COUNCIL BLUFFS (Jan.

 HARLAN -- Dr. Lonnie Pitts, Council Bluffs, and Richard Daberkow, Harlan, both received state awards recently from the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association for their service to the Harlan Community School District. Pitts and Daberkow were recognized on January 26 prior to the HCHS girls’ varsity basketball game against Glenwood.

 HARLAN -- Bob and Julie Klein, rural Harlan, are the 2018-2019 inductees into the Harlan Community Schools Athletic Booster Club Hall of Fame. The Kleins were recognized as this year’s hall of fame honorees at halftime of the HCHS girls’ January 26 home game against Glenwood. Bob and Julie have been very active booster club members over the years, serving on the booster club board of directors from 2005-2010.

    HARLAN -- Merlene “Bill” Brue, 89, Harlan, died February 5 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Irwin with burial at a later date.  Visitation is Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

    ELK HORN -- James George O’Keefe, 69, Elk Horn, died February 5 at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.    Services will be held at a later date.    O’Keefe is survived by his mother, Pauline O’Keefe, of Huntley, WY; wife Phyllis O’Keefe of Elk Horn; son James J.

    FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ -- Norma Jean Pycha, 72, Fountain Hills, AZ, formerly of Defiance, Omaha, and Blair, NE, died February 4.    Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m .at Messinger Funeral Home in Fountain Hills with interment at the Bohemian Cemetery of Omaha at a date to be announced.    Pycha is survived by three stepsons and their families, three grandchildren, nine siblings, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

    HARLAN -- The HCS Board of Education met in closed session for approximately 5 1/2 hours Monday evening, Feb.

    HARLAN – Two Harlan residents who have spoken before at public forums, or meetings of the HCS Board of Education, again Monday addressed the school board, citing concerns for costs associated with the independent investigation into allegations made regarding Supt.

    HARLAN – Applause broke out on two occasions at Monday’s school board meeting following speeches by teachers Brent Tucker and Randi Daniels, who said they and others were there to support the school board, which currently is awaiting the conclusion of an independent investigator’s report regarding allegations made against HCS Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner.    Daniels and Tucker stood in solidarity with approximately 45 current an