Denison-Schleswig 9, HCHS 2 DENISON -- Denison-Schleswig used a three-run first and a four-run fifth to down Harlan Community 9-2 Monday night (June 19) and complete a regular-season softball sweep. Anna Ahrenholtz and Molly Gubbels both doubled and singled to lead HCHS, with Ahrenholtz scoring one run and driving in another.

    SHELBY -- Stephen Paul Gross, 40, Shelby, died June 10.    Services will be held Thursday, June 29 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Earling.  Family sharing will be Wednesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Visitation is Wednesday from 5-8 p.m.

    AVOCA -- Lavern Walter Botcher, 82, Avoca, died June 23 at Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital.    Services will be held Tuesday, June 27 at 10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Dolores B. Mickelson, 91, Harlan, formerly of Irwin, died Friday, June 23 in Harlan.    Services were held Monday, June 26 at 11 a.m.

EAST PEORIA, IL -- Harlan Community High School coaching legends Curt Bladt and Mitch Osborn received national honors on back-to-back days last week at the 2017 National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Il. On Tuesday afternoon, June 20, longtime HCHS football coach Curt Bladt was inducted into the NHSACA’s National Hall of Fame.

PORTSMOUTH -- The Portsmouth Little League baseball team had its first home game of the season recently and it was a special night.  It was the first game teammate Jaxon Rold, who is battling cancer, was able to attend.  He led off each inning hitting and made it around on every hit.  He also played left field a few innings.  Portsmouth played Glenwood in the contest. 

HARLAN - The Harlan Community School District board voted last week unanimously to offer Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner a 1.38 percent wage increase, the same increase approved by the board for staff earlier this year.    There were no other changes to the three year rolling contract.    The Board agrees to pay the Superintendent a base salary of $171,135 for the period commencing July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2020.    The salary i