HARLAN  — Students at Shelby County Catholic Schools celebrated vocations to priesthood and religious life with Des Moines Bishop Michael Joensen and Shelby County priests and religious.    Fifth-graders wrote letters to invite the religious to Mass and lunch following the Mass.
 

HARLAN — The Learning for Life (LFL)  group connection of Myrtue Medical Center Department of Public Health met at the Harlan Public Library January 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and attended their Family Fun Night--making fish aquariums.   Each child,  with assistance from their family, was able to make a fish aquarium to take home with them.

As part of his annual 99 county tour, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig stopped in Shelby County on Friday at HTS Ag in Harlan. He visited with employees, learned about the business and services they offer, and discussed issues the company is facing.
The group discussed the challenges of regulations on applications and use of drones and spray drones. They also discussed carbon credits.

AREA — Prairie Rose State Park has begun the monumental task of removing approximately 300 mature Ash trees that have been destroyed by the Emerald Ash Borer.

Mervin Meredith Coffman, son of Melvin and Maxine (Stoner) Coffman, was born on October 27, 1951, in Atlantic, Iowa. After graduating from Shelby-Tennant Consolidated School, he enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Enterprise during the Vietnam War.

Senior Jacob Birch scored 18 points leading his team to a 64-55 victory over the Creston Panthers Friday night at home. For the Cyclones, it was a much needed bounce back victory after dropping their previous game to the Denison-Schleswig Monarchs in overtime.
“You just got to take it one game at a time,” Birch said. “We came in, practiced, took it one play at a time and won.”

Junior Erica Rust and Sophomore Aubrey Schwieso were the stars of the night en route to a double overtime victory against the Creston Panthers for their 11th win of the season.
“We kind of needed a bounce back win after last night,” said Cyclones Head Coach Zach Klaassen. “We kind of boat raced over in Carroll. They just couldn’t miss a three, so tonight was a big one.”

 STATEWIDE — Earlier this week, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill to create taxpayer funded education savings accounts (ESAs) for all Iowa students attending a private, accredited school. “The Students First Act” (House File 68) passed through the Iowa House with a vote of 55-45.

    DES MOINES — In celebration of National Unclaimed Property Day, held annually on February 1, State Treasurer Roby Smith is sharing the newest report of unclaimed funds in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt for Shelby County.    “In 2022, more than $82,000 was reported to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt for Shelby County residents, meaning you or someone you know could have money waiting to be claimed,” Smith said.    For the celebration, Smith’s Of