COUNTY -- Harlan’s West Central Community Action – Food Pantry and Iowa Community Kitchen received a $500 check each to help  provide food during these extremely challenging and unprecedented times.   The checks were given by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Maria Goretti #2498, Portsmouth.

    REGIONAL -- Harlan Girl Scout Troop 147 assembled 55 goodie bags for the delivery drivers at Panama Transfer as a special thank you for “Keeping America Moving” especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each goodie bag contained a pop, chips and a cookie or candy bar.

    TRUJILLO, PERU – Halfway across the globe, two Myrtue Medical Center emergency room nurses this week have some sound advice for Shelby County residents now that there are three local confirmed cases of COVID-19.    “Self-isolation works,” says Frannie DeLauter.  “I think people still don’t think this is as big of a threat as it really is.    “Talking to co-workers at home, they are preparing for the worst.  This is likely the calm before t

    ELK HORN -- From establishing a new pen pal program for the residents to participate in to a game of overhead staff bingo the activity department at Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn has been busy creating different activities to promote social distancing and provide entertainment for the residents.    The daily routine of in-person family visits and volunteers assisting with various activities in the building has come to a halt with the CO

MYRTUE MEDICAL REPORTED the afternoon of Thursday, April 2 that Two additional Shelby County residents have tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases to five.
Two additional Shelby County residents have tested positive for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases to five.
Age ranges of the two additional cases:

    COUNTY – Shelby County has agreed to act as the fiscal pass-through agent for a grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority that, if approved, would provide dollars for Iowa Community Kitchen to provide additional meals to those in need in Shelby County.    The board approved the measure unanimously during an electronic meeting Tuesday, March 31.    According to the grant application, Iowa Community Kitchen (ICK) has been identified

HARLAN -- As the Harlan Community School District continues with its efforts to offer educational enrichment learning opportunities, officials want to make sure that parents/guardians have the resources necessary to support this learning from the home.

    HARLAN – Iowa schools likely will remain closed through April, although school officials are awaiting final orders from Iowa Gov.

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan announced Tuesday that while the city parks will remain open, playground equipment will be off limits until further notice.    Playgrounds are closed, and residents are asked to stay off the equipment to help contain the spread of coronavirus.    City parks are open with the following guidelines:    •  Shelter houses and restrooms are closed.    •  Practice social distancing and avoid close contact with others. 

    HARLAN -- The     Harlan Library announces it will no longer be offering curb-side service as of Tuesday, March 31.    It has been recommended by Public Health, that now is the time for the library to stop this service.    “For the safety of everyone in our community, we encourage you to please stay home unless it is essential for you to leave your home and if you must go out, please use social distancing guidelines,” said Library Director

    HARLAN -- The Shelby County Landfill is open to the public again.        The office remains closed.  Individuals dropping off items should use the mailbox on the wall to drop off payment.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Wastewater officials are reminding residents that cooking grease is prohibited from being disposed into the sewer system.    Cooking grease should be placed in an approved container or jar and disposed of in the garbage.    Officials said residents have been doing a good job reducing the flushing of wipes, paper towels and other non-approved items into the sewer system.    “There has been some improvement,” officials said.

    STATE -- The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 52 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 549 positive cases.    Three additional deaths have been reported -- in Muscatine County, a middle-aged (41-60) resident;  one elderly adult (81+) in Polk County and one elderly adult (81+)  in Washington County.

    HARLAN -- A presentation on the COVID-19 pandemic was the main focus at Myrtue Medical Center’s Board of Trustees meeting on March 24.    MMC CEO Barry Jacobsen told the board MMC’s incident command (incident commander, public information, liaison officer, safety and security and medical staff) are meeting twice a week, department heads have been meeting weekly, daily emails are being sent to all staff as well as each day there have been 8

    HARLAN – School has been closed for a few weeks, and as of press morning, the Harlan Community Schools has plans to re-open on Wednesday, April 15.    A directive from President Donald Trump released Sunday evening, March 28, may change that.  The president has directed social distancing initiatives to continue through the end of April, which likely will keep schools closed until April 30.    School officials said they are continuing to fo