HARLAN --  Following a closed session to review Harlan Municipal Utilities General Manager Ken Weber’s yearly accomplishments, the board of trustees voted to pay him $120,000 for his employment through Oct. 1, 2017.     This is the salary set forth for the third year of his three-year contract.  No public information was available on his job review.

    HARLAN – City officials here have given the okay to a Christmas lighting project that will illuminate the trail in Pioneer Park with decorative trees this holiday season.    The Harlan City Council this month voted unanimously to work closely with the community’s new Harlan Christmas Light Celebration Committee in lighting up the city this December, including along the park’s sidewalks.    Harlan City Administrator Gene Gettys, Jr.

    AVOCA -- Wray Thomas Carroll, 49, Avoca, died September 20 at his home.    Services will be held Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  A masonic service will be held Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.  Visitation is Friday from 5-8 p.m.

    KIMBALLTON -- Richard “Dick” K. Anderson, 83, Kimballton, died Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Kimballton.    Services will be held Monday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn with burial in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.  Friends may call Sunday, Sept. 25 from 2-7 p.m. with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m.

    IDA GROVE -- Maryan M. Johnson, 86, Ida Grove, died Saturday, Sept. 17 at UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City.    Services will be held Monday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Ida Grove with burial following in the Ida Grove Cemetery.  Visitation will be Sunday, Sept. 25 from 3-5 p.m.

    SHELBY -- William “Bill” Wager, 90, Shelby, died September 20 at his home.    A memorial service is being planned for a later date, likely in October, at the Shelby Lutheran Church. 

    OVERLAND PARK, KS - David G. Swanson, 70, Overland Park, KS died September 13 at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park.

    ROCK CREEK, OR -- Lee Eugene Christiansen, 80, Rock Creek, OR, died September 9 at his home in Rock Creek.    Christiansen is a former Shelby County resident having graduated from Harlan High School in 1954.    Christiansen is survived by his wife, Beth; sons Paul (Lori) and Todd (Shannon); daughter Amy (Tim) Sim; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.    Funeral services will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at St.

 CRESTON -- At some point in time Friday night, football’s inventor of the form tackle stopped rolling over in his grave, curled up in the fetal position and covered his eyes. It was that much of a full-fledged offensive showcase at Panther Field as 10th-ranked Creston/Orient-Macksburg outscored Harlan Community 70-49 in the District 7 (Class 3-A) opener for both teams. Creston/O-M senior standout Chase Shiltz amassed 507 all-purpose yards on