HARLAN -- Ten Harlan Community High School band students have been selected to the Southwest Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Bands following auditions held December 11.  The students, under the direction of Bill Kearney, will perform at the honor band festival January 17 in Atlantic.    Selected to either the 9th/10th grade band or 11th/12th grade band are front L to R --Ian Shelton, Cole Heronimus, Gianna Sampson and Emily Schechinger.

    NEOLA – A teacher and coach in the Tri-Center (Neola) School District is being accused of having an alleged sexual relationship with a student, and has been charged in Pottawattamie County District Court with sexual exploitation by a school employee and dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors.    Ag/FFA Teacher and Girls Softball Coach Josie Mae McMinemee, 26, 664 Fir Rd., Shelby, also is accused of sending nude photos a

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Theater is formally organizing itself under the umbrella of an old favorite in the community, the Western Iowa Arts Association (WIAA), and is fund-raising in preparation for its 2022 summer musical production that will be named soon.

    HARLAN – Legal counsel for the Harlan Municipal Utilities has advised the HMU Board of Trustees to host a meeting open to the public when discussing the future of its telecommunications utility.    HMU Chief Executive Officer Ken Weber said the meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 4 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Those who celebrate the ringing in of the new year tonight, Friday - New Year’s Eve, are being urged to be careful heading home after out and about celebrating.  Local law enforcement want to protect the safety of area drivers on the eve of 2022.    The Harlan Police Department will again be offering a free ride for those who celebrate on New Year’s Eve.  It’s a “no strings attached” offer that’s meant not only to keep drinking d

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Fire Department is reminding residents that safety should be the top priority as winter gets in full swing, and keeping a home’s heating system in top shape is extremely important.    A home’s heating system works double time to keep homeowners warm during the winter, yet heating is the second leading cause of home fires.    “The biggest mistake is putting something too close to a heating source,” said Harlan Fire Chie

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Compensation Board has amended its salary increase recommendation for the county sheriff to 16 percent from an initial 28 percent for the 2022-23 fiscal year, opting for a more phased-in, multi-year approach to an increase that’s being mandated by state lawmakers.    The recommendation now heads to the Shelby County Board of Supervisors for final review and action.  While the compensation board makes the recommen

    STATE -- The value of an acre of Shelby County farmland jumped 30 percent, mirroring counties statewide that saw similar increases, according to the annual farmland value survey presented by Iowa State University last week.    Shelby County saw its value increase to $10,237 from the year before’s $7,878.  In west central Iowa, Monona County saw the highest per acre increase at 32.9 percent, while Pottawattamie County saw the lowest but sti

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Compensation Board has been asked to reconvene and re-visit its salary recommendations for elected officials, specifically the 28 percent increase for county sheriff, to consider implementing that raise in a more phased-in approach.    The Shelby County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Dec.

    HARLAN – The most well-known phrase heard on KNOD-FM Radio during most Harlan Community football games the past three decades has its roots dating back to an early 1990s Saturday morning wrap-up interview sports director Ron Novotny held with then head coach Curt Bladt.    These popular weekend conversations about the game the prior night have had Cyclone fans tuning in to 105.3 FM every Saturday morning at 8:15 a.m.

    COUNTY – Iowa’s new Back the Blue Act, Sen. File 342 signed into law by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds June 17, likely will result in significant increases in sheriff salaries statewide, including Shelby County.    After reviewing the law’s language at its annual meeting Tuesday, Dec.

    HARLAN – A split vote during the organizational meeting put newly-sworn-in board member Jim Reischl in the president’s role of the Harlan Community Schools Board of Education Monday evening, Dec. 13.    A few minutes after taking the oath of office, newcomers Reischl, Greg Bladt and Jade Albertsen, as well as incumbent Joe Herzberg, voted to have Reischl be the next board president.

By Bob Bjoin, Editor    HARLAN – Ask Debbie Pennington about her late husband, Joe, and she says it’s pretty easy to describe him in a few words.    “Godly, caring, sarcastic and funny,” she said.  “Maybe we can combine sarcastically funny?”    He loved God first and foremost, and enjoyed making people feel at home.  Joe was kind of shy until you got to know him.  He was a fantastic cook, family man and found a joy in the pulpit sharing the wo

   DES MOINES -- The HCHS Dance Team performed two dances at the Iowa State Dance Competition held at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Thursday, Dec. 2.  The team received fifth place in its hip hop dance, and for both hip hop and pom dances the team received a Division 1 rating.

    HARLAN – Joe Jennings’ cremated remains finally have been returned to the United States following weeks of negotiations with Mexican government and hospital officials.    Teresa Jennings said Joe’s remains are back in Iowa, arriving at a funeral home in Council Bluffs on Wednesday, Dec.