COUNTY – Charles Parkhurst has been named chairman of the Shelby County Board of Supervisors this year, and will preside over a board that is currently working diligently to prepare next year’s budget.    Parkhurst is joined on the board by supervisors Steve Kenkel and Darin Haake.    Parkhurst was unanimously elected chairman while Haake was unanimously elected vice-chairman of the 2020 board.

    COUNTY -- A relatively mild start to January, 2020 turned more realistic this past weekend Friday-Saturday, Jan. 17-18 as a major winter storm hit the region bringing with it snow, wind, ice, sleet and bitter cold.    Harlan officially received six inches of snow Friday followed by some sleet, freezing rain and winds gusting to 40 miles per hour Friday into Saturday.

    HARLAN – The petitioner and respondent in the unique trial by combat request in Shelby County District Court that has garnered nationwide media attention this past week each have created GoFundMe® accounts hoping to secure donations to help with their legal expenses.    Bridgette Laver is the organizer of the Bridgette Ostrom Legal Fund, and David Ostrom is the organizer of the David Ostrom: Parental Alienation Defense Fund.    Both have a

    COUNTY -- A 31-year-old Council Bluffs woman was killed in a one-vehicle accident northwest of Earling in Shelby County last week.    Amber Dawn Sauvago was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to an Iowa State Patrol report.    On Thursday, Jan.

    COUNTY -- The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry currently is soliciting nominations for its Citizen/Volunteer of the Year award.    The award will be presented at the 2020 Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry Award Banquet on Friday, Feb. 28 at the C.G. Therkildsen Activity Center in Harlan.
 

    HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center announced this week a partnership with Senior Life Solutions.    Myrtue Medical Center’s Senior Life Solutions is an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of adults typically ages 65 and over struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety, stress from age-related health concerns, or difficult life transitions such as the loss of a loved one.

HARLAN – A Shelby County District Court judge ruled this week that proper procedural steps were not taken, and thus it won’t take action at this time on a Kansas man’s motion for trial by combat with his ex-wife, Bridgette Ostrom, or in her place, her attorney Matthew Hudson, both of Harlan.    David Ostrom, 40, Paola KS, requested the trial by combat with melee weapons in hand-to-hand combat style to resolve the dispute between he and the res

    HARLAN – Faith Sound, the interdenominational, contemporary music group based out of Harlan, has kicked off its concert season with its first performances of the year, and additional performances are slated in Harlan and the surrounding area during the next few months.    The first performance of the year was Sunday, Jan.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Newspapers Sports Editor Mike Oeffner (left) was honored this week with the Iowa High School Athletic Director's Association (IHSADA) 2020 "Sports Media Award."    Presenting Oeffner with the award prior to the Harlan Community-Glenwood boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan.

    HARLAN -- Charlotte Schwery, Maya Boettger and Kiley Cote (L to R) have fun at a basketball game recently performing in the spirit clinic at Harlan Community High School.  (Photo by Mike Oeffner)

    HARLAN --  Dr. Jill Biden, the former second lady of the United States and wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, made a stop in Harlan at Milk & Honey Monday afternoon, Jan. 13 to campaign for her husband.

    COUNTY – The eyes of the nation will be upon the State of Iowa once again Monday, Feb. 3 for the Republican and Democratic Caucuses, and Shelby County will be included in the national media spotlight.    Republican caucus participants will elect delegates, alternate delegates and junior delegates to the Shelby County Republican Convention.

    HARLAN – An Avoca man has been charged with lascivious acts with a child and assault following an alleged incident in Harlan January 1.    Trent Allen Nielsen, 34, 913 Grandview Rd., Avoca, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and 30 days in jail, with an additional fine of $10,625 if convicted of the class C felony and simple misdemeanor charges against him.

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors unanimously has approved a resolution allowing for the master matrix to be utilized in the county in regards to livestock confinements.    The approval again this year came with some conversation, with the continued thought there has to be some changes in regard to public hearings about confinements.

    HARLAN -- The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Harlan area.    This study will geographically define which communities contribute to Harlan’s workforce, regardless of political boundaries. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns.