HARLAN – Approximately 125 local residents turned out at a legislative briefing Saturday morning, Feb. 18 in Harlan to quiz local representatives Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) and Rep.

    HARLAN – Iowa Rep. Steve Holt says he’s spoken to everyone from superintendents, school board members, teachers, union members, non-union members, county supervisors and private citizens about the collective bargaining bill.    He thinks it’s a great move for Iowa.

    HARLAN – Local educators’ concerns about their voices going unheard at the bargaining table and a lack of faith in a fair process from those now in firm control of their work-related conditions, were heard by Iowa Sen. Jason Schultz and Iowa Rep. Steve Holt.    But both said they firmly believe there will be no ill intentions from superintendents and school boards. 

    REGIONAL – Iowa Rep. Steve Holt and Iowa Sen. Jason Schultz said they aren’t worried about their jobs come re-election time.    Local resident Aaron Nippert said he’s a lifetime Republican, and asked both about potential backlash from the passage of what some are calling a union-busting bill.  There are thousands of employees and their families affected by this bill, Nippert said.

 DES MOINES -- Six local state qualifiers will face tough early draws when competition begins Thursday at the 2017 State Wrestling Tournament inside Wells Fargo Arena.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community wrestling team will be represented by three individuals at this week’s state tournament after Lucas Carter, Jacob Wingert and Nick Foss all placed second in Saturday’s Class 2-A District Tournament. Wingert, a senior 170-pounder, will return to Des Moines for the second straight year while juniors Carter (126) and Foss (182) are first-time state qualifiers.

 AVOCA -- Leading by just four points at the break on Saturday night, the AHSTW girls used a 12-0 run to take control and dominated the second half to beat Griswold, 56-32, in a Class 2-A, Region 3 first-round game. The Lady Vikes outscored Griswold 33-13 in the final two quarters, beating the Tigers for the third time this year and claiming their first regional win since 2012. AHSTW (8-14) will now travel to Greenfield Tuesday for a 7 p.m.

IKM-Manning defeated Tri-Center 63-28 in a Class 2-A girls regional game on Saturday night, setting up a showdown of ranked teams at Logan-Magnolia in Tuesday’s regional quarterfinals. Above,

 HARLAN -- The Lewis Central boys basketball team is blessed with a 6-foot-10 center in Kyle Arrington, a 6-4 all-conference guard in Chad Moran and several other solid athletes.