HARLAN -- The streets of Harlan were lined with American flags Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day, courtesy of the Harlan Boys Scouts Troop 90.  The Star Spangled Streets project was considered a huge success, with more than 200 flags lining the streets of Harlan as a fundraising project for the Scouts.  Flags will also be raised throughout the year on Flag Day, July 4, Labor Day and Veterans Day.  To obtain a subscription and have a flag rai

    SHELBY -- Peg McCool hoped for the Grandparents Gifts Foundation (GGF) to pass on vessels of memories to the younger generations.    Peg has worked on a project with her husband, Gene McCool, to professionally record a variety of interviews from the older generation to reflect the stories of the past.

    HARLAN -- The Myrtue Medical Center’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Jeanine Larsen as a newly appointed board member, following the resignation of Carmen Hosack.    Larsen graduated from Buena Vista University and pursued her CPA license with the State of Iowa.   

    REGIONAL -- The damp weather and strong winds are affecting this year’s crop planting for farmers and businesses around the region.    “There’s been a large planting window, which might make this year a little unique,” said Mike Witt, ISU Extension crop specialist for southwest Iowa.    Witt said that approximately 95 percent of the corn has already been planted in the region, but the soybeans are still being seeded.    “When it’s dry enou

    HARLAN -- Firefighters from Harlan and Westphalia were called to 1711 6th St. Monday evening, May 23 at approximately 5:25 p.m.

    HARLAN – Harlan Community Schools administration, directors and non-certified staff have been awarded salary and benefits increases for the 2016-17 school year.    The HCS Board of Education approved a 3.13 percent increase for the superintendent, administrators/directors and non-certified support staff.    Total cost to the district for salary and benefits increases for the superintendent, administrators and non-certified support staff is

    HARLAN -- Approximately 25 people turned out Monday, May 23 for the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry-sponsored candidates’ forum at Harlan Community High School.  Answering questions on everything from the budget to economic development were Republican supervisor candidates Charlie Parkhurst, Steve Kenkel and Loren Christensen (l to r).  The three will vie for two open board seats in the June 7 primary election.

    ELK HORN -- Mabel Madsen used to wait for her husband, Robert, to come home to greet him when he came home from work. This was one of her ways she showed her love.    Now as Robert and Mabel sit side-by-side holding hands at Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn, Mabel repeats the question a little louder for her husband to hear. This is one of the ways she shows her love.

HARLAN – Four Harlan Community High School students earned outstanding honors at the national Business Professionals of America leadership conference this month, including a national champion crowned in freshman Jay Swanson and a national runner-up in Kyle Schmitz.    Swanson, a freshman, became HCHS’s fourth ever BPA national champion with a first-place finish in his Administrative Research Project/Presentation event.  Schmitz earned a second

    ELK HORN -- Salem Lutheran Homes and Rehabilitation Center announced today that construction will begin on the expansion of its dining room June 6.    The project will add space for veterans’ activities to build upon being the only Veterans Certified facility in the area, allow Salem Homes to book events for larger community attendance, and refurbish the current dining room so that residents may have a restaurant-like dining experience.  

    HARLAN -- The search for Harlan’s new management structure officially began this week, as the city’s Personnel and Finance Committee Wednesday, May 18 brought in a representative of the Institute of Public Affairs from the University of Iowa.    Jeff Schott, program director,  and Mark Miller, senior advisor of the Iowa City/County Management Association, met with committee members Mike Kolbe, Dave Miller and Sharon Kroger, to lay out the

    HARLAN -- Sarah Muller, Pella, has joined the Harlan Newspapers as summer intern.    She is a junior studying journalism and mass communication with a minor in political science at Iowa State University.    Muller wishes to have a job in the reporting field after graduation.    “One of my advisors at Iowa State, Mark Witherspoon, always says that journalism is one of the best public services and I can’t help but agree with him,” Muller sai

    HARLAN -- Conservation Day for approximately 200 sixth graders from Shelby County was held at Prairie Rose State Park on Wednesday.

HARLAN -- In a few short weeks Anja Steiger of Germany, Alfonsina “Bonlli” de Santos Guzman of Mexico and Leonie Finkbeiner of Germany will be returning to their home countries with lots of great memories of Harlan and HCHS.

REGIONAL – Seniors from area high schools will graduate Sunday, May 22 in commencement exercises at their schools.    Harlan Community High School will host pomp and circumstance beginning at 2 p.m.