HARLAN -- Interim Harlan Community Schools Superintendent Lynn Johnson has been offered a contract extension that will keep her with the HCS District through the 2020-21 school year.    In a statement Monday, Nov.

    HARLAN -- Nearly a year after Harlan Community voters defeated proposals to extend Instructional Support and Physical Plant and Equipment levies for the Harlan Community Schools, those same voters did an about face and threw their support behind both issues in Tuesday’s general election.    In a significant turnaround, each measure received an approximate 20 percent bump in support from a year ago.  Voters gave the ISL a 62.5 percent appro

    HARLAN -- Incumbent Harlan Community Schools Board of Education member Joni Larsen handily defeated a challenge from Allyson Bendorf for the District 5 board seat in Tuesday’s election.    Larsen earned 62.15 percent of the vote tallying 716 votes to Bendorf’s 435 votes, or 37.76 percent.    The election featured an incumbent in Larsen who  has served this past year on the board through one of the most difficult times in decades that inclu

    HARLAN -- A Harlan man has been charged in Shelby County District Court with sexual abuse in the third degree.    Dylan Ray Janssen, 19, 1322 Willow St., faces up to 10 years in jail and an additional $10,000 fine if convicted of the class C felony charge against him. 

    SIOUX CITY – Five Harlan area men filed complaints with the Harlan Police Department alleging they had received bogus checks in a pay-for-sex transaction and were infected with a contagious or infectious disease after they engaged in oral sex with a Briar Cliff University student, according to documents filed in Woodbury County District Court.    The men ranged in age from 17-19 years old, and their complaints prompted the investigation in

    HARLAN – The Knights of Pythias plans to start new lodge in Harlan, it was announced this week, with invitations for Harlan area residents to join.     The Grand Lodge of Iowa, Knights of Pythias will be holding a membership drive at the Pizza Ranch on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m. for the purpose of starting a new lodge in Harlan.

    COUNTY – Shelby County officials are reminding residents that the recycling bin in the former Shopko parking lot is for rural residents’ recyclables only, and if people continue to drop off trash that has to be hauled away, the recycling location may be closed.    In-town Harlan residents have their yellow bins to put out on trash day with their recyclables inside.    County officials said they have had many complaints recently about trash

    HARLAN – The Harlan Community High School Drama Department will be presenting the play Divine Stella Devine in three performances this week.    Showtimes are Thursday and Saturday, Nov. 7 and 9, at 7 p.m., and a Sunday, Nov. 10 matinee at 2 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Schools patrons are getting another chance to show their support for the school next week by voting on proposals to renew the district’s instructional support levy (ISL) and physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL).    The HCS Board of Education has moved to put both measures in front of the district patrons for vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election, the first time since they were defeated last December. 

    HARLAN – The only contested race for Harlan Community School Board in Tuesday’s election is for District 5, where incumbent Joni Larsen is being challenged by Allyson Bendorf.    Board members Seth Piro (District 3), Monte Schechinger (District 7) and Tarah Devlin-Lawler (District 6) are unopposed for re-election to their board seats.

    COUNTY – Write-in votes will decide a number of municipal elections in the Tuesday, Nov.

    AVOCA -- Voters in the AHSTW School District will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov.

HARLAN — At least three vehicles were involved in an accident about 7:50 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 on Highway 59 just south of Harlan near the Monogram Prepared Meats plant.  No other details were available as of press time Thursday morning.

Trick or treat night was held Oct. 31 in most area towns.

    HARLAN -- Friday night at the Harlan Community High School football game vs. Winterset was Red Out.  All game and pre-game activities were centered on heart health, and raising awareness and funding for heart-related illnesses and education.