REGIONAL – Harvest activities were virtually completed during the week ending November 20, including harvesting, baling corn stalks, tiling, terracing, hauling and spreading manure, and anhydrous application.    In west central Iowa, including Shelby County, 92 percent of the corn crop for grain and 95 percent of the soybeans harvested as of last week, slightly lagging behind the statewide average of 98 percent overall.    Iowa Secretary o

    HARLAN – A team of students from Harlan Community Middle School finished as state runners-up at the 2016 Middle School Mock Trial State Tournament Wednesday, Nov. 16.    This year’s mock trial case was a civil case based on a 2013 wrongful death lawsuit filed by a mother whose son died participating in the extreme obstacle course event in West Virginia.

    ELK HORN—2016 marks the 38th anniversary of the Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa’s Christmas celebration called Julefest 2016 on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 25-26.

Christmas Highlights!

    IRWIN – An Irwin Christmas Market is planned for Saturday, Dec. 10, offering a variety of events to celebrate the holiday season.    The market will run from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

    AVOCA – Live cold-weather animals from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo are coming to Avoca City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 3-4 p.m. as part of the community’s Christmas kick-off celebration, Holidays on Main.

relative newcomer to Harlan, has garnered Harlan Mayor Kate Kohorst’s appointment to the Harlan Municipal Utility Board of Trustees, effective Nov. 20.    Wees, the branch manager at Bank of the West, will replace Mary Johnson, whose six-year term is up Nov.

    The Harlan Newspapers, Hy-Vee and Keast Auto Center have again teamed up to sponsor a coloring contest for children in Pre-K thru 2nd grades. The winning entry and artist will be featured on the cover of this year’s Holiday Greeting issue Dec. 20 and Dec. 23. Look inside today’s paper for details. Watch this Friday’s Harlan Newspaper for a coloring contest for 3rd thru 5th grade students!

    REGIONAL – Needy families will get some help from generous donors this holiday season as part of the annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas program in Shelby County.    The Christmas season is just around the corner and a few families already are signed up for adoption.    Since the program was first started 59 years ago by the Harlan Newspapers, more than 4,000 low-resource families in need of assistance have had a merrier holiday season.  In 20

    HARLAN – A fund drive that will help light up Harlan like it used to be in the 1960s has been established, with hopes of continuing the tradition of making Harlan the Christmas City.    With the help of several donors, the community has purchased white lighted garland and ribbon for the light poles in downtown Harlan, and colored lights for the poles in Pioneer Park.  In addition, there will be bright red bows on the tops of each of the po

    COUNTY – The general election is over, and in reflection it’s interesting to note how some Shelby County voters chose to cast ballots for not the candidates, but for write-ins they saw as more qualified than those on the ticket.    Shelby County Election Commissioner Marsha Carter said it isn’t unusual in any election for voters to offer their support for everyone from celebrities and fictional characters to the ever-popular “none of the a

    HARLAN -- Harlan firefighters and police quickly extinguished a small camper fire at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Tuesday afternoon, Nov.

    Students and staff in the Harlan Community Schools paid tribute to veterans during programs Thursday, Nov. 10 at the high school and elementary schools.  The 2016 Veterans Day program was titled Casting Light on the Camouflaged. 

    DES MOINES -- Harlan was presented a Healthy Hometowns powered by Wellmark award at the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative Bringing it Home conference on Nov. 1.

    HARLAN -- A historical Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon made a stop in Shelby County Friday-Saturday, Nov. 11-12, parked on the courthouse lawn with volunteer readers silently reading scripture.    The Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved the event being held in front of the courthouse, following recommendations from Iowa Gov.