HARLAN -- Harlan Community scored the first run in Tuesday’s softball season opener, but it was all downhill from there. Issuing eight walks and commiting seven errors, the Cyclones lost 8-1 to Kuemper Catholic at H. Jack Field and started 0-1 in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. Cora Hicks batted 3-for-4 and Kendra Peter slugged a home run for the Knights, whose three-run fifth highlighted a string of scoring in five straight innings.

 HARLAN -- Just five innings into the 2016 baseball season, Harlan Community has already accomplished two things it did not do all of last year - hit a home run and score 17 times in one game. Ranked second in the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association preseason top 10, the defending Class 3-A state runner-up Cyclones opened the season with a bang on Tuesday, plating 16 runs during their final three innings at-bat to blow out Kuemper Catholic, 17-5

 HARLAN -- A week after posting a 5-0 win at Creston, the Harlan Community boys soccer team knew it would face a much tougher challenge when the Panthers came to Harlan for Monday night’s postseason rematch. The Cyclones got the battle they bargained for, but in the end shut out Creston once again, winning 2-0 in a Class 2-A, Substate 8 quarterfinal match at Merrill Field. Drew Voge broke a scoreless tie with just 27.5 seconds left in the firs

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW boys soccer team won its Class 1-A, Substate 7 opener Monday night, getting two late goals from Preslyn Grobe to pull away for a 4-1 victory over Ankeny Christian Academy. The Vikings improved to 8-6 overall and advanced to face No. 7 Pella Christian in a substate semifinal at Norwalk on Wednesday. ACA wrapped up its season at 3-9 overall.

    EARLING -- Leonard M. Kwapiszeski, 93, Earling, died May 28 at the Little Flower Haven Nursing Home.    Services will be held Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Panama with burial in the St. Boniface Cemetery in Westphalia.  A wake service will be held Friday, June 3 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Parish Center in Panama.  Visitation will be Friday from 5-8 p.m.

    PERSIA -- Dennis J. Grudle, 65, Persia, died May 30.    Funeral services will be held Friday, June 3 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Council Bluffs with interment in the Memorial Park Cemetery.  A rosary was held Thursday, June 2 at 6 p.m. followed by visitation with the family until 8 p.m.

    AVOCA -- Kim Michael Weddum, 68, Avoca, died May 30 at his home.    Visitation will be held Friday, June 3 from 1-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m.

    GRAND JUNCTION, IA -- Former Harlan resident Robert Glenn will observe his 85th birthday on June 3. His family is planning a card shower in his honor. Cards will reach him if sent to P.O. Box 37, Grand Junction, IA 50107.    Robert and his wife, Catherine, celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in May.

    HARLAN -- When Julie Bruck went in for her routine visit four years ago, she didn’t think anything of it when they told her she had a lump on her breast.         “I had lumpy breasts anyways,” Bruck laughed. “I had gone in for ultrasounds before and nothing came up on them. Yet this time it was pronounced cancer.”    The mammogram would result in a five month battle against breast cancer.