HARLAN -- Bonnie K. Axland, 77, Harlan, died November 18 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irwin with burial in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Irwin.  Visitation is Tuesday from 9-11 a.m.

    AVOCA -- Delno “Bud” Holtz, 100, Avoca, died November 16 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Family will greet friends Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 5-7 p.m.

    COUNTY – It’s almost time!  Get ready, kids, for Santa to make a stop in your community in December.  Santa Claus is Coming to Town is a new event where Santa will be hosted in your community this season.    The idea was first brought to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Harlan City Councilman Dave Pedersen as a way to kick off the holiday spirit throughout the county.

    REGIONAL – The annual holiday adoption program is under way with a number of needy families already being adopted, and more needy families added to the list.    Administration of the adoption program is being handled by West Central Community Action, and the Harlan Newspapers remains actively involved in promoting and publicizing the adoptions.    Applications for families wishing to be adopted will be accepted now until December 7.

    The Harlan Newspapers, Hy-Vee and Keast Auto Center have again teamed up to sponsor a coloring contest for children in Pre-K thru 5th grades. The winning entry and artist will be featured on the covers of this year’s Holiday Greeting issues Dec. 18 and Dec. 21

AVOCA -- Downtown Avoca is celebrating a Fabulous Frosty Event on Saturday, November 24 from 3-7 p.m. to celebrate Holidays on Main, and everyone is invited.  The event offers food, fun, and unique entertainment for all ages.      The fun-filled afternoon begins at 3 p.m.

COUNTY -- The fifth year of the holiday lighting ceremony in downtown Harlan will kick off Saturday, Nov.

    GRISWOLD -- Bernard Russell Hansen, 82, Griswold, died November 8 at the Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.    Services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca with burial in the Shelby Cemetery.  Family will greet friends Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Marjorie Ladwene Thomsen, 82, Harlan, died November 9 at Elm Crest Assisted Living.    Private burial will be held at the Shelby Cemetery at a later date.    Thomsen is survived by her husband, Kenneth Thomsen, of Harlan; sons Rick (Lori) Thomsen of Omaha, NE and Barney (Carol) Thomsen of Anita; daughter Lori Teachout of Tennant; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is in charge