ELK HORN -- The Spartans will look to Cage the Cougars Friday night as Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton celebrates homecoming this week culminating with the football game versus CAM, beginning at 7 p.m. in Exira.    The game is just one of a number of activities during the week.

    HARLAN -- The annual Teal Out held at Harlan Community High School’s volleyball game Tuesday evening, Sept.

    HARLAN -- Rainy conditions during the past week hasn’t stopped crews from Western Engineering from continuing street overlay work in town.  Street work continued this week with many locations throughout the town seeing milling and overlay improvements.

    AVOCA -- Friday night’s football contest between the Vikings and Westwood (Sloan) included a fundraiser for an AHSTW student fighting a rare form of cancer.    Charley Falkena is battling PTLD, or Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease, which affects transplant patients.  The cancer will typically show itself within the first few years after the transplant takes place.

    REGIONAL – You’ll definitely feel them before you see them.  Those little black bugs which seem to have more teeth than they do body, swarming through the air in the early fall evenings just before dark, causing distress for anyone who may be gardening, attending a ball game or just out for a walk.       And that ferocious bite they have!       The past week has been the worst, as the warmer weather has brought them out of hiding, albeit a

    IRWIN – Pleasant View Stock Farm west of Irwin recently has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, the culmination of three years of work to have the historical place recognized on the national level for its historic significance.    The farm is one of only 13 places in Shelby County recognized on the national registery.  Among the others are the Shelby County Courthouse, Floral Hall at the Shelby County Fairgrounds and St

    HARLAN – The HCS Board of Education and HCS Interim Superintendent Lynn Johnson have agreed on superintendent goals for the current school year.    The board voted 5-0 (Amy Rueschenberg, Jessica Anderson, Joni Larsen, Seth Piro and Monte Schechinger aye; Tara Devlin-Lawler and Al Hazelton absent) approving the goals.    Johnson began interim superintendent duties in mid-July, after being hired by the board following an executive search in

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan has filed a petition for title to abandoned property, claiming the unoccupied residence has become a nuisance where vermin and rodents gather, posing a danger to health, safety and welfare of the neighboring properties.    Named as defendants in the petition are Sherry L. Behrendt fka Sherry L. Dugan; unknown spouse of Sherry L.

    COUNTY – Shelby County homeowners are dealing with an increase in the number of bats looking to find winter lodging inside their residences.    The Iowa State University Extension Service, Shelby County, said it has been contacted this month by numerous homeowners who are asking for advice on how best to rid their homes of bats.  Extension officials have said now is the best time of year to be working to exclude bats as they migrate and lo

    COUNTY -- Shelby County will pay $25 each for beaver tails from November 2-April 15 as part of an ongoing effort to minimize the damage the critters cause to roadways and structures throughout the county.    The county’s board of supervisors re-authorized the bounty this month, with a total dollar limit outlay of $5,000.

    HARLAN -- The second Ag Festival held at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Monday, Sept. 9 was a huge success with a number of vendors set up to show kids and adults many of the ag activities.  The hands-on learning experience for kids of all ages included everything from observing bees and farm equipment to simple machines and gardening. 

    COUNTY – Employees of Shelby County now have a new cell phone policy, designed to provide an appropriate level of monthly reimbursement for those employees utilizing their personal cell phones for county business.    The Shelby County Board of Supervisors voted 2-0 put the policy in place. 

    SHELBY – A Shelby home was severely damaged in an early morning fire Thursday, Aug. 29 as firefighters from three departments battled not only the blaze, but also a severe thunderstorm.    All occupants of the home were able to exit safely, and the American Red Cross is helping them with lodging and other needs.    The cause of the fire at 504 Plateau St. remains under investigation. 

    COUNTY – The second Shelby County Ag Festival will be held Monday, Sept. 9 from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Harlan.    The hands-on learning experience for kids of all ages will include everything from observing bees and farm equipment to simple machines and gardening, just to name a few.    The event is free fun for all ages. 

    COUNTY – Shelby County has been notified this week it is the recipient of $300,000 in federal grant monies to help with the costs to repair existing bridges on Linden Road north and south of County Road F24.    The funding comes from the Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) and is part of an overall $33.4 million awarded to the State of Iowa from $225 million in total allocated funds nationwide.  The grant monies are specifically earm