HARLAN – Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee says he’s hoping Iowans will turn the tables of the election come caucus night, suggesting that the mainstream media has it wrong and that the current frontrunners for the republican nomination may very well not be.    The former Arkansas governor who currently sits in 8th-10th place in national polls, made a Harlan stop Wednesday, Jan.

    HARLAN -- Chad Butler (right) of the Harlan Fire Department receives the Firefighter of the Year for 2015 from Fire Chief Roger Bissen. Butler was presented the award because of his dedicated service and countless hours put toward the fire service in Harlan and the surrounding communities. 

    HARLAN – Jane Smith, Denison, has been hired as the new director of finance/city clerk for the City of Harlan, it was announced this week.    Smith replaces Debra Sawyer, who was terminated October 27, 2015, and discharged from her duties.    Smith will begin duties February 1, said Cox.  She was offered and accepted the position following a nearly three-month search.  Smith comes to Harlan after most recently holding the position of finan

    HARLAN – The Harlan Municipal Utilities will mark its 125th anniversary this year, with plans for a celebration this summer to highlight the years of service provided by the governmental agency to the community.    HMU’s annual municipal celebration is scheduled for June 14 and will be expanded this year to help the utilities commemorate the anniversary.    This week is special in itself, as January 20, 2016 marks the 125th anniversary of

    REGIONAL – Jason Andersen has joined the USDA Service Center in Audubon as a Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist serving Shelby, Audubon and Cass Counties.    Andersen’s role is to work in a joint capacity with Pheasants Forever, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others on conservation planning and implementation.

    COUNTY – Local governments in Shelby County have debt obligations totaling $39.6 million, most of which can be attributed to the City of Harlan and Harlan Community Schools.    Much of the school’s debt, totaling $12.7 million as of June 30, 2015, directly correlates to construction projects, namely paying off its primary building project.  The city’s debt obligations total $24.4 million, and include the Harlan Municipal Utilities’ debt.  

    DES MOINES – Past and future officers of the Iowa Association of Student Councils (IASC) met here to honor past officers and induct the new officers for the 2015-2016 school year and HCHS sophomore Ellen Keast was named as the new IASC president.    Keast previously served on the HCHS Student Council for the past two years. She will serve on the State Student Council Board for the next two years.

    HARLAN -- Friends, family and colleagues filled the Shelby County Courthouse courtroom Friday, Jan. 8 in support of Susan Larson Christensen, who officially took the oath of office as District Court Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of Iowa.    Iowa Gov.

HCHS Senior Alex Dotzler plays the four bass drums during pep band at a Cyclone basketball game recently.  The bass drums have become a tradition for the pep band in recent years.

    REGIONAL -- The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says flu activity in Iowa is increasing, prompting IDPH to increase the level of geographic spread of influenza from local to regional spread.    All three flu viruses covered by this year’s vaccines - influenza A (H3), influenza A (H1N1), influenza B (Victoria) - are currently circulating in Iowa.

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Compensation Board will meet this month to discuss salary compensation for the county’s elected officials.    The date and time has yet to be determined.    Members of the compensation board are selected by the elected officials they represent and include: Ron Rosmann (supervisors), Ron Goodside (supervisors), Tim Meyer (treasurer), Randy Conrad (recorder), Rod Baxter (sheriff), Frank Powers (attorney), and Sandr

    HARLAN – Considering an Iowa retirement soon?  Already live in Harlan?  Well, you’re in luck…according to some “experts,” this is the place to be in your senior years if you live in Iowa.    Real estate website findthehome.com partnered with msn.com recently to rank the “most fun” places to retire in every state, and Harlan tops the list in the state with “fields of opportunities.”    In addition, smartasset.com recently published a study

    AVOCA -- Many residents of Avoca and nearby communities were shocked to receive a letter in the mail indicating their pharmaceutical services would be switching to another provider. Carley Drug, a storefront occupying Avoca Main Street for over 45 years, is closing January 29, 2016.    Many residents immediately reached out to Ronda Holst, longtime Carley Drug employee.

    HARLAN – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating reports of land application of process wastewater potentially entering a stream after receiving numerous telephone calls from concerned citizens.    A contractor was land applying wastewater from Essentia, a processing facility in Harlan (Shelby County) under its chapter 200 license, which is issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

    REGIONAL – The Iowa Department of Education released its Iowa School Report Card Wednesday, Dec.