HARLAN – The Harlan Community Schools Board of Education has signed off on an early retirement incentive plan that will provide $20,000 to the first eight regular, full-time certified employees who meet the eligibility requirements and let the district know of their retirement intentions by November 27.    The board voted 6-0 to endorse the plan, which is similar to early retirement incentive plans offered in past years.

A crisp morning greeted all who attended the Harvest Fest in Harlan Saturday, Oct. 26.

    HARLAN – Grant Wood Printmaking Fellow Tyanna Buie will lead two, free monotype printmaking workshops in Harlan Saturday, Nov.

    HARLAN – Construction work recently has been completed on much-needed updates to the Harlan Wastewater Treatment Plant that will help sustain the plant into the future and make plant operations more efficient.    A new building addition complete with offices, restroom and lab; an updated control system, an ultraviolet disinfection system and a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system are now in place.  Wastewater Superintend

    PORTSMOUTH – Ongoing water/sewer system improvements continue in Portsmouth with the announcement that the city has received additional funding from USDA Rural Development.    The USDA Office of Rural Development is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture which runs programs that will improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.

    ATLANTIC -- Music students from the Harlan Community Schools will audition Saturday, Oct. 26 for the Iowa High School Music Association’s All-State Band, Orchestra and Chorus.    A total of 17 Cyclone music students will audition on Saturday at Atlantic High School.

AVOCA -- Neighbors and friends turned out this week to help Duane Carroll with his harvesting.  Carroll was involved in a three-vehicle accident north of Avoca and was recovering in the hospital, so neighbors took to the fields to finish his harvest for him.  Iowa Nice!  (Photo courtesy HTS Ag)

  HARLAN – The 19th-annual Harvest Fest celebration will be held Saturday, Oct.

    COUNTY -- Each tax year Shelby County Extension & Outreach, with the support from the Iowa Center, IRS, DHS and volunteer certified tax preparers, serves Iowans by providing tax preparation help for low-income residents in Shelby County.    Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) helps lower-income households file their tax returns for free, enabling them to receive the tax credits they’ve earned.  Last year, VITA volunteers prepared an

    HARLAN – Third, fourth and fifth graders at the Harlan Community Intermediate School have an important message for everyone.    Choose to be kind.    It may be a simple notion, but students feel so strongly about the message that they’ve formed a Kindness Club that is gaining members and support.  The first quarter of this school year has been special, and kids are excited for the future of their efforts.    This all began last year.

    HARLAN -- The postponed Red Out event from two weeks ago due to cold weather conditions will be held at Friday’s’s HCHS-Winterset football game.    Harlan Community Schools and Myrtue Medical Center are hosting the Red Out to raise awareness and funds in the fight against heart disease.    There will be a number of activities related to healthy heart awareness.

    EARLING -- It’s been a difficult 14 days for the residents, families, employees and owners of the longtime nursing home - the Little Flower Haven.

    HARLAN -- The Shelby County Historical Museum is excited to announce the opening of the newly-renovated Military Exhibit Hall. The exhibit hall will open to the public at 2 p.m. on November 11 with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, all are invited to attend.    The Military Exhibit Hall explores the strength and sacrifice of Shelby County’s servicemen and women throughout our nation’s various wars.

    HARLAN – The 96-member Harlan Community Cyclone Marching Band is gearing up for state contest this weekend, with a 2:30 p.m. performance time at Glenwood High School on Saturday, Oct.

COUNTY – Shelby County Auditor and Election Commissioner Mark Maxwell said this week that ballots for the general election are late to arrive.    Maxwell said this year there was a condensed period of time from the election certification deadline to the first day ballots can be issued, which was October 7.  “That is 11 ½ days for printing companies to produce proofs for the counties’ review and okay for printing,” he said.  “Then a two-day shi