AVOCA - The AHSTW Lady VIkes had a busy end to their pre-Christmas schedule with four recent games.  
The result was a 2-2 record in four games with two losses to state ranked teams and two straight wins over conference foes to end December.  
The wins were over Missouri Valley 35-33 and Logan-Magnolia 72-39.  
The wins set the Lady Vikes record at 5-4 and evened their WIC record at 3-3.

RED OAK — The Harlan Community Cyclones boys basketball team dropped its second consecutive game heading into Christmas break, falling to the Red Oak Tigers 59-46 on Tuesday night.

La Verne Charles Smith was born May 5, 1929, near Oconto in Custer County, Nebraska, the son of Donald William and Veva Doris (Headley) Smith. He attended country schools in Custer County and graduated as valedictorian of Arnold High School in 1947.

Sheila Joy Kroll, born on September 15, 1955, to Allen and Joyce (Evans) Blumer, Sheila grew up with a deep commitment to caring for others. After graduating from Tri-Center High School, she pursued her calling in healthcare, graduating from the Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing to begin a lifelong journey as a healer.

Lois Theresa Blum was born on June 5, 1938, on the family farm south of Defiance, Iowa, to Anthony and Lenora (Klein) Arkfeld. She attended school in Defiance and graduated with the Class of 1956 from St. Paul High School in Defiance. She began working for Mutual of Omaha in Omaha before being united in marriage to Richard Blum at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance. Eight children were born to this union.

 Brenda Lee Ahrenholtz was born on March 2, 1964, to Betty (Stuhr) and Lloyd Jensen in Harlan, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Iowa. She began going to school in Harlan until her family moved. After graduation, she went on to attend Iowa Western Community College where she received her CNA in Nursing.

Donald Wayne Leonard was born to Samuel and Hesbia (Bays) Leonard on February 24, 1940 in Bristol, Virginia. He grew up in Indianola, Mississippi where he attended and graduated from Indianola High School. While in school, he participated in football, basketball, baseball and ran track. Following graduation, he attended Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorehead, Mississippi.

Ruth Ann Schaben was born on March 14, 1932, in Earling, Iowa, to Anton and Edith (Kobold) Schaben. Ruth’s mother passed away shortly after her first birthday, her father later married Lucile (Morrisey). Ruth grew up in the faith at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, where she remained a lifelong member. A 1950 graduate of St.

Janet Ann (Martens) Jensen passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, at the Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, Iowa.  She was born on September 11, 1937 in Carroll, Iowa to Viola (Ohde) and Gilbert Martens.