EARLING - Angela Gaul, 101, Earling, died Tues., Dec. 27 at Little Flower Haven.    Visitation was Thurs., Dec. 29 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.    A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Dec. 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with burial in the St.

    IRWIN - Maxine A. Heilesen, 87, died Monday, Dec. 26 in Elk Horn.    Visitation was Thurs., Dec. 29 from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. (family greet friends 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.)  at Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan with services on Friday, Dec. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN – Small business development along Highway 59 south of the Settle Inn hotel took a step forward this month as city officials in Harlan move to re-plat the lots to allow for future development, including the possibility of a new restaurant, The Buck Snort.    The Harlan Personnel and Finance Committee met with a restaurant representative Thursday, Dec.

    REGIONAL – Farmland values in Shelby County and surrounding counties dropped considerably for the third straight year, according to a survey released this month by Iowa State University.    Shelby County’s farmland values dropped 7.18 percent from $8,288 per acre to $7,693 per acre from 2015 to 2016, according to the survey.  Similar drops were seen in adjoining counties (see accompanying graphic).    The decline regionally and statewide i

    COUNTY -- Gene Gross, Chair of the Shelby County Community Foundation, announced that approximately $114,600 in grant funds are available for Shelby County nonprofit organizations and that applications are due no later than February 1, 2017.    Application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form are online at: omahafoundation.org/swiowa.

    COUNTY -- There are two ways to win in the Harlan Newspapers’ First Baby of 2017 contest. The first baby born at Myrtue Medical Center will be the recipient of several great prizes from greater Shelby County merchants.

  Over the holiday weekend seven windows were broken out of vehicles parked on the street in various locations in Harlan according to the Harlan Police Dept.  The total damage to all vehicles is in the area of $3000.  It appears that at least some of the vehicle windows were possibly broken out by a BB or pellet type gun.  Shelby County Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person/persons responsible. 

    OAKLAND - Lois N. Hildebrand, 85, Oakland, died Sun., Dec. 25 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs.    Visitation is Wed., Dec. 28,  5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.    Funeral services will be held on Thurs., Dec. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Avoca.

    IRWIN - Services are pending for Maxine Heilesen, 87, Irwin, who died Mon., Dec. 26. She is survived by her son Keith Heilesen and daughter Denise Winchell.    Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, Harlan, is in charge of the arrangements.