HARLAN -- With back-to-back wins against a state-ranked Denison team and Creston under its belt, the Harlan Community girls took momentum and positive vibes into Friday’s home showdown vs.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- The Harlan Community boys basketball team suffered its second straight road defeat on Friday night, falling behind 34-17 at halftime and losing to ninth-ranked (4-A) Lewis Central, 62-42. HCHS shot just 32.6 percent from the field, including 8-of-29 from three-point range, and only had three players score more than three points in the game. Lewis Central, which improved to 6-0 overall (5-0 in the Hawkeye Ten) shot 57 percent

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW boys basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the year in a big way Friday night, blowing out Missouri Valley 79-29 in a Western Iowa Conference game. Three nights after losing 61-59 at Logan-Magnolia, the Vikings stormed out to a 29-5 lead after one quarter and went to halftime up 53-8.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community bowling teams were both defeated by Denison-Schleswig on Thursday at Cyclone Lanes. Denison won the girls dual by 388 pins (2,324 to 1,936) and edged the Cyclone boys by just 27 pins (2,666 to 2,639). In the boys half of the meet, HCHS led by 26 pins following the individual round but was outscored 880-827 in the Baker Games.

 CLARINDA -- Harlan Community picked up two Hawkeye Ten Conference wrestling wins Thursday night, defeating Shenandoah 37-27 before rallying past Clarinda 46-31.

    COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Ruth Dinesen, 93, Council Bluffs, formerly of Harlan, died December 19 at Hansen House Memory Care Assisted Living.    Services will be Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  A prayer service will be held Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Visitation is Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m.

    AVOCA -- Aldine Fay Lippold, 82, Avoca, died December 20 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.    Services will be held Friday, Dec. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Visitation was Thursday, Dec. 22 from 5-7 p.m.

    OMAHA -- Debra S. Hipnar, 60, Omaha, died December 19 at Josie Harper Hospice House.    Services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 11 a.m. at Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home with her cremated ashes to be dispersed at a later date over the Rocky Mountains.  Visitation is Monday, Dec. 26 from 6-8 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Bethany Kay Perkins and Matthew Aaron Colvin both of Austin, TX exchanged marriage vows on September 3, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Harlan. Pastor Dan Hawn performed the 3:30 p.m. double ring ceremony.    Parents of the couple are Phil and Jennifer Perkins, Harlan; and Sam and Shari Colvin, Hutchinson, MN. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father. Matron of honor was Jody Tomjack, Sioux Falls, SD.