DES MOINES (July 24) -- Some might argue that Harlan Community was darn lucky to win Tuesday night’s Class 3A state baseball tourney quarterfinal vs.

 DES MOINES (July 27) -- The Class 3A state baseball semifinals will include three of the same teams from a year ago when action commences late Friday morning at Principal Park. At 11:00 a.m., top-ranked and second-seeded Harlan Community (32-3) will face this year’s newcomer, seventh-ranked and sixth-seeded Waverly-Shell Rock (34-7).

    HARLAN -- Gladys Robinson, 75, Harlan, died July 24 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services will be held Friday, July 27 at 10:30 a.m.

    EARLING -- Bernard Wilwerding, 85, Earling, died July 23 at his home.    Services will be held Saturday, July 28 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.  A wake service will be held Friday, July 27 at 7 p.m. at the church.  Family will greet friends Friday from 5-8 p.m.

    WALNUT -- Mariann A. Martens, 89, Walnut, died Monday, July 23 in Atlantic.    Services will be held Saturday, July 28 at 10 a.m. at Peace United Church of Christ in Walnut with burial in the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby.  Family will be present to greet friends Friday, July 27 from 5-8 p.m.

    PORTSMOUTH -- Gary Sylvan Wilke, 82, Portsmouth, died July 22 at his home.    Services were held Wednesday, July 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portsmouth with burial in the St.

    HARLAN - With the departure of seasoned executive director Nate Buman and grants coordinator Aaron Hicks, the Historical Society board sprung into action and have two new leaders this summer.    The new executive director, Sarah McDonald, relocated from Dallas, TX to Harlan this April.  She earned her B.A. degree in anthropology from Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX and her masters in history/museum studies from the Univ.

    HARLAN – Harlan Community Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner’s total salary and benefits package under a recently-approved contract amounts to $232,543.69 this school year.    Wagner is being paid a base salary of $173,290.11 in 2018-19 under a contract agreement approved by the Harlan Community Schools Board of Education Monday, June 25.  The board approved the contract 6-0 (Lonnie Muxfeldt, Amy Rueschenberg, Al Hazelton, Jessica And

    HARLAN – Harlan Community Schools Board of Education members this week are backing their votes approving a contract extension for their superintendent of schools, Justin Wagner, but one board member said although she voted for it, through more research she has learned there are areas where the board can be a better steward of taxpayer dollars.