ELK HORN -- A $3.9 million general obligation school bond will be on the ballot for Sept. 12 in Elk Horn and Exira.    The bond would be used to make repairs and improvements to the Elk Horn and Exira school campuses which were originally built in the 1950s.

PANAMA -- The most traumatizing moments of your life can lead you to some of the happiest.    At least, this is the case for Dave Velthoff of Panama.    Velthoff originally had no desire to come to Shelby County.

REGIONAL -- On August 21st, a total solar eclipse will be turning day to night for 14 states in the nation.    The coast-to-coast event is being called the “national eclipse” as it is the first total eclipse to exclusively span over the U.S. mainland since the nation’s founding in 1776. It is the first to be witnessed in the U.S.

HARLAN --  Students can again enjoy an extra week of summer this year before heading back to classes as Harlan Community School District prepares for a new school year.    The first day of school for the 2017-2018 school year at Harlan Community Schools will be on Wednesday, Aug. 23.    Parents and guardians should be aware that the 23rd and 24th will both have a two hour early dismissal.

HARLAN -- For upcoming major projects, Harlan Municipal Utilities accepted bids that came in over $1.3-million less than engineer’s estimates.      The projects, including final overhead to underground on electric lines, fiber to home connections, and substation switchgear work, had pleasing results on bids opened recently and formally approved at the Aug.

SHELBY --     Verna and John Christensen lived lives that could be called congruent far before they were married.    They went to the same church, had the same mutual friends, and had children who were in school with each other.

REGIONAL -- Areas of western Iowa are lacking rain in what has been an uncharacteristically dry summer season.    “It’s a pretty typical year until you get into June and July, where the rainfall numbers really started to go downhill,” said Iowa’s State Climatologist Harry Hillaker.    The state of Iowa often relies on heavy, wide-spread rainfalls that cover up to 10 or 12 counties and at times, in bigger systems, up to 1/3 or 1/2 of the state.

COUNTY – Local governments in Shelby County have debt obligations totaling $36.7 million, most of which can be attributed to the City of Harlan and Harlan Community Schools.    Much of the school’s debt, totaling $10.9 million as of June 30, 2016, directly correlates to construction projects, namely paying off its primary building project.  The city’s debt obligations total $22.9 million, and include the Harlan Municipal Utilities’ debt.    Ot

    REGIONAL -- Depending on what area you’re in, it’s a pretty average season for the crops in Iowa.    Randy Pryor has been fortunate. Areas around western Iowa have had differing levels of luck with rainfall, causing some dry pockets in areas around the state such as Harlan.

    HARLAN -- Crews from Suez Water Advanced Solutions are performing an annual five point inspection of the water tower at Cyclone Avenue and Highway 59. In the process, the tank will be power washed outside to remove mildew and the paint refreshed.

SHELBY -- Bobby socks and saddle shoes. A can of Green River down at The Chatterbox. Playing volleyball over telephone lines.    This is what life looked like for Norma “Jeanie” Kiesel when she was growing up as a teenager in Avoca during the 1940s. These were the times when her classmates didn’t have cars and she wasn’t allowed to wear pants to school. 

REGIONAL -- Max Kenkel and his niece, Brylie, discovered something special in late July: both of them would be performing at the Iowa State Fair – on the same day – just a few hours apart.    Brylie, who turns eight today, Tuesday, August 8, earned an early birthday present by placing second in her age bracket during the Shelby County Fair in Harlan for her solo jazz dance performance.

COUNTY -- Non-profit agencies within Shelby County will have until the end of August to complete applications for funding from Shelby County Community Chest. Funds from SCCC are made possible by the generosity of local donors to the SCCC annual fund drive which will be taking place this fall.    Shelby County Community Chest accumulates and then disburses the funds from this campaign to local non-profits for a single year.

    REGIONAL -- Shelby County’s population has decreased for another consecutive year since 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimates, but hopes are that efforts to attract business and develop affordable housing will reverse that trend in the near future.    The population has fallen from 11,927 to 11,800.