EARLING -- Abby Mahlberg and Brian Kooker both of West Des Moines exchanged marriage vows on September 17, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. Father Guthrie Dolan performed the 2:30 p.m. double ring ceremony.    Parents of the bride are Joe and Kathy Mahlberg, Earling. Parents of the groom are Dave and Nancy Woodin, Laurens; and Greg and Vicki Kooker, Ankeny.

    HARLAN – The Harlan Fire Department will have three firefighters re-test for certifications by the state fire academy due to a scandal involving the state’s Fire Service Training Bureau and its former accreditation manager John McPhee.    McPhee has been arrested and charged with misconduct in public office as well as tampering with records.  He is accused of failing to grade tests and assigning random scores to tests.  He has pleaded not

    COUNTY -- Law enforcement have captured a former Harlan man who escaped from a work release facility Sunday, Feb. 5.    Colton Benson-Blaine, 26, was listed as escape status after he failed to return to the Council Bluffs Work Release Facility from his employment. 

    REGIONAL – It’s not a Verizon commercial: If you receive a phone call from someone asking “can you hear me,” hang up. You’re a potential victim in the latest scam circulating around the U.S.    Harlan Police Chief Frank Clark said this new “can you hear me” con is actually a variation on earlier scams - primarily directed toward businesses.

    DES MOINES - Thirty-two year Harlan Newspapers employee Mike Kolbe was named at the Iowa Newspaper Association’s (INA) annual award banquet as a Heritage Award recipient. The award was created in 1985 and has honored 80 members of the media for their gifts to the Association.    “Kolbe epitomizes community journalism as the marketing manager for the Harlan Newspapers,” co-publisher Alan Mores said.

    COUNTY -- The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards Banquet and Auction Fundraiser will be held Friday, Feb. 24 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Harlan Golf & Country Club.    As part of the event, a number of award winners will be recognized including Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Citizen/Volunteer of the Year, and Non-Profit of the Year for Shelby County.

    HARLAN -- The Harlan City Council held a closed session meeting Tuesday, Feb.

 ADEL -- A total of six Harlan Community wrestlers advanced from sectionals to districts on Saturday, but the loudest cheers and the biggest hugs were deservedly saved for senior Aaron Johannsen. Less than 48 hours after his father, Chris, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 46, Johannsen pinned both of his opponents - pointing upward after each victory - and earned the 220-pound championship in the Class 2-A, Sectional 5 Tournament at A-D-

 UNDERWOOD -- For 24 hours anyway, the AHSTW boys basketball team had to share its perch atop the Western Iowa Conference. Unable to build on an early 20-9 lead, or slow down Underwood standout Isaiah Humphrey during the final three quarters, the Vikings were outscored 14-2 down the stretch in a 63-47 road loss to the Eagles Thursday night. Led by Humphrey’s 34 points and 11 rebounds, Underwood avenged an earlier 24-point defeat at AHSTW - a g