WOODBINE -- Joyce Christensen, 90, formerly of Harlan, died Tuesday, July 14 at Rose Vista Home in Woodbine.    Services will be held at a later date.    She is survived by her children Kevin (Sue) Christensen of Omaha, NE, Tim (Joan) Christensen of Bennington, NE and Deb Larsen of Harlan.
 

    EARLING -- Richard Mathias Wilwerding, 77, Earling, died July 9 at his home.    Graveside services will be held Saturday, July 18 at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.    Wilwerding is survived by brothers Jerry Wilwerding and Eugene (Janice) Wilwerding, both of Harlan; sister Jackie Wilwerding of Earling; many nieces and nephews.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is in charge of arrangements.
 

    SHELBY -- Steven J. Bladt, 70, Shelby, died July 14 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Graveside services will be held Wednesday, July 22 at 2 p.m. at the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby.  Family will greet friends Tuesday, July 21 from 4-7 p.m.

 AVOCA (July 6) -- With district baseball right around the corner, AHSTW found a way to win a tight game it nearly let slip away here Monday night versus Sidney. After the Cowboys tied the score with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, the Vikings responded with some effective small ball in the bottom of the seventh and prevailed 5-4 when Joey Goins scored on a walk-off throwing error. Seniors Clayton Akers and Sam Porter pitched a c

 IRWIN (July 13) -- The AHSTW and IKM-Manning softball teams will open Class 2A regional play against each other Monday night in a 7:00 p.m. game at Irwin. The Lady Vikes will take an 8-7 record into the contest while the Wolves are 3-10. The winner plays at fifth-ranked West Monona on Wednesday, July 15.

    COUNTY -- Ten young women are vying to become the Shelby County Fair Queen this year.    Coronation took place Monday, July 13 with a reverse parade that allowed well-wishers to drive through and support the queen candidates and a few other static exhibits from 7-7:30 p.m.

    HARLAN -- A former Harlan Community Schools superintendent was the highest paid individual in the HCS district based on the 2019-20 reported earnings as published in last week’s Harlan News-Advertiser.    Justin Wagner earned $158,050.50 according to the legal notice, required to be published by the district annually.    Thirteen individuals, exclusive of Wagner, were paid more than $90,000 annually, according to the legal, and include:• 

    REGIONAL -- Shelby County residents may be seeing significant damages to trees, bushes and flowers this summer, courtesy of the Japanese Beetle that has emerged during the past month.    This nasty new visitor to Iowa devours roses, fruits, lawns, and just about anything else that gets in its path.    It used to be that we heard about Japanese beetles only from eastern gardeners. It arrived in New Jersey in 1916 from Japan and has spread.

    HARLAN – The Harlan Municipal Utilities (HMU) is seeking damages from an engineering firm and construction company over alleged problems and issues with its water treatment plant.    HMU filed a petition in Shelby County District Court June 26 against Veenstra & Kimm, Inc.