IRWIN -- Larry and Judy Knudson of Irwin will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at an open house on Saturday, March 12 from 1-4 p.m. in the Irwin Community Building. Friends and relatives are invited to attend.    The couple’s three children are Brad Knudson, Irwin; Brenda and Dan Hansen, Kimballton; and Brian Knudson, Irwin. The Knudsons have six grandsons. 

STORM LAKE – Five students from Harlan Community High School brought home two victories after competing at the Buena Vista University Spanish Language Fair in Storm Lake Monday, Feb. 22.    HCS Spanish Instructor Kayla Weis took the students – Addie Kaster, Jenna Leinen, Maggie McGrath, Clare Klein and Haley Koch, to the event, and said she was extremely proud of their efforts. 

    HARLAN -- Carmen Hosack has been selected as the new chief executive officer and general manager for Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (NVREC).    She will begin her duties in the position on April 1.    Current CEO/GM John Euchner has accepted a position with Southeastern Electric Cooperative in Marion, SD, and will be leaving in April after 19 years with NVREC.

    HARLAN – An investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources into the land application of processed wastewater from the Essentia Protein Solutions plant in Harlan by a subcontractor has uncovered alleged violations of Iowa Code and Iowa Administrative Code.    Kevin Wilken, senior environmental specialist, Field Services and Compliance Bureau, IDNR, said the matter may be referred to the department’s legal services bureau for enfo

    HARLAN - Last spring, an estimated 70 students received local scholarship awards from 48 sponsoring organizations, totaling close to $210,000 in funding.  Additional scholarships and financial assistance comes from other sources, as well as individual institutions that students attend.  All together, this would likely bring the total to well over $500,000.

 ATLANTIC -- No one could blame IKM-Manning’s players and coaches for being a bit jubilant Saturday night. This post-game celebration, after all, had been a full year in the making. Twelve months after losing a substate final heartbreaker vs.

 DES MOINES -- If Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton defeated Newell-Fonda on Monday, the Spartans will play in Thursday’s Class 1-A semifinals at the Girls State Basketball Tournament. The 2nd-ranked Spartans (23-0) faced the No. 7 Mustangs (18-6) in Monday’s quarterfinal round at Wells Fargo Arena. The winner will play either No. 3 Springville (23-1) or No. 6 Kingsley-Pierson (21-2) on Thursday at 11:45 a.m.

 DES MOINES -- Three wins away from a three-peat, Harlan Community is poised to make history in its fourth consecutive trip to the Girls State Basketball Tournament. Ranked third in Class 4-A, the two-time defending state champion Cyclones (20-2) will open defense of their titles on Wednesday morning against 7th-ranked Marion (19-4). The state quarterfinal game will tip off at 11:45 a.m.

 DENISON -- Thursday’s Class 3-A, District 1 final dealt a harsh case of déjà vu at the Harlan Community boys basketball team. For the second straight year, the Cyclones’ season ended abruptly in the district finals with an overtime loss to a sub-.500 team.