SHELBY COUNTY — National 4-H Week will be celebrated October 5–11, 2025, and will inspire and connect the nation’s 6 million 4-H’ers, 3,500 educators, 500,000 volunteers, and 35 million alumni. This year’s theme, “Beyond Ready,” highlights how 4-H prepares members for life and careers by giving them the skills, resilience, and leadership needed in a rapidly changing world.

High School Gears Up for Homecoming 2025: “Island Nights under Cyclone Lights”Harlan Community High School is ready to celebrate Homecoming 2025 with a week full of spirited traditions, exciting events, and plenty of Cyclone pride. This year’s theme is a Hawaiian Luau, with the slogan “Island Nights under Cyclone Lights.”

SHELBY COUNTY — Area candidates have filed their paperwork for the upcoming city and school board elections, according to the Shelby County Auditor’s Office. Voting for the Iowa City/School Election will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

HARLAN - The Harlan Community School district showed off its brand new Intermediate building to the public with the official ribbon cutting Thursday, marking the completion of the nearly two-year project for the school district. Harlan Community Superintendent Dr.

HARLAN — Authorities have released their findings regarding the Tuesday, September 16 residential fire in Harlan.When authorities got to the home, located at 1108 3rd St., the house was full of smoke and they found two people inside, a man and a woman.

STATEWIDE — Summit Carbon Solutions filed a petition to amend its pipeline permit with the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC).The petition, filed Monday, requests modification of the route and pipe size, the addition of an ethanol plant to the route, and changes to “amend the conditions regarding North Dakota and South Dakota.”In June 2024, the IUC approved Summit’s CO2 pipeline permit through Iowa but stipulated that Summit could not begin const

HARLAN – The City of Harlan has been awarded a Trees for Kids grant in the amount of $2,500 from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to support the planting of new trees in the community.City Administrator Gervas Mgonja said the grant will allow the City to improve parks and public spaces while involving local students in the process.“We are excited to receive this grant, which will help us grow and sustain a healthy tree canopy in Harlan

AVOCA – The City of Avoca is moving forward with full implementation of its Noise Camera Program to address excessive engine brake noise along Highway 59.

The Twelfth Annual Southwest Iowa Art Tour is scheduled for September 20 and 21 with sneak peaks available at limited locations on Friday, September 19. This year, Mi Casa Restaurant, located just off the downtown Harlan square at 512 Market St.

MANNING — The City of Manning is celebrating a major win for its future: a $1.75 million grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

AREA —Due to the efforts of its customers and member communities, Regional Water announced that it has downgraded the “Level Red” advisory to “Level Yellow”, the next lower conservation level of its Emergency Water Conservation Plan.General Manager Tom Kallman stated that the measure was taken due to improved water levels in both their well field and the storage towers throughout its Avoca Treatment Plant Distribution System.

HARLAN — Harlan FFA members traveled to the 97th Iowa State FFA Leadership Conference in Ames on April 13-15 to compete and participate in various events. Over 7,000 FFA members, advisors and guests from across Iowa gathered for the 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference, making it a record setting year.

 SHELBY COUNTY — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited Southwest Iowa March 28 as part of Iowa Ag Week and his annual visits to every county in Iowa.

HARLAN — The Iowa Department of Education publicly released the graduation and dropout rates for the graduating class of 2024 Monday, March 31. Harlan Community School District (HCSD) continues to demonstrate strong academic performance, with graduation rates exceeding state averages and dropout rates remaining low.The four-year cohort graduation rate for Harlan’s Class of 2024 stands at an impressive 95.54%.

 SHELBY COUNTY — A Public Safety Project Committee has been formed to discuss the future of the Shelby County Jail. Jail Administrator Kyle Lindberg discussed the need for the committee at the Shelby County Board of Supervisors and the Harlan City Council meetings Tuesday, April 1. Lindberg said recent jail inspections have drawn attention to infrastructure and safety issues at the current jail, which was built in 1983. “We are dealing with an