HARLAN – An administrative decision to eliminate an end-of-instructional-day activity period has been met with resistance from a number of coaches who say the move could lower participation in extra-curricular activities, change what makes Harlan Community successful and unique, reduce quality family time, and put added stress on students involved in activities in the Harlan Community Schools.    Five current and/or former coaches addresse

    COUNTY – Shelby County residents will be receiving a direct mailer piece to their residences later this month full of recycling basics in hopes that the information provided will increase recycling efforts in Shelby County.    The effort is under way to get residents to consider increased recycling efforts in a time when recycling is more important than ever, but efforts are decreasing.  In the long run, that will cost money, officials sai

    PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth’s annual financial audit is highlighted by a water tower project, recently completed in 2020.    Hamilton Associates P.C., Council Bluffs, released the city’s audit report April 9.    The city’s receipts totaled $1,341,311 for the year ended June 30, 2020, a 530 percent increase over the prior year.  Disbursements for the year ended June 30, 2020 totaled $1,478,595, a 608 percent increase over the prior

    ELK HORN – Pep band is where it’s at for Exira/EH-K trumpeter Blake Petersen.    The music is just a blast to perform.    “It’s mostly the fun songs I get to play,” Petersen said.  “I always look forward to playing pep band every year during basketball, along with the rest of the band.  Seven Nation Army is always my favorite to play.    “The thing I enjoy most is the satisfaction of everyone enjoying our performances, whether it’s pep ban

    COUNTY -- Seth Varner and Austin Schneider are loving every minute of their new adventure of criss-crossing Iowa one town at a time. They visit museums and local attractions as well as dine at the locals’ favorite restaurants. And they get to meet a lot of nice people.    Their goal is to visit all 939 incorporated Iowa towns by the end of August.

    ATLANTIC -- Six HCHS students earned Hawkeye 10 recognition at the conference’s annual All-Academic Team and Character Awards banquet held in Atlantic Wednesday, April 7.    The academic honors and character awards are given by the Hawkeye 10 Board of Control.  Established in 2001 with the help of former HCHS principal Kent Klinkefus, HCHS has had a total of 81 students earn All-Academic recognition and 21 earn character awards.    All-Aca

    REGIONAL -- Looks like Shelby County could see warmer than normal temperatures from now until June.

    HARLAN – The Harlan Community Schools Board of Education has approved the school calendar for the 2021-22 school year, which outlines a beginning start date of August 23 and ending date of May 27 for students.    HCS Superintendent of Schools Lynn Johnson said the calendar has five built-in snow days and eight professional development days for staff.    There will be no spring parent/teacher conferences, similar to the current year.  Fall

    HARLAN – Volunteers and donations are being requested to help fund an animal rescue effort in Shelby County, a no-kill operation for abandoned and neglected animals.    The Animal Rescue League of Harlan is relatively new, but in less than a year has seen how sorely needed the effort is for animals in Harlan and Shelby County.    Vicki Kuhn started animal rescue in May, 2020, and was joined by Cassie DeGroot by December.  The two operate t

First in a Series    COUNTY – Shelby County residents are being asked to step up recycling efforts, and to take note of what is considered recyclable or garbage.    Those words come from local officials who say the most recent decision to remove recycling trailers and sheds from numerous locations in Shelby County due to the vast amount of garbage being put in with the recyclables could cause a reduction in recycling efforts.    “Garbage in re

    HARLAN – The Harlan Community Schools Mock Trial Program continued its success this year, competing in mock trial competition with one of the three groups bringing home state hardware.    The Red Team consisting of Abi Albertsen, Lauren Andersen, Hannah Bissen, Liz Devine, Brooke Goshorn, Ellie Gross, Abigail Lefeber, Josh Rihner, Eden Shaeffer, and Lael Taylor advanced to state competition and took ninth place among a crowded, exceptional

The HCHS Prom Grand March will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 10 in the high school gym. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Entrance will be at the superintendent doors on the southeast side of the high school.You must have a ticket for admission. Due to COVID guidelines, each participant is allowed only 4 family members or spectators for admittance. Admittance is a free will donation.HMU and FMCTC will be broadcasting the grand march live.

    HARLAN – Harlan water supply issues dating back decades will be addressed in the coming months and years as the Harlan Municipal Utilities looks forward to drilling new wells to serve the community.    Those words come from HMU Chief Executive Officer Ken Weber, who said last week the results of a recent engineering study outlining the water concerns isn’t necessarily new information, but puts an urgency on the situation.    “We’ve got som

    HARLAN -- Congratulations to Myrtue Medical Center’s Lori Hoch, RN, Director of MMC’s Public Health Department, for being selected as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2021.      Patients, colleagues, and nurse leaders nominated more than 300 nurses across the state for this prestigious award. After a review process, 100 Great Nurses are honored each year at a ceremony for the state of Iowa.    100 Great Iowa Nurse Chairwoman, Dr.

    HARLAN – Students in the Harlan Community Elementary Schools are bringing their kindness initiatives to the community at large.    The 2020-21 version of the Harlan Elementary Kindness Club got off to a slow start this year as the group analyzed how best to work within COVID-19 protocols.  Hopes are now that the weather is warming and spring is near, the student kindness efforts can be shared with the community as well.    “After much deba