REGIONAL -- It’s been a week since the region saw one of the strongest mid-April storms in recent history.  Shelby County residents are hoping that spring isn’t a no-show this year, and warmer temperatures will arrive next week.  Flashback to last Friday-Sunday where the area saw everything from heavy rain, thunder, lightning, hail, high winds and even a twister in southwest Iowa, followed by ice, ice pellets, snow, cold and blizzard condition

    REGIONAL – Students and adults representing four school districts in southwest Iowa, including Harlan Community Schools, recently returned from a historic trip to China – a cultural exchange with the emphasis on agriculture and business ideas in education.    Sponsored and paid for entirely by corporate sponsor Syngenta, the trip included a meeting with U.S.

    COUNTY – Residents interested in learning some history about Shelby County are invited on a bus tour of the county on May 15 with tour guide and local historian Ron Chamberlain.    “What a long, cold winter this was,” he said.  “So what do you think of a historical bus ride right here in Shelby County?  This tour is not going to Branson, MO or St.

    COUNTY -- Shelby County has lost 539 residents since 2010, according to population estimates from the U.S.

    AVOCA -- Prom-goers at AHSTW wouldn’t let one of the strongest mid-April storms in history rain or snow on their special evening Saturday night, April 14.  Strong storms that brought heavy rain, wind, hail and even some area twisters rolled in on Friday.  On the back side of that storm was another douse of winter, bringing cold, wind and snow on Saturday.  Prom went on as scheduled Saturday for AHSTW.

    COUNTY – License plates with the new Iowa plate design are now available through local motor vehicle departments, including the Shelby County office, officials announced this week.    The design, a city and country reboot, represents an updated and more visually compelling representation of the city and country theme that is currently featured on Iowa license plates, officials said.

    HARLAN -- An official from the Essentia plant east of Harlan said Thursday, April 12 his company is working on the issue.    In a statement, John Abell, a representative from the plant, said, “We have been in contact with the DNR and the Shelby County Environmental Department and also with the Environmental Engineering group at Essentia.  Essentia has sampled and is taking sampling to determine a mitigation plan if required.

    REGIONAL – Outstanding debt obligations for local governmental agencies decreased slightly in the past year, bucking the state trend that saw an overall increase in debt, according to a report released by the state treasurer’s office.    Shelby County saw it’s total debt obligations drop from $36,700,893 in 2016 to $35,735,239 in 2017.  Much of the reported debt can be attributed to the City of Harlan/Harlan Municipal Utilities and Harlan

    COUNTY -- There will be a contested race for county supervisor this year.    Incumbent Roger Schmitz, Democrat, is being challenged by newcomer Darin Haake, Republican.  Both will appear on the primary ballot in June, and both will move on to the general election in November representing their respective parties.    There is only one open seat on the county supervisors board, currently held by Schmitz, a long-time veteran of the board.    

    HARLAN -- The final legislative briefing of the year will be held Saturday, April 21 at 10 a.m. at the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry atrium, 1901 Hawkeye Ave. in Harlan.    This event is sponsored by Farm Sweet Farm of Harlan.  The public is invited to attend and learn more about the legislative session, including legislation that has been passed and still being considered.    On hand will be Sen. Jason Schultz and Rep.

    COUNTY -- Harlan Community High School students spread out across the school district Wednesday, April 11 as part of their annual Community Service Day.  Freshmen-seniors helped clean up homes, parks, etc. as part the event.    Temperatures had rebounded from an unseasonably cold April to more than 60 degrees on Wednesday so students could provide the community service. 

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan has plans to issue $1.5 million in capital loan notes to finance a number of community projects, including improvements to the sewer plant and J.J.

    On page 4A of today’s Harlan News-Advertiser is a letter to the editor from Lori Minor, referencing the sexual abuse allegations against former Harlan Physician Dr.

    HARLAN – Another couple of weeks have gone by and still no answers to why, on occasion, Harlan stinks.    For about a month, winds out of the south and east have drawn an unpleasant odor into town, allegedly from the Essentia plant east of Harlan.  Most recently, the smell permeated the town on Sunday, April 8 and Tuesday evening, April 10.    The Harlan Newspapers  has reached out to Essentia and has been awaiting a phone call to be retur

    HARLAN -- Miguel Mena, a senior at Harlan Community High School, was recently presented the school’s highest agricultural honor, the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, sponsored by Monsanto Company.    Mena, the son of Miguel Sr.