HARLAN -- Gussied Up was one of eight businesses in downtown Harlan to receive grant money for facade work.    The storefront was completely redone.

A good time was had by all at the recent Shelby County Fair.

    HARLAN – Property owners who have not installed sidewalks as requested by the City of Harlan will have until December 31 of this year to do so, nearly five years after the city began the process of requesting sidewalk installation to make the community safer.    Letters mailed in early July state that many property owners have completed the required sidewalk installation over the past few years, and the city wishes to finalize the project.

    HARLAN – The Harlan Community Schools Board of Education gave final approval Monday, July 16 for the expenditure of funds from the district’s flexibility account within the general fund to be used for future district needs.    The funding will pay for two elementary positions and building maintenance costs this next school year.    The board voted 4-0 (Amy Rueschenberg, Jessica Anderson, Joni Larsen and Kathy Mahlberg aye; Lonnie Muxfeldt,

    COUNTY -- Cassidy Robinson was crowned Shelby County Fair Queen during ceremonies held at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Thursday evening, July 12. 

    ELK HORN -- The year is 1917, and teenager Marie Jensen and her family have recently immigrated to Elk Horn from Denmark. Marie spends her spare time doing needlework or singing.

    COUNTY -- The recycling bin in the Shopko/HyVee parking lot was clean and tidy on this day, but it hasn’t been the norm lately.  County officials said people have been dropping off trash more frequently that has to be hauled away.  On one day, there were nearly a dozen bags of trash and even a television left at this recycling site.    Officials are reminding Shelby County residents that this bin is for recyclables only, and for rural resi

    HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center Board of Trustees Rick Rasmussen and Jim Zimmerman have been reappointed to serve one year terms on the Shelby County Medical Corporation Board of Directors. Their reappointments were made at the June meeting of the MMC Board of Trustees.    MMC CEO Barry Jacobsen updated the board on various topics including the progress of the hiring of architects for the master facility plans.

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan has allocated $50,000 to be used as matching funds for a downtown upper story and façade improvement program during the next fiscal year.    Applications now are being accepted from building owners in the targeted downtown area through October, 2018, to be reviewed in November for recommended approval by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission to the Harlan City Council.    It’s a program that has been offer

    HARLAN – Former Harlan City Administrator Terry Lynn Cox, 67, Harlan, has pleaded not guilty in Shelby County District Court to Theft 1st Degree, Felonious Misconduct in Office and Tampering with Records.    A written arraignment and plea of not guilty was filed in district court July 9, and Cox also waived his right to a speedy trial.    The court has set pre-trial conference for 9 a.m. on August 20 and a jury trial for 9:30 a.m.

    COUNTY -- For 149 years, the Shelby County Fair has offered a lifetime of memories to everyone who attends.

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors has opted against a union request to adopt a resolution that union representatives have said indicates support of Shelby County employees and collective bargaining units.    In a statement read Tuesday, July 3, the board said it had met with its labor counsel, Michael Galloway, to discuss the county unions’ request to adopt the resolution titled “Support for Shelby County Employees and Collec

    HARLAN -- Local high school musicians, Caitlin Bissen and Sirriniti Fleshman from Harlan Community High School are touring Europe with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music (IAM) July 3-18.    The local students are part of a select group of 390 student musicians, advisors and parents from across Iowa.

    HARLAN -- 4-H is a tradition that can be passed down through generations. Students can start getting involved as early as kindergarten through Clover Kids. This year, the Shelby County Fair is adding a Clover Kids graduation for the third graders’ last year in Clover Kids.    The Goshorn family has been involved with the fair for many years.

    SHELBY -- Donavon Gail Dontje and Robert Morton earned the most votes to be elected to the Shelby City Council in a special election held Tuesday, July 11.    Dontje tallied 92 votes while Morton received 77 votes.  Karen Schleuter got 73 votes and Steven Edward Myers 31 votes.    The election was held to fill two council seats left vacant by the resignation of two council members recently.