HARLAN – Myrtue Medical Center announced the addition of Sarah Mgonja, DNP-FNP, a Nurse Practitioner.  Sarah will join Myrtue on August 1, 2016.    Sarah Mgonja received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Creighton University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Upper Iowa University.

    HARLAN – The Harlan Fire Department has been named Fire Department of the Year by the Iowa Fire Association.    The presentation of a plaque in the department’s honor was made at the Harlan City Council meeting this week.    Nominated by Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees, the Harlan department was honored for being well respected, well trained and a great example of Iowa’s fire service.

    HARLAN – Harlan Cub Scout Pack 90 and Boy Scout Troop 90 will conduct their annual Scouting for Food drive Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

ELK HORN -- Kindergarten and first grade students at Exira-EHK Elementary School recently learned about different types of careers. In Mrs. Jordan Webster’s first grade class, nine of her 14 students want to work with animals or be a veterinarian when they are older.

    COUNTY – The third and final reading of an ordinance pertaining to the use of the road right-of-way in Shelby County will be presented for discussion and public input at today’s county board of supervisors meeting.    Officials said basically they are updating an ordinance currently in place.  Changes are in regards to any obstructions placed in the right-of-way such as manure or waste material, mud, crop residue, etc.

    HARLAN -- The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office completed a theft investigation March 30, culminating with the arrest of Justin Levell, 28, 207 Jane St., Irwin.    Sheriff’s officials said Levell was found to be in possession of a 35-foot camper trailer at his residence in Irwin, along with  a John Deere, four-wheel Gator.

HARLAN -- Harlan Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees approved bids to clear out and clean up parts of the former headquarters facilities to be used for “cold storage.”    The old facilities, located on the east end of Highway 44 going through Harlan, will see demolition to floors, walls, plumbing, electrical, hvac, etc to provide open space for storage.

    HARLAN – Class sizes at the elementary level likely will be higher next year as Harlan Community Schools administration wrestles with the difficulty of balancing financial solvency with state funding, staffing and declining enrollment.    The HCS Board of Education unanimously approved the 2016-17 budget Monday, March 21.  Board members Kathy Mahlberg, Lonnie Muxfeldt, Al Hazelton, Angie Monson, Joni Larsen, Amy Rueschenberg and Monte Sche

    HARLAN -- Students in the Harlan Community Schools were treated to a program about eagles from Shelby County/DNR Naturalist Christina Roelofs this week.  The eagle in the background is Cassie, a partial amputee most likely due to collision with a train.  The tip of one of her wings was mangled so they had to take it off.  She was found in Cass County, NE.  Roelofs has had her since 2007, and estimates the eagle’s age at probably between 20

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community High School juniors and seniors will once again be hosting a community service day, scheduled for Wednesday, April 20.    Students will contribute up to six hours of volunteer work in the many communities served by HCHS.    “We are extremely fortunate to be part of a community that values education and partners with the school to provide opportunities and programs that benefit the students,” said teacher coordina

    MANNING -- It was a very successful season for the 2015-2016 members of the Quiz Bowl team at IKM-Manning. The members have been meeting Wednesday mornings since the beginning of November. The varsity boys’ team won the Logan-Magnolia competition followed then by the girls’ team placing fourth in the Boyer Valley competition. Then came the conference meet in Logan on March 16. Both varsity teams made it into the Elite Eight round.

HARLAN -- Harlan FFA members competed at Sub-district FFA Contests on February 24 and Southwest Iowa District FFA Convention on Saturday, March 5. Forty-five Harlan FFA members now look to participate in various State FFA Leadership Events in Ames, April 19-21.    Iowa FFA Degree Candidates:    The Harlan FFA Chapter is excited that seven members have cleared the first hurdle in an effort to earn their Iowa FFA Degree.

    HARLAN – Hospital revenues continue to improve at Myrtue Medical Center as they realized a decrease in its operating losses year to date, hospital officials reported this month.    The hospital’s financials showed a $293,953 gain in net income from all sources, such as tax support, donations, rental income and investment income. When removing those additional income items, the hospital ended the month with a loss of -$292,675.

HARLAN – Harlan Community Schools Superintendent Justin Wagner has stepped back from comments he made earlier this month regarding  next year’s school calendar being unanimously approved by a calendar committee, keeping the door open for more feedback from school district patrons, staff, administration and calendar committee members.    Persons with thoughts on next year’s calendar are encouraged to contact Wagner at the superintendent’s offic

    REGIONAL – “I’m on the Elk Horn ramp.  My wife is getting ready to have a kid.  I need help.”    That plea was from Chris Bengel early Tuesday morning, March 29, as it became apparent that his wife, Erica, would likely not make it to the hospital in Council Bluffs, and that their third child could be delivered in their truck along Interstate 80.    The couple got five minutes out of Atlantic when Erica’s contractions became more intense.