AMES -- The Iowa Small Town Poll, an Iowa State University survey that gauges quality of life in rural Iowa, will soon hit mailboxes in communities across the state.  Harlan has been chosen to participate in the poll, and residents already may have received a postcard in the mail during the last few weeks.    The poll’s organizers have announced plans to conduct the survey every two years, rather than every 10 years as in the past.

    HARLAN -- Calling all Shelby County residents ages 18-55!      The American Cancer Society has called on  Harlan Community High School HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) students to once again sponsor a Delete Blood Cancer (DKMS) drive today and tonight, Friday Dec.

 HARLAN -- Jacob Wingert opened his senior season in strong fashion Saturday afternoon, winning three straight matches as Harlan Community’s lone champion in the Dan Hill Invitational. HCHS placed sixth out of 11 teams in its season-opening home tournament, scoring 118.5 points and claiming eight total place-winners. Wingert, who placed fourth at last year’s Dan Hill Invite and later became a first-time state qualifier at 160, pinned his first

 SHENANDOAH -- Shane Chamberlain tallied team-highs with 23 points and eight rebounds in his first career start and senior point guard Caleb Rasmussen added 17 points and seven boards as Harlan Community opened the boys basketball season with a 71-48 road win over Shenandoah Friday night. HCHS built a 38-21 lead by halftime and extended the margin to 57-32 after three quarters, grabbing 14 offensive boards and outrebounding the Mustangs 37-24

 SHENANDOAH -- For the Harlan Community girls basketball team, things can only go up from here. Hitting the 30-turnover mark for the second time in as many games, the Cyclones were handed a 77-48 defeat at Shenandoah Friday night in the Hawkeye Ten Conference opener for both teams. The 11th-rated (3-A) Fillies (4-0), who did not graduate a senior off last year’s 15-9 squad, beat the Cyclone girls for the first time since the 2002-03 season. HC

 TREYNOR -- With their top returning scorer held to just four shot attempts on the night, the IKM-Manning girls struggled for offense in Friday’s 49-34 Western Iowa Conference loss at Treynor. IKM-M junior guard Kia Rasmussen, who averaged 17.7 points per game a year ago, was limited to just five on Friday, hitting a second-quarter three-pointer and scoring off her own steal in the fourth.

 OAKLAND -- The AHSTW boys and girls basketball teams swept a varsity doubleheader at Riverside on Friday night in Western Iowa Conference action. The Viking boys (2-0) won 78-26, getting 14 points from Jake Martin and 13 from R.J. Harris, who also grabbed 10 rebounds. The Lady Vikes improved to 1-2 overall (1-0 WIC) earlier in the night with a 49-29 victory. 

 PELLA -- Former Atlantic standout Sam Markham was recently named first-team All-Iowa Conference following a record-breaking season for the Central College football team.

TREYNOR -- Opening the season with a young and inexperienced varsity roster, the Harlan Community girls basketball team didn’t just stick their toe in the shallow end of the pool Tuesday night.