COUNTY -- The Shelby County Community Foundation has announced grants totaling $60,535 awarded to local entities for COVID-19 response efforts in Shelby County.    The following organizations were awarded grants by the Shelby County Community Foundation Advisory Board:   •  Elk Horn Lutheran Church, $6,000, food pantry and person-in-need program.   • Harlan Community School District, $13,535, emergency food program.   • Iowa Community Kitc

    HARLAN -- Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the previously scheduled Relay For Life of Shelby County has now been rescheduled.

    HARLAN -- Longtime Avoca resident Scott Pigsley has been hired as the new manager of the Harlan Municipal Airport.    Pigsley started the job on April 1, taking over for Randy Sievert.

HARLAN -- Russell Lacy climbs the Harlan Fire Department ladder truck to untangle the American flag just before the Celebration of Life Parade for Shelby County Sheriff Sergeant Donavon Dontje Saturday, May 2.  The flag flew over Highway 44 in Harlan for the parade of vehicles to drive under.  Dontje died April 16 unexpectedly.

    STATE -- The Iowa Department of Education Tuesday announced that the state has received more than $71.6 million in federal relief for PK-12 schools through a fund to address costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    The amount is Iowa’s share of the more than $13.2 billion emergency relief provided in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.

    COUNTY – Two additional Shelby County businesses have been awarded grants from the Iowa Economic Development Authority as part of the state’s Iowa Small Business Relief Fund, as announced by Iowa Gov.

    COUNTY – The number of COVID-19 cases in Shelby County has risen during the past week after a two-week time period that saw no new cases.    Local officials report the number of cases stand at 13 as of early Thursday morning, up four from the previous nine cases the county has seen for the past two weeks.  All nine have recovered.    Shelby County reports that there are 117 negative cases and eight pending as of Thursday morning.    “We co

    ELK HORN -- The Exira-EHK Schools reported this week that it has learned of an individual(s) who was present at the Elk Horn school on Monday, April 27 who has tested positive for COVID-19.    The Shelby County Public Health Department is in charge of communication with individuals who may have had contact tracing.  This is within six feet for 30-60 minutes.    Officials said as the cases continue to increase, remember to use social distan

    ELK HORN -- Merlyn J Molgaard turned 95 years old on Wednesday, April 29, and was honored with a special drive-by Happy Birthday parade!    With the help of local individuals and his relatives, they arranged a  surprise parade that included approximately 40 vehicles including fire trucks, a tank, jeep, and Marne Elk Horn Telephone vehicles, to name a few.    Merlyn, the youngest of 11 children, is a WWII veteran and was in the Lost Battali

    COUNTY -- A Celebration of Life Parade was held Saturday morning, May 2 through Shelby County as an honor and tribute to Shelby County Sheriff Sergeant Donavon Dontje, who died unexpectedly April 16.  The parade traveled from Harlan to Shelby, and featured law enforcement, fire departments, rescue personnel, motorcycles and the public, who all turned out to honor Dontje.

    STATE -- Iowa Gov.

    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