TEMPLETON -- Bruce and Anissa Irlmeier of Templeton announce the engagement of their daughter, Miranda to Dustin Christensen of Audubon. Dustin is the son of Lamont and Shelly Christensen, Irwin.    The couple will marry on August 6 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton.

    DEFIANCE -- Allison Marie Kite of Hopkins, MN and Jonathan William Hackbart of Plymouth, MN will wed on August 20 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance.    Allison is the daughter of EAnn and Dan Christensen, Defiance; and Michael and Lorraine Kite, Milton, FL. Jonathan is the son of Jim and Karen Hackbart, Plymouth, MN.

    HARLAN -- Ashley Bruck and Jeff Petersen both of Harlan exchanged marriage vows on May 21, 2016 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. Father Frost performed the 2:30 p.m. double ring ceremony.    Parents of the bride are Jim and Julie Bruck, Harlan. Parents of the groom are Gaige Petersen, Harlan; and Deanne Kroger, Harlan.

    HARLAN -- A 10 year-old Kat Eenhuis remembers sitting in the coat room at a family party back in 1974 in Broomfield, CO.    She had found an acquaintance to talk with who looked much like Santa Claus with long white hair and rosy cheeks.    As she left her friend in the coat room, she ran into her father and the owner of the home just outside the door.

    COUNTY -- Dave Tyrrel will take over the reigns of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry following elections at their annual meeting July 19.    Moving up from vice-president, Tyrrel takes over for Brent Scheve who remains on the board as immediate past president.

    STATE -- People across Iowa will have the opportunity to purchase select items at a lower price during the tax free days.    “If people didn’t [know about tax free weekend] it’s really a savings of seven percent,” said Sandy Ronfeldt, owner of Rubi J clothing.    From August 5-7, the seven percent tax will be removed for items considered everyday clothing and footwear.

 DES MOINES -- It should be an interesting two days that determine the Class 3-A champion of the 2016 State Baseball Tournament at Principal Park. Friday’s 3-A semifinals will feature the top pitching team in the field (Pella) vs. the top hitting team (Carlisle), followed by the team with the best record (Harlan Community) against the Cinderella qualifier with the most losses (Solon).

 DES MOINES -- There’s no such thing as an ugly ‘W’ at the state tournament. Harlan Community head baseball coach Steve Daeges probably had to tell himself that a few times on Tuesday afternoon, but left Principal Park in a good mood nonetheless after the Cyclones held off Sioux City Bishop Heelan 8-6 in a Class 3-A quarterfinal. HCHS, which scored five unanswered runs to take a seemingly-comfortable 8-2 lead into the seventh, sweated a couple

 CEDAR FALLS -- Ethan Knudson and Max Langenfeld of Harlan Community and Martin Olson of Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton each participated in the 44th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic, held Saturday, July 23, at the UNI-Dome. The three area players - all 2016 graduates - played for the South Squad, which was defeated by the North, 49-35, in the highest-scoring Shrine Bowl to date.