HARLAN (Dec. 13) -- Harlan Community’s last-second layup rolled off the rim and Denison-Schleswig grabbed the rebound as time expired last Friday, giving the Monarch girls a 48-47 Hawkeye Ten Conference win over the Cyclones. Harlan’s second frustrating loss in as many nights dropped its record to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

 ELK HORN (Dec. 14) -- Freshman Quinn Grubbs scored 11 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter and senior Ellie Schultes also tallied 21 last Saturday as the 15th-ranked (1A) Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton girls erased a 10-point halftime deficit to beat IKM-Manning 54-50. The area non-conference matchup featured a frenetic pace much of the way and saw IKM-M (4-2) finish with 27 turnovers and 27 fouls.

 ELK HORN (Dec. 14) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton boys basketball team steadily built a 34-22 halftime lead and knocked down 20-of-27 free throws last Saturday in a 65-51 non-conference win over IKM-Manning. The Spartans (2-3 overall) were led by senior Creighton Nelson’s 28-point outing.

 MANNING (Dec. 13) -- The IKM-Manning boys scored only 12 first-half points and shot 25 percent for the game last Friday in a 50-35 home loss to Tri-Center.

 WOODBINE (Dec.

    EARLING – Iowa Community Kitchen will be opening a second location in Shelby County on a trial basis in February, providing meals in Earling at St. Joseph's Parish Hall on Tuesdays from Feb. 4-18.    The Earling location has been in the work for months, officials said, and will serve a need for those individuals who can’t make it to Harlan at the First Baptist Church location every Tuesday.

    REGIONAL -- After having seen a decrease in 2018, the average value of an acre of farmland in Iowa saw a slight increase in 2019.  The average statewide value of an acre of farmland is now estimated to be $7,432.

    HARLAN - Elsie Elizabeth Phifer, 84, died Monday, December 23 in Harlan.    Friends may call on Friday, December 27 from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home and family will greet friends from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. There will be a prayer service on Friday, December 27 at 7 p.m. also at the funeral home.    Funeral services are Saturday, December 28 at 10 a.m.

    HARLAN -- A joyous holiday and Merry Christmas to all!  Jack (left) and Joey Holloway, the children of Mark and Dani Holloway of Harlan, visited with Santa Claus at the Harlan Community Library in December.