HARLAN -- The Harlan Community Schools made an announcement last week regarding students who have negative lunch balances.    “Beginning May 1, anyone with a negative lunch balance of $10.00 or more will be given a cheese sandwich, carrots, and a carton of white milk.

AMES -- FFA members across Iowa celebrated success as they gathered for the 89th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference on April 9-11 at Iowa State University’s Hilton Coliseum in Ames. The Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference is the 5th largest of its kind in the National FFA Organization

PORTSMOUTH -- On Sunday, July 30, the weekend of the annual Portsmouth St.

HARLAN – The remains of U.S.

HARLAN -- The racing season roars into action this weekend with the opening night at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan.    Under the promoting team of Highbanks Promotions LLC, Doug and Robin Batz and Denny and Mary Petersen, the season opener is set for Saturday, April 29.    Classes during the 2017 season will include modified, late model, stock car, sport mods, hobby stock and sport compact. 

DES MOINES – The City of Harlan was recently honored with the 2016 Tree City USA Award at the 27th Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines.

HARLAN -- Forty-two Harlan FFA members traveled to Ames to the Iowa State University Campus April 9-11 to compete and participate in various State FFA activities, with great results including a team crowned state champion and qualifying for nationals.    On Monday, April 10, 21 of those members participated in Leadership Career Development Events in a very competitive field of participants from chapters around the state.

HARLAN - The Harlan Fire Department was called to a machine shed fire east of Harlan at the farm home of Bruce Heilesen, 1540 Hwy 44, on Sunday, April 23 at 4:38 p.m.    Upon the fire department’s arrival, the machine shed was engulfed in flames. Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen said Heilesen had suffered forearm and face burns while attempting to put out the fire and was transported by a family member to Myrtue Medical Center. 

HARLAN -- Julie DuVal has dedicated much of her life giving back to the Harlan community. The Harlan High School math teacher is a member of the First Baptist Church and has coached high school volleyball for 19 years.    DuVal was recently diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma and will likely need blood products as part of her treatment.

HARLAN – Harlan Community School’s non-certified staff, administrators and the superintendent have been awarded a 1.38 percent pay increase for the 2017-18 fiscal year.    The HCS Board of Education approved the raise at its meeting Wednesday, April 19.  Board members Lonnie Muxfeldt, Al Hazelton, Angie Monson, Joni Larsen, Amy Rueschenberg and Monte Schechinger approved the measure.  Kathy Mahlberg was absent.    Superintendent of Schools Jus

HARLAN -- Harlan Community High School students spent Thursday, April 13 helping clean up communities in the school district as part of the annual Community Service Day.The event has become a huge success over the years as students fan out across the communities and give back to those who have supported the school district so well through the years.  (Photos by Kim Wegener)

HARLAN – The Harlan Community School District has approved its 2017-18 fiscal year budget, highlighted by a total tax asking increase of $253,270 fueled by an overall increase in property valuations in Shelby County.    The HCS Board of Education approved the budget last month.  Overall taxable valuations increased approximately $18.1 million, from $510,002,298 to $528,198,600, bringing in $210,600 in additional property tax revenue (included

    COUNTY – The City of Harlan and Shelby County are partnering on a project that would effectively bring for sale an approximately 11-acre tract of land that currently is being used as conservation grassland.    It’s the old dump ground east of town on Nishna Ave., and the city owns about two acres of the land with the county owning the rest.  The city’s portion is land-locked with no access to the property.    The city and county began talk

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Fire Department had the opportunity on April 3 to perform some very practical training on a vacant structure at 505 Dye St. that needed demolition. Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen said the live training event was very successful and the training officers reached objectives on training for offensive attack: Interior fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, accountability.

HARLAN – The City of Harlan has filed a petition for title to abandoned property for a residence owned by defendant Charlotte Frank at 1508 6th St.    Also named as defendants in the petition are unknown spouse of Frank, party in possession, Conservative Savings Bank FSB Midland Funding LLC, Tax 105 Partnership and Shelby County.    According to the petition, the city claims the property is currently abandoned, unoccupied, exposed to the eleme