DEFIANCE -- On Monday, July 1, the Defiance Fire Department with mutual aid from the Irwin, Earling, and Panama Fire Departments, were dispatched to a structure fire at an abandoned farmstead near Defiance.    Upon arrival, officials said the structure was fully involved with about one-third of the roof consumed in fire.  Due to safety concerns, defensive operations were conducted.  The Shelby County Sheriffs Office and Shelby County Emergency

 HARLAN (June 20) -- It was a trade the Harlan Community softball team gladly accepted. On the same day the Cyclones fell out of the 4A state rankings after a one-week stint at No. 14, they moved into sole possession of first place in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. HCHS swept Shenandoah 5-0 and 5-2 in a well-played doubleheader at H. Jack Field Thursday night while No. 13 (3A) Atlantic was swept at home by Glenwood 6-4 and 10-8.

 HARLAN (June 21) -- The Harlan Community baseball team had six days to think about being swept by Glenwood in a June 13 doubleheader. The Cyclones’ response last week was what you might expect from the fourth-ranked team in Class 3A: three quality wins over a pair of solid opponents. Two days after sweeping a twin bill at Sioux City East, HCHS rallied past eighth-ranked Sergeant Bluff-Luton 6-4 at Jim Goeser Field on Friday, improving to 15-3

 REGIONAL (June 21) -- The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its substate baseball assignments for Class 3A and 4A schools on Friday, placing Harlan Community in Class 3A, Substate 8. As of Sunday, teams with winning records in Substate 8 include the fourth-ranked Cyclones (15-3), Winterset (12-4), Dallas Center-Grimes (15-7) and Glenwood (11-7).

 MANILLA (June 21) -- Gabe Madsen’s two-run homer highlighted a seven-run fifth inning and AHSTW also opened the game with five runs in the first to beat IKM-Manning 14-1 Friday night and complete a season sweep. Viking junior Clayton Akers pitched all five innings and improved to 2-3 with the win, allowing four hits and one earned run, walking one and striking out a pair while throwing just 60 pitches. Madsen finished 2-for-2 with a home run,

 MONDAMIN (June 21) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton baseball team suffered its second loss of the season to West Harrison on Friday night, falling 5-4 in eight innings. The Spartans, now 4-9 overall and 3-8 in the Rolling Valley Conference, held leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in the first inning and a half and later tied the game with a run in the top of the sixth.

 UNDERWOOD (June 20) -- Nick Ravlin and Blake Hall combined to strike out seven IKM-Manning batters Thursday night as the Underwood baseball team defeated the Wolves 14-3 in a five-inning game. IKM-Manning led 3-2 going to the bottom of the third before the Eagles exploded for 11 runs off Wolves’ pitchers Alex Lingle and Amos Rasmussen in the inning.

    AVOCA -- Starting on Wednesday, July 3 Avoca will be celebrating its 150-year anniversary of establishment.

    HARLAN -- With the July 4 holiday only a few days away, local officials are saying it’s important to remember the dangers the holiday can present when it comes to fireworks.