PANAMA -- Balloons with “Happy Hug” written on them were hung by a member of the Panama community this past weekend.    Every house in the town of Panama has a balloon on the front door. It was a nice surprise to see a happy hug from someone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    DUNLAP -- Jacob Charles Klein, 18, Dunlap, died April 13 at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, NE.    The family will be having a private Mass of Christian Burial.  The mass will be live-streamed on Saturday, April 18 at 10:30 a.m.  See Fouts Funeral Home’s website for the live stream information.    Klein is survived by his parents, Mark and Catherine Klein, of Dunlap; sister Katie Klein of Dunlap; paternal grandparents Charles and Marie (Gr

    MENIFEE, CA -- Roger Elmer Schechinger, 55, Menifee, CA, died February 26 at Loma Linda University Hospital in Murrieta, CA.    He was a former Westphalia resident and graduate of Harlan Community Schools.    A full Marine funeral service was held March 17 at the Riverside National Military Cemetery in Riverside, CA.  Local services are pending in Westphalia due to COVID-19 virus.  Information will be forthcoming.    Schechinger is survive

 HARLAN -- One year after putting together one of the best all-around seasons in John Murtaugh’s 17-year coaching tenure at Harlan Community, the 2019-2020 Cyclone wrestling team barely missed a beat. HCHS finished with a 17-5 dual record - robbed of about eight wins due to the Mount Ayr Tournament being snowed out - and finished as tri-champions of the Hawkeye Ten Conference with Creston/O-M and Atlantic (all 9-1) to claim its first H-10 dual

 HARLAN -- The 2019-20 boys basketball season was one of special moments for Harlan Community. There were big-time shots, exciting victories and a new career milestone for Coach Mitch Osborn. And despite returning just one starter from last year’s 11-9 campaign, the Cyclones improved statistically across the board en route to earning the program’s first state tournament berth since 2014. When it was all said and done, HCHS finished 18-7 overal

 HARLAN -- There’s still work to be done, but the 2019-2020 girls basketball season was certainly one of progress for the Harlan Community Cyclones. Without a single senior in uniform, HCHS improved its record by eight wins from a year ago, going 13-10 overall, and tied for fourth with a 6-4 mark in the Hawkeye Ten Conference, which boasted four state qualifiers. One year after starting 0-8, the Cyclones won their first four games of the seaso

    HARLAN -- Three HCHS students have earned Hawkeye 10 recognition as part of the conference’s All-Academic Team and Character Awards Program.    The annual conference honoring the students was supposed to be held Wednesday, April 8, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Hawkeye 10 officials are putting together a video to honor the students to be shared at a later date.    The academic honors and character awards are given by the

    HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center congratulates Jennifer “Jenny” Lefeber, RN, Manager of Myrtue’s Emergency Department, for being selected as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2020.    Patients, colleagues and nurse leaders nominated more than 400 nurses across the state for this prestigious award.    100 Great Iowa Nurse Chairwoman, Dr.

HARLAN -- In this difficult time, there’s nothing cooler than some uplifting messages.  How about Kennedy, Drake and Avery Nippert (Aaron and Andrea) of Harlan with these inspirational sidewalk chalk messages and their hearts in the window?  Awesome.