WESTPHALIA – St. Boniface Parish in Westphalia will celebrate the dedication of its newly constructed Heritage Center on Sunday, November 30, following 10:00 a.m. Mass. A meal and a blessing by the Bishop will mark this special occasion, honoring the parish’s long legacy of faith, tradition, and community leadership.

 HARLAN — Stetson Thurman’s lifelong dream is to join the Professional Bull Riders association, and at just 10 years old, he’s well on his way to making it happen.
 The fifth grader was recently crowned the Junior Bull Riding World Champion of the International Miniature Rodeo Association. Only the top 10 in each division qualified for the championships based on their performances throughout the year.

DENISON — Officials with Project Harmony, a recognized leader in child advocacy, announced Wednesday, the opening of their newest satellite location at Senior Life Solutions – located East of the main campus at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison.

INDIANAPOLIS — Nine students and two advisors from the Harlan FFA Chapter traveled to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention, held October 28–31. Along the way, the group visited several locations for educational tours, giving members opportunities to meet new people, build leadership skills, and explore career paths.

AREA — Strong solar storms have caused shimmering auroras in the sky, filling it with an array of vibrant colors, and according to NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the solar cycle has caused the auroras to be viewed further south than normal.Tuesday and Wednesday, the northern lights were visible in areas typically outside the viewing range, including Shelby County.

STATEWIDE — Scientists for Iowa are calling for a shift toward renewable energy and stronger building standards to address the growing impact of climate change on insurance costs.About 180 Iowa researchers and educators from 26 colleges and universities across the state released the Iowa Climate Statement Monday, warning that higher temperatures and increasingly destructive weather events are contributing to rising insurance premiums.“Each of

HARLAN — The Harlan Community School District honored those who have served at a Veteran’s Day program, which featured keynote speaker Retired USMC Col. Jim Shelton.  Pictured clockwise are: Student speakers included  Annelyse Sheehan (at podium) and (left to right) Sofia Gallardo Barajas, Manasseh Bauman, Dominic Scherder, and Jayden Lacy; Col.

HARLAN — This past summer, HCHS band director William “Bill” Kearney got an unexpected email stating how the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton (E-EHK) students would be merging with the Harlan Community High School Band for this school year. The situation came about after the E-EHK band director, Cody Parmley, accepted a new position at the Harlan Community Elementary School.

HARLAN — “The Church on the Hill” (Congregational UCC/First United Methodist Mission Church) raised funds for Tori’s Angels Foundation as part of the church’s state mission project for 2025.Tori’s Angels Foundation assists Iowa families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition by paying for medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Harlan — The Western Iowa Arts Association (WIAA) and the Harlan Community Theater (HCT) extend heartfelt gratitude to Harlan and the surrounding communities for their generous support throughout the 2025 season.This year’s productions — The Last Five Years, Shrek: The Musical, the Kids Camp production of The Wizard of Oz, and the upcoming Home for the Holidays — have all been made possible through community patronage.

SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with TheSheriffapp.com to release a free app to the public.Users may download the app on a mobile device by searching in the App Store or Google Play Store, scanning the QR Code found at the right, or by visitng https://apps.myocv.com/share/a149051537 The app will have prompt information which can be sent to the public via not

SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with TheSheriffapp.com to release a free app to the public.Users may download the app on a mobile device by searching in the App Store or Google Play Store, scanning the QR Code found at the right, or by visitng https://apps.myocv.com/share/a149051537 The app will have prompt information which can be sent to the public via not

by Renée Brich, Managing EditorSHELBY COUNTY — A total of 1,560 of Shelby County’s 8,367 registered voters cast ballots in the 2025 City/School Election on Tuesday, November 4.In addition to selecting local officials, voters were asked to decide on two bond referendums—one for Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) and another for the IKM-Manning Community School District.The majority of Shelby County voters supported the $55 million IWCC bond,

AREA — The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition benefits to help low-income families afford food. However, benefits did not reach accounts as expected on November 1 after the U.S.

MANNING — For more than two decades, former IKM-Manning resource teacher Beth Hagedorn has helped save lives — not just through her own donations, but by inspiring generations of students to do the same.Hagedorn was recently recognized by the American Red Cross for her many years of service hosting and donating at blood drives — contributing more than 50 donations over the years.