DES MOINES -- Harlan Community senior shortstop Dillon Sears has been selected to play in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Series in the Des Moines metro area. Games will be held August 3-6 at Waukee, Johnston and Ankeny. Sears will play for the Small Schools West squad, which will play Large Schools West on Thursday, Aug.

 DES MOINES -- Led by repeat first-team selection Dillon Sears, four players from Harlan Community and one from Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton have been named to the Iowa Newspaper Association’s 2017 All-State Baseball teams released on Tuesday, August 1. A committee of INA writers selected first, second and third teams for classes 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A, also naming four senior captains. This year’s HCHS all-state baseball players include 3A first-team

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community football team’s annual Cyclone Camp of Champions is being held this week (July 31-August 4) at Merrill Field in preparation for the 2017 season. According to HCHS head coach Curt Bladt, the varsity camp for grades 10-12 included 65 players as of Tuesday’s session.

 DES MOINES (July 29) -- Sometimes the only thing left to do is simply tip your hat. Playing in its third consecutive state championship game on Saturday, the Harlan Community baseball team ran into a future Iowa Hawkeye pitcher and a deep lineup loaded with seven college signees. Davenport Assumption, as advertised, was the real deal. The top-seeded and 2nd-ranked Knights (41-5) chipped away by scoring in every inning and used a 13-strikeout

 DES MOINES (July 28) -- For all of the dominant performances and 10-run blowouts during the course of a 36-win season, perhaps the true hallmark of this 2017 Harlan Community baseball team is the manner in which they respond when the chips are down and a game is on the line. The Cyclones did it again Friday afternoon at Principal Park, answering Sioux City Bishop Heelan’s game-tying three-spot in the top of the sixth with three runs of their

    REGIONAL -- Shelby County’s population has decreased for another consecutive year since 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimates, but hopes are that efforts to attract business and develop affordable housing will reverse that trend in the near future.    The population has fallen from 11,927 to 11,800.

    ELK HORN -- To put the Danish Windmill simply, “it’s a good thing,” according to manager Lisa Steen Riggs.    In more elaborate terms, the Danish Windmill signifies home to Elk Horn Mayor Stan Jens. It is tradition that adds to the Danish foundation the town is built on.

    KIMBALLTON -- Ashley Brown and Jeff Hambrecht both of West Des Moines were married on April 22, 2017 at the Cottonwood  Barn in Kimballton. The bride’s uncle Dr. Dennis Knudsen performed the 4 p.m. double ring ceremony.    Parents of the bride are Rick and Jo Brown, Harlan. Parents of the groom are Deb Shull, Adel; and John Hambrecht, Altoona.

    HARLAN -- Anna Mae Hansen-Kramer, 86, Harlan, died August 1 at Elm Crest Assisted Living.    Services will be held Friday, Aug. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  A rosary was held Thursday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.  Visitation was Thursday from 5-8 p.m.