Naomi Gross of Harlan will celebrate her 90th birthday at an open house on Saturday, April 1 from 1-3:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Rosman Parish Center in Harlan.

Shelby County Emergency Preparedness partners will participate in a county-wide tornado drill to be held on Wednesday, March 29 from 10-11 a.m.  Shelby County Emergency Management, Shelby County Public Health and Myrtue Medical Center encourage everyone to take this opportunity to prepare, plan, and protect their loved ones from the effects of severe spring weather.    This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 27-31, as declared by the

 STORM LAKE -- Led by Allison Bruck’s gold in the 60-meter hurdles, area athletes combined to earn top-three medals in nine events at the BVU High School Elite track meets held Friday and Saturday on the Dennis Young Indoor Track. The two-day event saw Harlan Community and AHSTW compete on Friday while IKM-Manning attended Saturday’s portion of the meet. Bruck, an HCHS senior, won the girls’ 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.70 and also helped

 IOWA CITY -- A total of 14 student-athletes from the Harlan Community Schools competed in the Special Olympics Mid-Winter Games on March 10-11 in Iowa City.

Hawkeye Ten All-Conf. Boys Basketball
FIRST TEAMChad Moran, Lewis Central, sr., GKyle Arrington, Lewis Central, sr., C*Matt Dentlinger, Kuemper, sr., F*Garrett Franken, Atlantic, sr., F*Nate Mohr, Glenwood, jr., G*Andrew Blum, Glenwood, jr., F*Caleb Rasmussen, HCHS, sr., GKylan Smallwood, Creston, so., G* Unanimous Selection

    MINNETONKA, MN -- Gene Elmer Thies, 66, Minnetonka, MN, died January 27 in St. Louis Park, MN.    Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 1 at the Minden Cemetery in Minden.    Thies is survived by sisters Joan Brown of Fuquay-Varina, NC, and Gayle (Robert) Prokupek of Avoca.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca is in charge of arrangements. 

    AVOCA -- Marie Wineva Feeks, 87, Avoca, died March 24 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services were held Monday, March 27 at 2 p.m.

    OMAHA, NE -- Mary Jane Wigness, 73, Omaha, NE, died February 8 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.    A celebration of life was held Tuesday, Feb. 14 at United Faith Church’s Campus Building in Valley, NE.    She is survived by her brother, C. Robert Wigness; sister-in-law Helene (Ruby) Brezinsky; niece Karola Troidl; and nephew Kris Wigness.    Wigness was born in Harlan. 

    AVOCA -- Darlene Elouise Andersen, 73, Avoca, died March 22 at Bergan Mercy Medical Center.    Services were held Monday, March 27 at 11 a.m.