WESTPHALIA -- Maribeth Zimmerman’s hands smooth over her rosary’s beads. She pauses over three of the beads, blue eyes reverent, to tell me they are Hail Mary’s. She has a soft voice.    Zimmerman’s life is, and has been, centered on her faith in Catholicism. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

REGIONAL – Shelby County State Bank has implemented enhanced security measures due to an increase in bank robberies in rural areas outside the Omaha metro area, it was announced recently.    The measures include a “buzz-in” policy which will allow branch staff to control entry into the bank during times of heightened security threats.    A recent violent robbery in Underwood heightened concerns about potential threat.  Officials with the Feder

EAST PEORIA, IL -- Harlan Community High School coaching legends Curt Bladt and Mitch Osborn received national honors on back-to-back days last week at the 2017 National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Il. On Tuesday afternoon, June 20, longtime HCHS football coach Curt Bladt was inducted into the NHSACA’s National Hall of Fame.

PORTSMOUTH -- The Portsmouth Little League baseball team had its first home game of the season recently and it was a special night.  It was the first game teammate Jaxon Rold, who is battling cancer, was able to attend.  He led off each inning hitting and made it around on every hit.  He also played left field a few innings.  Portsmouth played Glenwood in the contest. 

HARLAN - The Harlan Community School District board voted last week unanimously to offer Superintendent of Schools Justin Wagner a 1.38 percent wage increase, the same increase approved by the board for staff earlier this year.    There were no other changes to the three year rolling contract.    The Board agrees to pay the Superintendent a base salary of $171,135 for the period commencing July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2020.    The salary i

HARLAN -- Proposed modifications to the Electric Utility and Water Utility rates were tabled at the HMU June 22 meeting but are expected to be acted on at their July 13 meeting.    The proposals show some billing change and “step” modifications to the electric rates but most customers will not notice a change in their monthly billing.  Water rates, however, will increase at approximately 3.25 percent for all classifications as well as restruct

    HARLAN -- One thing is for certain – you can’t buy a llama in any old Iowan sale barn.    Laura Heimerman and her husband, Trent, are all about their livestock. Laura grew up with sheep and pigs and cows, but Trent’s grandpa was into, and around, all different kinds of animals.

Harlan City Administrator Gene Gettys, Jr. issued a statement Wednesday on behalf of the city elected officials and employees, following the release of a special investigation report by the state auditor's office that outlined improper and unsupported disbursements.
In part, the statement said the contents and outcome of the report are expected to be of concern to the community. 

    HARLAN -- Auditor of State Mary Mosiman today released a report on a special investigation of the City of Harlan for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2016.    The special investigation was requested by city officials as a result of concerns regarding certain travel reimbursements issued to the former city administrator, Terry Cox.    Mosiman reported the special investigation identified $144,872.32 of improper and unsupported disbu

The rites of summer with your children begins with t-ball at J.J. Jensen Park in Harlan.

HARLAN - The Harlan City Council voted to table a pending ordinance which was in its second reading that would allow minors to accompany adults into businesses having an alcohol license until 10 p.m.

HARLAN -- The Harlan Municipal Utilities spent part of their June 8 board meeting discussing possible rate changes for water and electricity, though no formal action was taken.  No action is expected on gas rates.    Discussed were changes that could go into effect August 1, including a modification to the rate table for electricity use that was proposed following a recent rate table study.    The various usage levels were combined into fewer

COUNTY -- A 19-year-old Akron man has been charged with felony sexual exploitation of a minor - cause to engage in act, following an investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.    Trevor Allen Richter, 400 River Road, also has been charged in Shelby County District Court with purchase/possess depiction of a minor in sex act first offense.    A complaint filed in district court alleges that Richter knowingly permitted a minor victim to

Iowa Public Television announced that it will be airing a new series, Iowa Entrepreneur and it featured Harlanite, Arlin Sorensen, CEO / Partner / Founder, HTS AG and HTG last Sunday.  To watch the 12-minute video see the link below.
http://site.iptv.org/video/story/27188/iowa-entrepreneur-htg

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community High School’s Foreign Language Club is taking a group of 21 to tour Peru for a little more than a week to see sights such as Machu Picchu.    The group is comprised of 13 students, six adults and two teachers. The trip will last a total of nine days.    In Peru, the group will be able to see famous tourist attractions such as Machu Picchu, an Incan citadel settled almost 8,000 feet high in the Andes Mountains.