NEOLA – A teacher and coach in the Tri-Center (Neola) School District is being accused of having an alleged sexual relationship with a student, and has been charged in Pottawattamie County District Court with sexual exploitation by a school employee and dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors.    Ag/FFA Teacher and Girls Softball Coach Josie Mae McMinemee, 26, 664 Fir Rd., Shelby, also is accused of sending nude photos a

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Theater is formally organizing itself under the umbrella of an old favorite in the community, the Western Iowa Arts Association (WIAA), and is fund-raising in preparation for its 2022 summer musical production that will be named soon.

    HARLAN – Legal counsel for the Harlan Municipal Utilities has advised the HMU Board of Trustees to host a meeting open to the public when discussing the future of its telecommunications utility.    HMU Chief Executive Officer Ken Weber said the meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 4 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Barbara Hansen, 85, Harlan, died December 30 at The Heritage at Fox Run.    Services will be held Saturday, Jan. 8 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  A prayer service will be held Friday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.  Visitation is Friday from 4-7 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Those who celebrate the ringing in of the new year tonight, Friday - New Year’s Eve, are being urged to be careful heading home after out and about celebrating.  Local law enforcement want to protect the safety of area drivers on the eve of 2022.    The Harlan Police Department will again be offering a free ride for those who celebrate on New Year’s Eve.  It’s a “no strings attached” offer that’s meant not only to keep drinking d

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Fire Department is reminding residents that safety should be the top priority as winter gets in full swing, and keeping a home’s heating system in top shape is extremely important.    A home’s heating system works double time to keep homeowners warm during the winter, yet heating is the second leading cause of home fires.    “The biggest mistake is putting something too close to a heating source,” said Harlan Fire Chie

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Compensation Board has amended its salary increase recommendation for the county sheriff to 16 percent from an initial 28 percent for the 2022-23 fiscal year, opting for a more phased-in, multi-year approach to an increase that’s being mandated by state lawmakers.    The recommendation now heads to the Shelby County Board of Supervisors for final review and action.  While the compensation board makes the recommen

    STATE -- The value of an acre of Shelby County farmland jumped 30 percent, mirroring counties statewide that saw similar increases, according to the annual farmland value survey presented by Iowa State University last week.    Shelby County saw its value increase to $10,237 from the year before’s $7,878.  In west central Iowa, Monona County saw the highest per acre increase at 32.9 percent, while Pottawattamie County saw the lowest but sti

    SHELBY -- Donna Rae Farrell, 90, Shelby, died December 25 at Myrtue Medical Center.    Services will be held Monday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Shelby Cemetery.  Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 2 from 1-5 p.m.