COUNTY – The Harlan Community Theatre is postponing its production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast until next summer due to concerns related to COVID-19.    Concerns such as safety for participants and audience members, closure of the school auditorium for auditions and rehearsals, and the uncertainty of whether or not theatrical performances will still be restricted when it comes to showtime are among the considerations discussed before

    NATION -- Greg Conry’s bicycle ride across the United States to raise funds for ovarian cancer research has been pushed back about a month out of concerns for safety and the COVID-19 pandemic.    The ride now will start June 27 and end August 8, with a new final destination of Dewey Beach, DE --  a complete ocean to ocean ride that starts in Oceanside, CA.    Conry, the son of Tom and Lisa Conry, Harlan, and a 2012 graduate of Harlan Commu

    HARLAN -- Patrolling Harlan during the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything but normal.    Harlan Police Chief Frank Clark says as social distancing rules are relaxed in the next month or two it may return to normal, but as for now there’s one word to describe the city -- quiet.    “It has been more quiet at night,” said Clark.  “This has resulted in an uptick of the police department doing more residential and business patrol.    “There is

    STATE -- Iowa’s coronavirus peak apparently came and went on May 2, according to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.  The state should see a gradual decrease in the number of deaths and cases through May before a June 16 date when the state can safely ease social distancing measures with continued containment strategies.    According to the institute’s website, the institute’s projections come vi

    COUNTY -- Harlan and Shelby County businesses, especially restaurants, are easing their way back into being open to the public for in-person seating and shopping as the state and communities navigate re-opening this week.    Iowa Gov.

 WAYNE, NEB. -- Former Harlan Community standout Ethan Knudson capped a record-breaking collegiate career last fall by making 28-of-29 PATs and 12-of-14 field goals as a placekicker for Wayne State College. Knudson, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior, is a 2016 graduate of Harlan Community High School, where he set school records for single-season field goals made (10) and single-season kickoff average (57.4 yards) as a senior.

    SHELBY -- The Shelby Sesquicentennial Committee met April 27 and decided to postpone the celebration of 150 years, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of celebrating the end of June, 2020, they are in the process of rescheduling everything to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 25, 26, and 27, in 2021.

 FREMONT, NEB.

    HARLAN -- Charley Sophia Falkena, 15, Harlan, died May 2 at her home.    Services will be held Wednesday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at the AHSTW Football Field in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Social distancing standards and seating will be observed for the services.  Visitation is Wednesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.