DES MOINES -- Msgr. Gerald J. Stessman, 83, Des Moines, died Monday, April 4 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.    Services will be held Monday, April 11 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling at approximately 4:30 p.m. following the funeral.  Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Richard L. Andersen, 82, Harlan, died Monday, April 4 in Harlan.    Services were held Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m.

    KIMBALLTON -- Jacqueline Grace Denton, 78, Kimballton, died Saturday, April 2 at her home.    No services are planned at this time.    She is survived by son Denver (Shari) Hansen of Kimballton; daughter Robyn Runkle of Warren, IL; 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three brothers and seven sisters. 

    AVOCA -- Roy Garvin, 69, Avoca, died March 31 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Friday, April 8 at 1 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.  Visitation is Friday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

ELK HORN -- Kindergarten and first grade students at Exira-EHK Elementary School recently learned about different types of careers. In Mrs. Jordan Webster’s first grade class, nine of her 14 students want to work with animals or be a veterinarian when they are older.

    COUNTY – The third and final reading of an ordinance pertaining to the use of the road right-of-way in Shelby County will be presented for discussion and public input at today’s county board of supervisors meeting.    Officials said basically they are updating an ordinance currently in place.  Changes are in regards to any obstructions placed in the right-of-way such as manure or waste material, mud, crop residue, etc.

    HARLAN -- The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office completed a theft investigation March 30, culminating with the arrest of Justin Levell, 28, 207 Jane St., Irwin.    Sheriff’s officials said Levell was found to be in possession of a 35-foot camper trailer at his residence in Irwin, along with  a John Deere, four-wheel Gator.

HARLAN -- Harlan Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees approved bids to clear out and clean up parts of the former headquarters facilities to be used for “cold storage.”    The old facilities, located on the east end of Highway 44 going through Harlan, will see demolition to floors, walls, plumbing, electrical, hvac, etc to provide open space for storage.

    HARLAN – Class sizes at the elementary level likely will be higher next year as Harlan Community Schools administration wrestles with the difficulty of balancing financial solvency with state funding, staffing and declining enrollment.    The HCS Board of Education unanimously approved the 2016-17 budget Monday, March 21.  Board members Kathy Mahlberg, Lonnie Muxfeldt, Al Hazelton, Angie Monson, Joni Larsen, Amy Rueschenberg and Monte Sche