AREA — The Harlan Newspapers and three other local business sponsors will be offering everyone the chance to win part of $750.

HARLAN — The Harlan  Community School Board met June 28 to review the second and third phases of  bids for the school construction project.

 HARLAN — Harlan native Mitchell Rueschenberg recently won three national awards for his work on graphic designs for the Iowa State University men’s basketball team. He placed both first and fifth best in the nation and placed fifth in the winter game day graphics section.“I was pretty excited for him,” Ryan Workman, Associate Director for Athletics Communication, said.

SHELBY COUNTY -- Non-profit agencies operating within Shelby County will have until the end of August to complete applications for funding from Shelby County Community Chest (SCCC).

SHELBY COUNTY — Effective July 1, 2023, per an Iowa Code change, the Shelby County Driver’s License Station will begin charging a $10 convenience fee for issuance of a driver’s license or identification card to anyone who is not a resident of Shelby County unless the resident pays property taxes here. On May 4, 2023, the Governor signed House File 718 into law.  This bill allows counties that issue driver’s licenses to charge a $10 convenience

HARLAN — As a reminder, starting on July 6, 2023, at 8 a.m. the Hospital’s Emergency Room entrance along Garfield Ave. will close to allow for an estimated 13-month expansion and renovation of the current emergency room. A temporary emergency entrance will be located just to the west of the existing ER, still on Garfield Avenue at the existing Hospital Visitor Entrance.

HARLAN — Pizza Ranch in Harlan was awarded several awards at the national conference in Keystone, Colorado.The business won multiple “Best Month Ever” awards in 2022. These awards are given to stores that beat their sales dollar amount compared to years prior.

  HARLAN — State Auditor Rob Sand stopped by Harlan Wednesday, June 28 as a part of his “100 Town Hall” tour. Sand, Iowa’s only Democrat holding a statewide elected office, visited with constituents and answered questions about the condition of the state’s finances and governance. An attendee asked Sand about the lack of transparency in Iowa’s new school voucher program. “When public money gets spent, I tend to think the public ought to know w

HARLAN — The Harlan community’s new baseball and softball indoor facility is entering its final construction phases. The facility is located at J.J. Jensen Park and is owned by Little Cyclone Baseball.

 AREA— Starting July 1, 2023, Digital Lending services (Libby and Hoopla), through the Harlan Community Library will only be available to residents of Harlan, Rural Shelby County, and residents of contracting cities.   Contracting cities include Defiance, Earling, Panama, Portsmouth, Kirkman, Shelby, Tennant and Westphalia.

 by Renée Brich, Lifestyles Editor SHELBY COUNTY — An unauthorized wire transfer payment in the amount of $20,000 was made to a fraudulent account by the Shelby County Auditor’s Office. Shelby County Board of Supervisor Chairman Steve Kenkel told Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell in the meeting the mistake reflected on everyone. “This can’t happen.

 SHELBY COUNTY — Shelby County’s Hotel/Motel Tax Committee reminds applicants of the upcoming 5 p.m. June 30 deadline for grant applications. The grants are provided to help promote tourism in Shelby County. Event organizers and attractions can apply.

by Mackenzie Bodell, News InternAREA — Dylan Petersen of Jacksonville is celebrating 17 years of auto racing.A typical racing day starts with Petersen loading the car and heading to the track.

  HARLAN — Iowa law allows the sale of fireworks in temporary structures from June 13 to July 8, and merchants’ stands in Harlan will soon be open for business. However, Harlan City Ordinance states the use and discharge of fireworks is prohibited with the exception of noon until 11:30 p.m. on July 4 and from noon until 12:30 a.m.