HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center Board of Trustees approved a three year renewal contract for MMC CEO Barry Jacobsen on Tuesday. Jacobsen will be awarded an annual salary of $200,600 beginning January 1, 2016.         This new approved proposal is a 4.5 percent raise from his current salary of $192,200. The new terms are an addendum to his original CEO contract which began in May 2009.

HARLAN -- Former Arkansas Governor and winner of the Iowa 2008 Caucus Mike Huckabee, was in Harlan on Friday, Oct. 30 as part of a five city presidential campaign trip.   Also in Harlan last week was Rick Santorum, who stopped by Pizza Ranch on Thursday, Oct.

    COUNTY – Harlan Mayor Gene Gettys, Jr. will be seeking his third term in office, running unopposed for office in Tuesday’s municipal election.    Gettys and a host of others in communities throughout Shelby County filed nomination papers by the deadline in September, for positions as mayor or on local city councils.    Polls will be open Tuesday, Nov.

HARLAN – The Harlan City Council Tuesday, Oct.

HARLAN -- Students at Shelby County Catholic School dressed up Monday for team spirit day as part of Red Ribbon/Character Counts Week activities.  Students at the Catholic school and Harlan Community Schools have been learning about the pillars of character -- trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. 

    REGIONAL – A ground penetrating radar unit helped locate underground graves in area historical cemeteries last week, as part of an ongoing project by local historians to renovate the region’s pioneer cemeteries.    The Western Iowa Pioneer Cemetery Association (WIPCA) welcomed Rick Norland, president of Construction Solutions, Inc., Kansas City, MO, an international engineering consulting firm that specializes in ground penetrating radar s

    REGIONAL – Warm, dry and windy conditions over the past few weeks have allowed farmers to harvest nearly half of the state’s corn for grain.    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service reports the harvest has progressed rapidly for both corn and soybeans due to the favorable weather conditions, despite rain mid and late week last week.    The forecast this week also calls for cooler condit

    REGIONAL -- Dry and windy conditions Monday fueled field fires throughout southwest Iowa, including this blaze southeast of Harlan Monday afternoon.  Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen said crews were called to the area of 700th/800th Sts. and Oak Road about 3:37 p.m.

HARLAN -- On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Harlan, in the case State of Iowa v. Taquala Monique Howse.    The proceeding will take place at Harlan Community High School’s auditorium.  The oral arguments are open to the public and begin at 7 p.m.    The court will hear attorneys argue in the case.    In State of Iowa vs.

    COUNTY -- Shelby County will pay $20 each for beaver tails from November 1-April 1 as part of an ongoing effort to minimize the damage the critters cause to roadways and structures throughout the county.    The county’s board of supervisors re-authorized the bounty this month, with a total dollar limit outlay of $5,000.  Payments will be made on a first come, first served basis. 

    HARLAN -- Toshia Kasperbauer, an instructor at the Harlan Community Middle School, will be awarded the Iowa Association of Student Council’s Warren E.

      HARLAN -- The 2014-15 Harlan Municipal Utilities audit released recently shows increased operating sales revenues of $60,653 over last year’s figures and decreased expenses of $27,968.    The financial statements include a “Statement of Net Position” which indicates the Utility’s combined net position increased $1,771,245 or 5.4 percent, growing to $34,509,280.    Total operating revenue for the fiscal year was $14,875,557.    Because of

    HARLAN – Star Wars is the theme for this year’s Harlan Harvest Fest celebration, to be held Saturday, Oct. 24, with trick-or-treating at businesses, a parade, children’s games, scary story time and Street Market among the events scheduled for the one-day event.

    COUNTY – Beer enthusiasts save the date…Saturday, Oct. 24.  The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first-ever International Beer Festival from 6-9 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Harlan.    Tickets are available in advance by calling 755-2114.

    COUNTY -- Shelby County Emergency Service Officials, including Fire Chiefs, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Management will begin twice weekly updates on local fire danger conditions.    Signs placed strategically in each community, primarily at the fire stations will indicate what the fire danger is for any particular day.     This program, implemented in 2010, resulted in a reduction of fire responses county-wide.