HARLAN (Oct. 11) -- Somebody forgot to tell the Harlan Community football team that there’s a new power in southwest Iowa. Going into Friday’s showdown with unbeaten Lewis Central, the numbers, the eye test and the hype all pointed toward a big Titan win over HCHS.

 ATLANTIC (Oct.

 REGIONAL (Oct. 11) -- IKM-Manning stayed unbeaten in district play with a 21-7 win over Alta-Aurelia Friday night while AHSTW and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton also picked up district victories.

 CLARINDA (Oct. 10) -- Macie Leinen spiked 17 kills with a .343 efficiency on Thursday night to lead the Harlan Community volleyball team to a 3-1 road win at Clarinda. The Cyclones prevailed 25-16, 25-22, 16-25, 25-19, improving to 10-17 overall and 4-5 in the Hawkeye Ten. Clarinda dropped to 6-14 overall and 3-5 in the H-10. Lauren Andersen also had a big game at the net for HCHS with 10 kills and a .421 efficiency.

    AVOCA -- Michael “Mike” James Hope, 63, Avoca, died October 18 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Friday, Oct. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  A rosary will be held Thursday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. at the church.  Visitation is Thursday from 3-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m.

    CORLEY -- Ronald Raymond Ellsworth, 76, Corley, died Sunday, Oct. 20 in Harlan.    Services will be held Thursday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan.  Friends may call Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 2-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m.

    AVOCA -- Ted Nielsen, 77, Avoca, died October 15 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Graveside services will be held Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby.    Nielsen is survived by cousins Lois (Larry) Knop of Hancock, Richard (Karen) Robinson of Beardstown, IL, Dave (Lori) Robinson of Shelby and Darlene Flood of Council Bluffs.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca is in charge of arrangements. 

  HARLAN – The 19th-annual Harvest Fest celebration will be held Saturday, Oct.

    COUNTY -- Each tax year Shelby County Extension & Outreach, with the support from the Iowa Center, IRS, DHS and volunteer certified tax preparers, serves Iowans by providing tax preparation help for low-income residents in Shelby County.    Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) helps lower-income households file their tax returns for free, enabling them to receive the tax credits they’ve earned.  Last year, VITA volunteers prepared an