ELK HORN -- Geoffrey Esper downed 107 æbleskiver in eight minutes to set a new world record in the second-annual Æbleskiver Eating Contest held at Tivoli Fest in Elk Horn Saturday afternoon, May 26.  Esper, left, is announced as the winner by emcee Sam Barclay.  At right is fellow contestant Darron Breeden, who downed 98 for second place.  Beautiful weather greeted everyone who headed to Elk Horn for the annual Tivoli Fest celebration last

    ELK HORN -- “To put a positive spin on it, we’re considering it a ‘blessing in disguise.’”    That’s how Danish Windmill Manager Lisa Steen Riggs described getting the news last week that there was significant wood rot in the sheer beams of the Mill’s Cap frame.    Just 10 days ago, the reconstruction phase of the Mill’s major restoration project began with historic millwright, Ben Hassett, returning to Elk Horn to install the new wind sha

    COUNTY – Shelby County has taken no action regarding a union request to adopt a resolution in support of Shelby County employees and collective bargaining units.    On Tuesday, May 22, Shelby County Board of Supervisors Chairman Charles Parkhurst read a statement that said it is good for the board to receive information by the union and allow employees to share their thoughts.

    HARLAN -- On Thursday, May 31, the Harlan Municipal Band will hold its first practice and performance of the summer.    Every summer, community members and students join together to perform on the Harlan downtown courthouse square and continue a 142 year tradition.    Under the direction of Bill Kearney, the HCHS band director, the concerts will feature a variety of songs that range from upper middle school to high school level.    The pra

    REGIONAL -- Tivoli Fest is this weekend, and the theme this year is “Tivoli Traditions.... Hygge and Æbleskiver.”    “The first time I went to Denmark with my family, we went to my grandmother’s friend’s house and she didn’t know we were coming. We walked into her house and she took us into the parlor, which was closed, and on the table was a vase of flowers, just fresh flowers, she didn’t know we were coming.

    REGIONAL -- Area schools held their graduation ceremonies Sunday, May 20.

    REGIONAL -- Harlan Memorial Day services will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial Building at 10 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Local firefighters held a controlled burn Saturday, May 19 at a vacant home in east Harlan.  Prior to the training burn on Saturday, local firefighters had used the structure three times for training new firefighters.    The training topics were: Search and Rescue, Ventilation, Fire Behavior, Fire Attack Techniques and Pumping Operations.    The department’s Firefighter I class started back in January and the students will have t

HARLAN -- Seniors at Harlan Community High School celebrate with confetti and other celebratory items upon graduation during commencement exercises at HCHS Sunday afternoon, May 20.

    HARLAN – Eight Harlan Community High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) students earned high honors at nationals this month, named national finalists among a variety of contests they competed in while at the national event held in Dallas, TX.    Adam Kohl, Ellen Keast, Eli Boldan, Mason Peters, Jay Swanson, Alana Monson, Tyler Buman and Tyler Schaben all have been recognized nationally.  The students qualified for the national

    HARLAN -- Iowa farmers had a late start to their planting season this year due to a late-to-arrive spring with temperatures well below normal and snow into April.    But the past few weeks have yielded much more conducive weather, although farmers still remain somewhat behind in planting.  In Iowa, statistics for the week ending on May 13, show that farmers have 65 percent of their corn and 12 percent of their soybeans planted.    For corn

   ELK HORN – Historic millwright Ben Hassett is expected to be back in Elk Horn this week to fit the new sails and shutters on the Danish Windmill, bringing the major mill restoration project closer to completion.    It was back in May, 2016 when Hassett initially assessed the windmill, and delivered a conditions report indicating the mill needed some major repairs.    Since then, materials have been ordered, the existing sails, etc.

HARLAN - Myrtue Medical Center announces the addition of Jill Mages, Human Resources Director, and Jeff Sundholm, Chief Information Officer, to Myrtue’s administrative team. Mages replaces Donna Christensen-Mores who is retiring after 32 years of service.

By Caitlin Yamada, News Reporter    HARLAN -- The pilot and only occupant of a small airplane walked away without injury when the plane he was piloting overturned in a field north of the Harlan Airport while attempting to land Wednesday morning, May 16.    The pilot has not been identified.    Airport Manager Olie Pash said “around 9-9:15 a.m.

    HARLAN -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has delivered an Airworthiness Directive regarding the braking system on HA-420 HondaJets.    An article in Business Aviation reveals that the directive (2018-06-10) requires a temporary revision to the flight manual calling for replacing faulty brake valves upon condition as well as for pilot brake checks.    The directive was announced because of “reports of unannunciated asymmetic brak