HARLAN -- A 10 year-old Kat Eenhuis remembers sitting in the coat room at a family party back in 1974 in Broomfield, CO.    She had found an acquaintance to talk with who looked much like Santa Claus with long white hair and rosy cheeks.    As she left her friend in the coat room, she ran into her father and the owner of the home just outside the door.

    COUNTY -- Dave Tyrrel will take over the reigns of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry following elections at their annual meeting July 19.    Moving up from vice-president, Tyrrel takes over for Brent Scheve who remains on the board as immediate past president.

    STATE -- People across Iowa will have the opportunity to purchase select items at a lower price during the tax free days.    “If people didn’t [know about tax free weekend] it’s really a savings of seven percent,” said Sandy Ronfeldt, owner of Rubi J clothing.    From August 5-7, the seven percent tax will be removed for items considered everyday clothing and footwear.

HCHS now has 27 state titles in nine sports. See Sports inside the Tuesday, August 2.

    EARLING -- As Pat Hoffmann sat and observed the sunset across his fields one evening, he noticed one isolated oak tree without a leaf on its branches and he began to smile.    Lonely Oak would become the name of his new distillery. He frantically called his wife, Amy, with the exciting news after so long trying to find a name for their company.    “It’s a dream and it’s here,” Pat said. 

    REGIONAL – The number of registered sex offenders that call the greater Shelby County area their home has decreased in the past two years, according to Iowa’s state sex offender registry.    Shelby County and areas surrounding the county have 26 registered sex offenders as of this month, as opposed to fall, 2014 when there were 36 registered sex offenders listed in the area.  Some offenders are new to the area while others remain on the li

    HARLAN -- While TJ Otzelberger was in the midst of his press conference, April 21, about his new position as head basketball coach at South Dakota State, he announced that Rob Klinkefus, Harlan native, will be remaining as an assistant coach.    Community members, players and faculty gave a standing ovation for the loyal Jackrabbit of 10 years.    “That tells you how [the community] feels about him and what he means not only to the basketb

    COUNTY -- A new predator is preying on Ash trees and was recently found in Omaha and in Missouri Valley. The Emerald Ash Borer is moving through Iowa and has the potential to appear in Shelby County.    “Now that we know it’s farther west, we know that it’s on the move,” said Tivon Feeley, forest health program leader for the DNR.    Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic insect from Asia that only affect Ash trees.

    KIRKMAN -- Mike Norris responded to a call on behalf of the Kirkman Fire Department approximately 18 years ago and didn’t expect to have a spiritual experience.    When he arrived at the car accident on a back road, he was notified that one of the individuals in the car was deceased and the other had to be removed from the car after using the Jaws of Life.    Not long after they got to the scene, a little boy and an elderly couple approach

    HARLAN -- Local authorities are alerting the public of a scam involving Facebook, YouTube and video chatting/photo taking that occurred in Harlan recently.    Harlan Police reports indicate a Harlan male recently was contacted via Facebook by an individual who wanted to video chat.  The female was naked during the chat and conned the individual into also getting naked during the encounter.    Following the chat, the female attempted to ext

    COUNTY-- Local school administrators are waiting to take further action on a new federal transgender directive until they receive additional instructions from the state level, and discuss the matter openly among themselves and with the Iowa Association of School Boards.    The directive, handed down in May, is geared toward inclusivity of transgender students in public schools.    The Harlan Community School District currently is the only

    COUNTY -- Another Shelby County Fair has come and gone, leaving many lasting memories for all who participated.

    HARLAN --“West Ridge Zoo,” Joan Potter, office manager and secretary, accidentally said while answering the school’s phone.

    REGIONAL -- Marne and Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC) and Walnut Communications, longtime partners during their 100 years in business, today extended that partnership further when they announced they would merge later this year.    The merger was recommended for approval by the Board of Directors of each company, and officially approved by the shareholders of both companies earlier this month.    The Iowa Utilities Board and the Federal

    HARLAN -- Harlan Municipal Utility single package cable TV rates will go up a bit over eight percent effective Sept.