HARLAN – The Harlan Municipal Utilities has raised cable rates to meet increasing programming costs.    The HMU Board of Trustees approved the rate increases at its regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 25.  Basic cable rates will increase $5 from $25.99 to $30.99 per month.  Expanded basic cable will increase $7 from $78.99 to $85.99 per month. 

    COUNTY – Inclement weather last month led to the closing of the Shelby County Courthouse, and following discussion at the county board of supervisors board table, there now is a policy in place that spells out exact courthouse closure procedures.    The courthouse shall remain open on all business days not identified as a holiday as determined by the board unless:    “The Auditor, Chairman and or a member of the Board of Supervisors,   She

   HARLAN -- Anna Ahrenholotz  passes the bucket at last Friday’s ball games in Harlan to raise funds for Cancer research.    The annual Pink/Blue Out event was a huge success.

    DEFIANCE -- Smitty Bee Honey, Defiance, has a featured role in the first episode of the Netflix series Rotten, a documentary on the food supply chain airing now on Netflix.    Camera crews spent a day filming at the Defiance location, and Smitty Bee Honey is featured in the first episode, Lawyers, Guns and Honey, of the six-episode series.  Both owner Doug Schmitz and general manager Tony Schmitz appear in the film.

    PANAMA - The steaks were cooked to perfection, the banquet hall filled to the rim and the annual Cattlemen’s banquet was the place to be for great food, an outstanding community auction and friendship.      St.

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan and employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Iowa Council 61 exchanged initial bargaining proposals last week.    After proposals were exchanged, the groups entered closed session for negotiations.    The union, representing employees of the public works department and police department, is requesting a five-year agreement with 1.5 percent wage increases

See the brief event video at: https://youtu.be/ACDBC9OmSL4
 
PANAMA - The steaks were cooked to perfection, the banquet hall filled to the rim and the annual Cattlemen’s banquet was the place to be for great food, an outstanding community auction and friendship.  
 

COUNTY -- Stephen Fah (right) reads with Barrett Kaufman at the Shelby County Catholic School Tuesday during Catholic Schools Week. The sixth grade and second grade reading activity was just one of the activities honoring the late Marilyn Fox, who had been a teacher and librarian at SCCS.

    COUNTY – Charlie Parkhurst has been named chairman of the Shelby County Board of Supervisors this year, and will preside over a board that is currently working diligently to prepare next year’s budget.    Parkhurst is joined on the board by supervisors Steve Kenkel and Roger Schmitz.    Parkhurst was unanimously elected chairman while Schmitz was unanimously elected vice-chairman of the 2018 board.    Besides tackling the budget this month

    HARLAN – Harlan Community High School Principal John Connell has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the current school year.    The HCS Board of Education approved his early retirement request at its regular meeting Monday, Jan.

    HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center Board of Trustees has set Tuesday, February 27 at 7:30 a.m. as the public hearing date and time on the tax asking proposal for 2018-2019. The MMC board is proposing to lower the current tax levy rate from $1.22 to $1.20792 per thousand taxable valuation for 2018-2019.    The public hearing will be held in the Auble Conference Center at MMC in Harlan.

    HARLAN – A spring outdoor festival is in the planning process to pair local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel with children in Shelby County who have Autism Spectrum Disorder.    The goal?  To provide better communication, information and to make it a fun event for those with Autism so they can see the police, fire and EMS as positive role models and learn and process more about everything from the lights and si

    COUNTY – The 2018 Republican precinct caucuses will be held Monday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.

    COUNTY – The 2018 Democratic precinct caucuses will be held Monday, Feb. 5 at the Shelby County Historical Museum, 1805 Morse, in Harlan.    Doors open at 6 p.m. for registration, and the caucus begins at 7 p.m.  More information can be obtained by calling 579-6879.    All are invited to attend.

PANAMA -- The Shelby County Cattlemen’s annual banquet will be held Saturday, Feb. 3 at St. Mary’s Hall in Panama.    Social hour begins at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. (prime rib), the annual meeting plus the trophy and scholarship fund auction to follow.    Tickets are available at the door or from any board member.    All are invited to attend.