HARLAN – The City of Harlan is the financial applicant for state funding that, if approved, will allow for the construction of bio retention cells near the back of Nishnabotna Valley REC’s property along Chatburn Ave.    The cells will manage the flow of water runoff at the REC and across the Harlan Golf and Country Club, First Baptist Church and residences in that area, officials said, which has been a problem during heavy rain events.  

    HARLAN – Work is expected to begin soon on the new Christiansen Meadows Development in north Harlan as proposed by Prairie Fire Development, a Kansas City firm that was been working with the City of Harlan and the State of Iowa for more than a year.    Final agreements have been signed on the housing project, a pre-construction meeting has been held, and dirt could be turned yet this early winter.

    HARLAN – Mediacom has announced it will be implementing rate increases for its customers in Harlan, as outlined in a letter to the City of Harlan this month.    The rate increases will take effect December 22.  Among the rate adjustments are increases for local broadcast station surcharges, regional sports surcharges, TV essentials, family TV, Prime TV, HD DTA, SD DTA, Starz, Xtream Bronze, Xtream Silver, Xtream Gold, Xtream Platinum, TV E

HARLAN -- Fourth-graders and their families were treated to their annual family fun night sponsored by the fourth grade team in the Harlan Community Schools last week.  Activities included decorating cookies, making ornaments and snowmen with popsicle sticks, making bookmarks and listening to Christmas stories.  Kids met with Santa Claus and were given cotton candy.
 

    MANNING –  IKM-Manning Special Olympics Coach Beth Hagedorn was inducted into the 2019 Special Olympics Iowa Hall of Fame during ceremonies December 2 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.    Hagedorn was honored, along with seven other volunteers from across Iowa, for her 30 years involved with Special Olympics teaching at IKM and IKM-Manning Schools.  She was nominated by IKM-Manning’s Joy Gross, and was recognized for exemplifying what it means

    ELK HORN -- The Museum of Danish America has announced that Jakob Holm will begin as the museum’s executive director on January 6, 2020.    Holm is a Danish citizen with experience living and working in the United States.  His professional background includes completing a doctorate-level degree in literature, working in advertising and marketing, authoring and editing books about Danish culture, teaching Danish literature at the University

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees approved expenses for upgrading software on the business computers in their offices during the Dec. 5 board meeting.       The utilities will spend $15,955 for upgrades in billing and financial departments in what management called an “intermediate upgrade,” and a one-time expense as opposed to monthly fees going forward.

    REGIONAL – A total of 87 families signed up this year for help during the holiday season in the annual holiday adoption program through West Central Community Action.    Those who adopted and will be delivering gifts to WCCA’s Outreach Office are asked to attend the drop-off day, Monday, Dec. 16 between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.    Distribution of gifts to families is being held on Tuesday, Dec.

    HARLAN – A standing room only crowd turned out on less than a day’s notice for a town hall meeting with Democratic Presidential Candidate Cory Booker and Iowa Congressional Candidate J.D. Scholten at the C.G. Therkildsen Center Friday morning, Dec. 6.    The two shared their messages with Shelby County residents of hope, common sense, morality and values in helping the nation heal and come together to move forward into the future.

    HARLAN -- Jeremy Taylor, republican candidate for the District 4 U.S. Representatives seat, made a campaign stop in Harlan Thursday, Dec.

HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center announces the addition of Tina Flores, MD, as a family practice physician.    Flores will be joining Myrtue Medical Center’s team of seven family medicine physicians and 14 advanced-level practitioners who serve at Myrtue’s nationally recognized Critical Access Hospital and at its medical clinics.    Flores will replace Dr. Roger Davidson, MD, who retired last year.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Schools Interim Superintendent Lynn Johnson has been an offered a one-year contract extension, the terms of which were approved last week by the HCS Board of Education.    Board members Amy Rueschenberg, Jessica Anderson, Al Hazelton, Tarah Devlin-Lawler and Seth Piro approved the contract 5-0.  Board members Monte Schechinger and Joni Larsen were absent.    Johnson was hired this year as interim superintendent f

    PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth has filed a petition in Shelby County District Court seeking title to an abandoned property.    The defendant named in the petition is Scott Phillips, believed to reside at 206 4th Ave.  Also named is Tiger 111 Partnership, which may claim interest in the property by virtue of an installment contract with Phillips as the purchaser.    According to the petition, Phillips is the owner of the real estate an

    PORTSMOUTH -- Portsmouth firefighters helped save dozens of hogs after a semi carrying the hogs traveled into the ditch and overturned November 21 near 1200th St.

    COUNTY -- The holiday season officially kicked off in Shelby County last weekend with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the courthouse square in downtown Harlan.  A good turnout of people braved the cold and drizzly weather to meet Santa and partake in the official lighting of the Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn.