REGIONAL – The annual weather summary from the Farmers Almanac says this winter will be warmer than normal with less snow than average.    If December is any indication of the rest of the winter months to come, then the almanac may be a little off.  Lots of snow and bitter cold temperatures have hit the area in late December and early January.    However, the almanac paints a picture of a late December to mid January freeze, with colder-th

    HARLAN -- Lyrick Chron Cardine is the first baby born in 2016 at Myrtue Medical Center.  The son of Eugene Cardine and Kimberlee Green, Harlan, arrived at Myrtue on Friday, Jan. 1 at 4:17 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces.    Lyrick has three siblings -- Nicholas, 1 1/2; Paxton, 4; and Lyncoln, 3.    Mary Lou Tremel, Earling, scored the closest time of birth when she guessed 2:37 a.m.

    COUNTY – Shelby County has signed a five-year agreement with Myrtue Medical Center to provide community health services for the county.    Costs will begin at $130,000 in the first year, and raise by $10,000 increments over the five years to $170,000 in the fifth year.  The agreement comes on the heels of a three-year agreement at $100,000 each year between the medical center and Shelby County.    Providing the services at that rate create

    COUNTY – The well-being of Shelby County children continues to be better than average, according to the National Kids Count Initiative sponsored by the Annie E.

    Shelby – Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at the Shelby Depot in Shelby at 7 p.m.    An election for positions on the board of directors will be held.  Members will be voting for three board members this year.

    COUNTY -- Gene Gross, chairman of the Shelby County Community Foundation, announced that approximately $108,000 in grant funds are available for local nonprofit organizations and that applications are due no later than February 1, 2016.      Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa.

    COUNTY – Farmland values in Shelby and surrounding counties dropped significantly during the past year, following a statewide trend that has seen values drop for the second consecutive year.    Average Iowa farmland value is now estimated to be $7,633 per acre.   Per acre value declined $310, or 3.9 percent, since last year’s survey.

Four factors play into father / son survival
    • Was going into work later that day, instead of first thing in the morning.    • Uncharacteristically decided to scoop her walk in the middle of a snow storm.    • Had a gut feeling, that someone had to be in the house.    • Remembered the house layout and had a good idea where the bedroom was.

    HARLAN – The weather outside may be frightful this winter, but a fire in your home is far from delightful. Unfortunately, the risk of home fire does increase during the winter months: December, January, February and March are the leading months for U.S.

HARLAN - The Harlan Community School District accepted the resignation of longtime teacher and coach, Steve Daeges, effective at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Daeges began his 37-year teaching career, starting in the Ashland Greenwood, NE, School System in 1979.    He began coaching baseball in Harlan in 1994 while commuting from his teaching job at Ashland Greenwood.

    COUNTY – The eyes of the nation will be upon the State of Iowa February 1 for the Republican and Democratic Caucuses, and Shelby County will be included in the national media spotlight.    Republican caucus participants will elect delegates, alternate delegates and junior delegates to the Shelby County Republican Convention.  In addition, they will elect two people to serve on the Shelby County Republican Party Central Committee.    Democr

Click here to see the interview with Harlanite Barb Jorgensen and read first-hand accounts of what transpired that morning in the Harlan News-Advertiser available on Thurs., Dec. 31
https://youtu.be/FoUi1OljHS4
 

https://youtu.be/FlR17hMpjQg
...Winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 am CST Tuesday, Dec. 29...
* Timing...Snow will spread into the area this morning. The snow will continue through the day...with moderate snow possible.   This morning into the afternoon. Snow will taper to flurries overnight.
* Accumulations...Snowfall is expected to range from 5 to 8 inches

    HARLAN – Faith Sound, the interdenominational, contemporary music group based out of Harlan, will kick off its concert season Sunday, Jan. 3, with a performance at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Harlan.    Now in its 41st year, members of the group are students in 7th-12th grade from Harlan and surrounding communities, representing seven churches from the region.

    COUNTY -- There are two ways to win in the Harlan Newspapers’ First Baby of 2016 contest. The first baby born at Myrtue Medical Center will be the recipient of several great prizes from greater Shelby County merchants.