AREA ­­—  The Southwest Iowa Art Tour is gearing up for its ninth year connecting rural communities through art. This year’s event will be held Friday, September 16, Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18. In 2014, a group of southwest Iowa artists came together to pull off a regional event to connect their rural communities – a self-guided ‘Art Tour’ that would showcase their artworks, studios, galleries, and hometowns.

 HARLAN — Veteran journalist Elizabeth A. Elliott has been selected to succeed Bob Bjoin as editor of the Harlan Newspapers. Publisher Josh Byers said the search to find Bjoin’s successor was not one he took lightly. “It was imperative that we found an experienced journalist who had a passion for telling stories and was excited about moving to Harlan,” Byers said.

AREA – Casey  Ring has joined the Harlan Community School District staff as the high school principal.Ring began her duties July 1. She and her husband, Jay, recently moved their family to Harlan. “The community has truly welcomed my family and I since the day we moved to Harlan,” she said.  “As I get to know everyone, I become so excited to dig into the high school opportunities we offer all of our students.” Ring was raised in Underwood.

SHELBY COUNTY – Shelby County Sheriff Department’s K-9 Officer Corty is recovering from surgery to repair injuries sustained in the line of duty.Sheriff Neil Gross said Corty was injured during a call for service. He was tracking suspects of a stolen vehicle and after apprehending the suspects, Corty’s foot got caught during a lunge, resulting in tearing both his ACL and meniscus.Corty had surgery to repair the injuries on August 22.

SHELBY – Iowa farm history will be showcased September 10 and 11 at Carstens Farm during the 40th Annual Carstens Farm Days. That’s right, 40 years! Board members are proud of this tradition that showcases threshing, sawmill operations, crafters and vendors, a quilt show and of course, tractors.

Harlan Community graduate and United States Sailor, Niall Mahoney  recently published a full-length, young adult novel entitled “Kira and Kashi”. The book is an edge-of-your-seat adventure with gripping characters and intense world-building that takes place in a medieval apocalyptic universe full of dragons and monsters.It has been Mahoney’s dream to publish a book since he began this tale in elementary school.

HARLAN —If you’re planning on attendingThursday night’s opener at Lewis Centralbetween the Titans and the Cyclones, you’llhave to buy your ticket online or through thenew application.The Harlan Community Cyclones andBOUND, Iowa’s Premier High School SportsTeam Website and Mobile App Solution haveteamed up to develop a website and app that willfeature all of the following:· Schedules and Scores· Social Media Engagement· Rosters, Programs and Ar

SHELBY COUNTY — The mainpart of the upcoming $22.9 millionHarlan Community School District’sSept. 13 bond issue focuses on a newintermediate building, elementarybuilding and updates for the highschool. The intermediate buildingof Harlan Community was builtin 1965 and is the oldest buildingowned by the district. SuperintendentDr.

 AREA — Many restaurants across Iowa report finding qualified workforce continues to stifle recovery, according to survey data from the Iowa Restaurant Association.  Area restaurants continue to have staffing issues, including Grace on Main in Elk Horn.

 SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Board of Supervisors have planned public hearing dates to discuss and pass two resolutions at each of the three public hearings regarding the proposed carbon pipeline that will run through the county. Two ordinances will be read and discussed at meetings held at 9 a.m. at the C.G.

 SHELBY COUNTY — A severe thunderstorm brought straight-line winds of up to 80-miles per hour to the area Saturday evening, July 23. Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Londo said around 8:25 p.m.,  Shelby County was placed in a severe thunderstorm warning with a special weather statement for the communities of Shelby, Tennant, and Harlan to shelter in place.

SHELBY COUNTY — The best way to sum up the $22.9 million Harlan Community School District school bond issue facing voters Sept. 13 is to go directly to the source. HCSD Superintendent Dr.

 COUNTY  — The Shelby County Fair began Sunday, July 10 with events running throughout the week. For many 4-H families, including Erin Buck and her children of Tennant, the week is an accumulation of a year of hard work. “In our household, 4-H is year round,”she said. “I have been a part of the Shelby County Fair for many years,” Buck said. Erin became a member of Shelby’s Southwest 4-H Club. She won Reserve Market Heifer that first year.

 COUNTY — Jenna Hucka was named Shelby County Mother’s Association’s Young Mother of the Year. Jenna, the daughter of Steve and Paula Kenkel, and the late Nadine Kenkel, was raised in Earling. She graduated from Harlan Community High School in 2003. She majored in Elementary Education at Central College in Pella and earned a Masters in Education from Buena Vista University.

 HARLAN — For several years, Pastor Donna Ewert and the children in her congregation have created butterfly habitats. It is an annual project Ewert started when she was a teacher, so this marks the 35th year she has given  children the opportunity to observe the transformation from larval stage to chrysalis to butterflies. After the metamorphosis, the Painted Ladies are released into the butterfly garden at Harlan’s Congregational Church of Ch