ATLANTIC (Oct. 24) -- Thursday’s Class 3A State Qualifying Meet was quite bittersweet for the Harlan Community boys cross country team. On the positive side, HCHS junior Trey Gross clinched his return to state with a fifth-place showing on the challenging terrain of Atlantic’s Nishna Hills Golf Course.

 HARLAN (Oct. 23) -- “Survive and advance.” That was the reaction from Harlan Community volleyball coach Willie Baughman Wednesday night after the Cyclones rallied past Adel-DeSoto-Minburn for a five-set victory in the first round of Class 4A regional play. Fighting from behind the whole way, HCHS scored the last three points of the match to outlast the Tigers 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 15-13.

 NEOLA (Oct. 22) -- Going into this week’s regional tournament, the AHSTW volleyball team hadn’t won a single set vs.

 OAKLAND (Oct. 22) -- Riverside defeated Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton in three sets (25-12, 25-17, 25-16) Tuesday night in a Class 1A first round regional volleyball match. The Spartans finished the season 6-22 overall. Riverside (24-12) will host CAM in a regional quarterfinal on Oct. 28.

    AVOCA -- Jack Pickham, 70, Avoca, died October 27 at the Salem Lutheran Nursing Home.    Services will be held Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m.

    WALNUT -- Betty Joyce Maassen, 87, Walnut, died October 25 at Avoca Speciality Care.    She is survived by sons Jeff (Dawn) Maassen of Hancock, Bruce (Jacque Koch) Maassen of Springfield, IL and Roger (Jennie) Maassen of Avoca; daughter-in-law Allison Maassen of Neola; five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildrn.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca is in charge of arrangements.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Schools patrons are getting another chance to show their support for the school next week by voting on proposals to renew the district’s instructional support levy (ISL) and physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL).    The HCS Board of Education has moved to put both measures in front of the district patrons for vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election, the first time since they were defeated last December. 

    HARLAN – The only contested race for Harlan Community School Board in Tuesday’s election is for District 5, where incumbent Joni Larsen is being challenged by Allyson Bendorf.    Board members Seth Piro (District 3), Monte Schechinger (District 7) and Tarah Devlin-Lawler (District 6) are unopposed for re-election to their board seats.

    COUNTY – Write-in votes will decide a number of municipal elections in the Tuesday, Nov.