WALNUT -- Plans continue to be finalized for the big 150th Sesquicentennial Celebration this summer in Walnut. The community will celebrate 150 years of existence beginning on Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 1.

    HARLAN -- During a special meeting Monday, May 10, the Myrtue Medical Center Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of a new pool liner for the Petersen Family Wellness Center pool, a move that was made necessary due to chipping and pitting in the current surface.    Wellness Center Director Todd Alberti gave a power point presentation which outlined the pool options.    The work is tentatively scheduled to begin in September

    HARLAN – The Harlan City Council has approved the proposed terms included in an agreement to coordinate with a private developer for a senior housing project in Harlan.    Harlan Senior Cottages GP, LLC is proposing a 36-unit, income-based housing project on private land in northwest Harlan near the corner of Cyclone Avenue and Highway 59.    The council approved recently a resolution of support for the project plan, utilizing tax incremen

    HARLAN -- Madison Schumacher celebrates after graduation ceremonies at Harlan Community High School Sunday, May 16.  Also shown are Reece Schwery (left) and Jesse Schwery headed to the reception line in the cafeteria.  HCHS graduated 125 seniors in commencement exercises held in the HCHS gymnasium -- moved inside from the planned Merrill Field site due to inclement weather.

    HARLAN -- The mask mandate for the Harlan Community Schools is now optional after the Harlan Community School District Board of Directors voted unanimously for the change Friday night, May 14 at a specially called meeting.    More than 100 members of the community who attended the meeting, despite the fact there would be no public comment, cheered and applauded when the decision was announced.    Citing changes to the Iowa Department of Pu

    REGIONAL – Six area high school students have been recognized by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt.

    HARLAN -- Eleven students will graduate this week with the highest distinction at Harlan Community High School, ranked as the top senior students at HCHS based on grade point average, a 4.0.  The students will be recognized during commencement ceremonies to be held Sunday, May 16 at 2 p.m.

    REGIONAL – Graduates will be honored during commencement exercises at Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton and IKM-Manning High Schools on Sunday, May 16 at 2 p.m.    IKM-Manning graduation will be held at the high school in Manning and the Exira-EHK graduation will be held at the Exira-EHK west gym.    Twenty-five students will be recognized at Exira-EHK.  Awards night was held Tuesday, May 11, with Baccalaureate on Wednesday, May 12.    The senior

    HARLAN – A Harlan Community High School student and his parents have filed a petition in Shelby County District Court against the Harlan Community School District for immediate injunction due to alleged “repeated emotional and physical violence.”    Jameson Bieker and his parents, Jim and Sharon Bieker, all of Harlan, are requesting the court allow Jameson to return to school without a face mask.    The petition, written by Tony Carter, Ha

    HARLAN -- Compromise has been reached on the end-of-the-day schedule at the Harlan Community Schools following weeks of discussions about the permanent elimination of the activity period.    Harlan Community Schools Superintendent Lynn Johnson said while there still will be no activity period going forward, agreement has been reached by shortening the end of the school day to allow students and coaches to head to extra-curricular activitie

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Municipal Utilities (HMU) Electric Department has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2020.    The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association, a trade group that represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.    The association helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based eRel

    PELLA – Maggie Langenfeld of Earling is one of four Central College students whose art was featured in the Senior Art Exhibit April 21-May 7 in Mills Gallery in the Lubbers Center for the Visual Arts.    The Mills Gallery allows fourth-year students the opportunity to showcase their art to the wider campus and Pella community.  A reception for the artists was held Sunday, April 25.    Langenfeld, a 2017 graduate of Harlan Community High Sc

    SHELBY -- The opening of the time capsule on Friday, June 26 at the Shelby Park will be the kick-off event for the Shelby 150th Sesquicentennial Celebration this summer.    The celebration was originally planned for summer 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    The committee started planning for the summer celebration in late spring of 2019.

    AVOCA -- Celebrate a Once in a Lifetime Event on 5-15-21, Avoca’s Zip Code Day.    There will be events on Main Street throughout the morning, and plenty of shopping opportunities in the downtown district as well.    The Avoca Post Office will be available 9-11 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) made a stop in Harlan and Shelby County Thursday, May 6 as part of her 99-county tour of Iowa.  She paid a visit to Pexton Pharmacy, a member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, to visit with its employees and discuss the issues facing pharmacies during the pandemic.