranked Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton got a five-hit complete game from senior Alex Amaral and stayed undefeated Friday night (June 23) with a 6-2 win at ninth-ranked CAM, completing a season sweep of the Cougars. The Spartans improved to 17-0 overall and 12-0 inside the Rolling Valley Conference, maintaining sole possession of first place in the league standings with two leagu

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW baseball team stole 14 bases and got an excellent outing on the mound from Blake Osbahr Friday night (June 23) to beat Logan-Magnolia 6-1. The Vikings improved to 13-7 overall and finished 11-7 in Western Iowa Conference play, tying Audubon for fourth place in the regular season standings. AHSTW scored single runs in each of the first six innings against the Panthers to gradually pull away.

HARLAN -- Green and white balloons were released Monday, June 26 as part of the Green Out activities during HCHS vs.

HARLAN – A special investigative report released on the City of Harlan by the state auditor’s office this week has outlined $144,872.32 in improper and unsupported disbursements, much of which has been tied to former city administrator Terry Cox.    Auditor of State Mary Mosiman this week released the 121-page report on the special investigation of the City of Harlan for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2016.    City officials requeste

WESTPHALIA -- Maribeth Zimmerman’s hands smooth over her rosary’s beads. She pauses over three of the beads, blue eyes reverent, to tell me they are Hail Mary’s. She has a soft voice.    Zimmerman’s life is, and has been, centered on her faith in Catholicism. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.