By Molly Blanco, Reporter    WALNUT -- Larry and Betty Roberts bustled around the bakery, making pastries and chatting with customers as the sweet, warm aroma of dough enveloped the room. It was one of their last days hard at work at the bakery.    After 17 years in business, Larry and Betty will retire from The Roberts’ Bakery in Walnut.    “We have mixed emotions [about retiring],” Larry said.

    HARLAN – Harlan voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov.

    MANILLA – Approximately 100 IKM-Manning school patrons turned out Tuesday evening, Aug. 17 in Manilla for the first of three informational meetings regarding the school district’s proposed $19.95 million bond issue.    The bond referendum vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 14.      Additional informational meetings are planned for Wednesday, Aug. 25 at IKM-Manning Elementary School; and Wednesday, Sept.

HARLAN – Former Harlan Community High School Teacher and Coach Ted Williams has bequeathed a substantial amount of financial awards to 21 organizations, including a number of charities in Shelby County and Myrtue Memorial Hospital.    The Ted L.

    HARLAN – A reluctant Harlan Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees voted 4-0 Thursday, Aug.

    HARLAN – Harlan Community Schools students and staff will head back to the classroom in less than a week on Monday, Aug.

    ELK HORN -- The Elk Horn and Kimballton communities are in the beginning discussions with a local grocery delivery firm to bring fresh product to the towns on a regular basis.    The Danish Villages Improvement Organization (DVIO) will host a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.

    HARLAN – The Harlan Community Schools had laid out its plans on how to spend the $1,451,851 in federal ESSER 3 (American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary Emergency School Relief Fund) dollars it has received.    The HCS Board of Education approved the plan this month.    Funding will go for everything from staffing needs to physical plant audits and facility needs such as furniture and equipment.

    COUNTY -- “Nothing compares” to the happenings at the Iowa State Fair this year.    The Iowa State Fair will be held August 12 through 22 at the fairgrounds in Des Moines.

    AVOCA -- The Avoca Flower Shop was named runner-up in the final round of the statewide Open 4 Business Contest, and will receive a $10,000 grant to be used for remodeling/rehabilitation or other needs at the business.Located in Avoca’s downtown Main Street District, where it’s been a community staple for the last 50 years, Avoca Flower Shop strives to provide the ultimate antidote to any bad day with their beautiful floral arrangements, ba

    AVOCA -- The Avoca Public Library has received more than $20,000 in STEM grant kits and materials to support science and technology learning for all ages.    The grant was provided by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.    Since receiving the grant in 2019, the library has been provided with a variety of new resources and learning kits to encourage STEM learning and promote science-based inquiry.    As a part of the grant program, t

    HARLAN – Brian Byrnes of Brick Wall Gallery in downtown Harlan knows the local art presence in the Harlan area is strong, and he wants the broader community to experience it on a regular basis.    This desire to amplify the presence of local art is behind the launch of a new running exhibit that started August 5 called Two Artists – Two Weekends.  The first installation is running Thursday night through Saturday afternoon the first two wee

    HARLAN -- The HCHS Marching Band kicked off its season last week with a week-long band camp, preparing the pre-game and halftime shows for the upcoming ball games and contests.Here, Kody Bruck on trumpet and L to R -- Micah Sorensen, Quinn Mahoney, and Abram Wilwerding.    Director of Bands Bill Kearney called band camp a huge success and says the musicians are looking forward to the season.

    COUNTY -- COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Shelby County, Iowa and across the nation, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention COVID-19 tracker, prompting new safety recommendations from the health organization.    The CDC site now provides a county view of data for monitoring COVID-19 virus activity from across the United States.  Go to

    COUNTY – Recognized public speaker, writer, social influencer, promoter, and blogger Jay Goodvin, The Iowa Gallivant, is making a swing through Shelby County Wednesday, Aug. 11 as part of his T-Bone Trail tourism trip through western Iowa.    The T-Bone Trail tour began earlier this year in Cass County, and will wind its way through northwest and southwest Iowa.    The stop in Shelby County will include a 10 a.m.