ELK HORN – A former Elk Horn resident has released his latest book, Ancestral Quest, an evoking book that delves into the astuteness of understanding one’s heritage and discovering its wisdom.    Jim Redman is a 1978 graduate of Elk Horn-Kimballton High School, and a 1982 graduate of Iowa State University.  He spent his accounting career in Oklahoma, and now resides in Estes Park, CO.  Upon retirement he completed his book that has now been pu

    COUNTY – An internal investigation by the Shelby County Board of Supervisors and Shelby County Auditor’s Office has determined that a former employee named in a state auditor’s special investigative report regarding excessive paid leave did not engage in any misconduct.    Results of the internal investigation involving Karen Goans in specific have been forwarded to the state auditor’s office.    A statement by the county supervisors read

    HARLAN – Patrons in the Harlan Community School District likely will see in front of them in September a proposal to extend the district’s Instructional Support Levy (ISL) and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), both deemed critical to the long-term financial success of the school system.    Following the narrow defeat of both measures last December when joined on the ballot with a $28.5 million bond issue that was soundly voted down

    EARLING -- Betty Grote of Earling will celebrate her 90th birthday at an open house on Sunday, June 16 from 2-4 p.m. at the Dan and Shirley Grote farm, 1017 2100th Street, Earling. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.    Cards will also reach Betty if sent to 306 Sunset Avenue, Earling, IA 51530.

 NEWTON (May 23) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton boys never got their second chance after some opening-day struggles at the Class 1A Boys State Golf Tournament. The Spartans posted a team score of 364 at the Westwood Golf Course Thursday, finishing last out of eight teams when Friday’s second day of competition was cancelled due to very wet course conditions.

 HARLAN (May 24) -- Connor Bruck pitched five scoreless innings of relief and Brenden Bartley drove in four runs from the eight hole Friday night as Harlan Community erased an early 6-3 deficit and beat Sioux City Bishop Heelan 9-6 in an early-season matchup of Class 3A state baseball powers. Bruck, who struck out all six batters he faced in last Monday’s season opener at Carroll, was extremely sharp once again against the fifth-ranked Crusade

 WINTERSET (May 25) -- Harlan Community finished 1-1 at the rain-shortened Winterset Softball Tournament on Saturday, beating ninth-ranked (2A) Van Meter 3-1 in five innings and losing to Interstate 35 (Truro) 5-3 in six.

 UNDERWOOD (May 20) -- Morgan Schaben pitched six hitless innings and drove in five runs at the plate to lead the Harlan Community softball team past Underwood 15-3 in last Monday’s season opener. The Cyclones scored three runs each in the first three innings and blew the game open with a six-run sixth to win by the mercy rule. Schaben, who has signed to play collegiate softball at Central College in Pella, struck out eight and walked three, a

 HARLAN (May 24) -- The Harlan Community girls soccer team finished the regular season by winning three out of four home games last week, beating AHSTW, WCV/Nodaway Valley/ACGC and Creston while losing to Panorama. The four-game set included a sudden-death, double PK shootout win over WCV/NV/ACGC on Wednesday and Friday’s match being moved from Creston to Harlan due to the forecast for severe storms in southern Iowa. The Cyclones will take a 9