COUNTY -- The Shelby County Area Solid Waste Agency is sponsoring a Free Cleanup Crew Event for residents wishing to dispose of household hazardous waste from their homes.  The event will be held on Saturday, September 16 from 8-11 a.m.

ELK HORN -- A $3.9 million general obligation school bond will be on the ballot for Sept. 12 in Elk Horn and Exira.    If approved, bond issue proceeds will be used to make repairs and improvements to the Elk Horn and Exira school campuses, originally built in the 1950s.

COUNTY – The first-ever Shelby County Ag Festival will be held Monday, Sept. 11 from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Harlan.    The hands-on learning experience for kids of all ages will include everything from bean dissection, an animal learning center, flowing grain and a commodity carnival to implements, water conservation demonstrations, a GPS scavenger hunt and animal dissection.    The event is free fun for all ages. 

HARLAN -- U.S. Sen.

HARLAN -- Soil and water quality are increasingly on farmers’ minds these days as they consider ways to reduce erosion, as well as nitrogen leaving their farms.

REGIONAL -- Protect yourself, your family and community this season with an annual flu vaccine for everyone in your family who is 6 months and older. Influenza remains a top 10 leading cause of death in Iowa, yet can be prevented by receiving yearly flu vaccine.    Some people are at higher risk for complications of influenza which makes receiving the vaccine very important.

REGIONAL -- The Harlan Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are warning citizens and businesses about the possibility of scams arising from the flooding and relief efforts in Texas.    “We, as Iowans, are very caring and giving when it comes to helping other people that are experiencing such heartache and devastation as we are all witnessing in Texas.  As such, we are targets for people looking to take advantage of our gene

SHELBY - Iowa farm history will come to life September 9-10 at Carstens Farm during the 35th Annual Carstens Farm Days.  Threshing, sawmill operations, crafters and vendors, a quilt show and of course, tractors.

The Cyclones were ready to rock the house in their Friday, August 25 home opener at Merrill Field

COUNTY -- On August 28, local city clerks began accepting nomination papers for the elected positions of city mayor and city council members in communities throughout Shelby County.    For those considering candidacy within city positions this year, the deadline for filing nomination papers will be September 21 at 5 p.m.  This year’s general election is Tuesday, Nov.

HARLAN – Midstates Bank becomes the latest banking institution to implement enhanced security measures due to an increase in bank robberies in rural areas outside the Omaha metro area.    Earlier this year, Shelby County State Bank announced enhanced security such as a “buzz-in” policy, which allows branch staff to control entry into the bank during times of heightened security threats, among other security measures.    Midstates Bank official

HARLAN – A Harlan man has been sentenced to 10 years in jail on charges of kidnapping, first degree, and domestic abuse assault impeding air/blood flow causing bodily injury.    Theodore James Behrens, 29, 1104 Durant St., is committed to the custody of the Director, Iowa Department of Corrections, for one year on the count of kidnapping, and 10 years on the domestic abuse charge.  The prison terms are to run concurrently.    In addition, Behr

HARLAN -- Kelli Klaassen of Harlan was appointed as a new member of the Myrtue Medical Center Board of Trustees at the August board meeting.    Klaassen was appointed and voted in to fill the position on the board which was open following Larry Miller’s resignation.

REGIONAL -- The Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team serves residents in emergencies ranging from house fires to hazardous weather.    For Tom Schulte, the leader for the team here in Shelby County, it used to be kind of scary. It isn’t anymore. 

COUNTY -- As I sit here at my desk in Harlan on my last day, I know that when I leave it won’t be the same.    As soon as I walk out the door of this office on this Friday evening - that’s it - at least for the foreseeable future.  There will be no groggy Monday morning greetings, no snicker bars shared with my co-workers and no joking around with the men back in the press room.    To say it has been a blast would be an understatement.  To say