HARLAN -- Don and Bonnie Petersen of Harlan will mark their 70th wedding anniversary on March 23.    Their family includes Rick and Patty Petersen, Jacksonville, FL; Linda and Ben Post, Harlan; Lori and Bob Simpson, Austin, TX; and Todd and Mary Petersen, Harlan. The Petersens have nine grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. 

COUNTY – Shelby County Emergency Preparedness partners will participate in a county-wide tornado drill to be held on Wednesday, March 23 from 10-11 a.m.  Shelby County Emergency Management, Shelby County Public Health and Myrtue Medical Center encourage everyone to take this opportunity to prepare, plan, and protect their loved ones from the effects of severe spring weather.    This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 21-25, as declar

    HARLAN -- From left: Nicholas Kohles, Braxton Gaul and Austin Schumacher work on identifying the parts of a sheep on a graph at the ISU Extension booth at the Ag STEM event at Shelby County Catholic School on Wednesday afternoon, March 16.The celebration was held in conjunction with National Agriculture Week.    The Shelby County Catholic School Afterschool Ag Club held a reception in celebration of National Agriculture Week 2016, inviting

AMES -- Katie Andersen, a fifth-grader from Exira-EHK Schools, finished in 15th place in The Scripps State of Iowa Spelling Bee Contest held March 12th at Iowa State University.    The spelling bee is sponsored by ISU Greenlee School of Journalism & Communication. 

    AVOCA -- Virginia Lee Smyser, 97, Avoca, died March 20 at the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center.    Services were held Thursday, March 24 at 11 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Arnold Rae Murray, 87, Harlan, died March 20 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services were held Thursday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Funeral arrangements are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, for Arnold Rae Murray, 87, Harlan, who died Sunday, March 20 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan.    He is survived by his daughters, Gail Murray and Lyla Smith.    Please call the funeral home at 712-755-3135 or visit www.pauleyjones.com for more information.

    ELK HORN -- David Burns, 78, Elk Horn, formerly of Oakland, died March 18 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Wednesday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Visitation will be Tuesday, March 22 from 3-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m.

    LAS VEGAS,  NV -- Barbie Caroline Saenz of Merida, Mexico and Kyle Robert Bogler of Greensboro, NC were married in a private 1:30 p.m. double ring ceremony on December 21, 2015 at the Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, NV. A family celebration will take place in Mexico in June.    Parents of the couple are Olga Osorio Martinez, Monterrey, Mexico; and Bob and Jannette Bogler, Harlan.