MARSHALLTOWN -- Harlan Community junior Aurora Miller broke her own school record in the 100-yard breaststroke while competing for Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln in the 2021 Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet held November 12-13 at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA. Miller and HCHS junior Elaina Vrchoticky both competed in one individual state event as well as one relay for the Lynx after qualifying through regionals on November 6. Miller entered

    IRWIN -- Kathleen Joyce Fries, 82, Irwin, died November 30 at her home.    Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Kirkman.  Visitation is Saturday from 10-11 a.m.

    MOVILLE -- Harold P. Kloewer, 87, Moville, died Tuesday, Nov. 23 at the Correctionville Specialty Care.    A funeral mass will be held Saturday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. at Sts. Peter Catholic Church in Defiance with burial in the St.

    ELK HORN -- Andrew Stephen Kissel, 85, Elk Horn, died November 24.    Services will be held at a later date.    He is survived by his wife, Fern; children John, Michael (Christy) and Karen; brothers Dave and John; and four grandchildren.

    CHARLES CITY -- Betty Lusk, 76, Charles City, formerly of Harlan, died Friday, November 26 at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.    A funeral service for Betty Lusk will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at First Baptist Church in Charles City with burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Floyd.    Visitation will be held at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec.

    REGIONAL -- In the next several years, underserved internet customers in western Iowa will be served with Marne Elk Horn fiber internet after the company completes fiber projects in the region.    The company announced today that they have accepted the $4.5 million grant award from the Empower Rural Iowa    Broadband Grant program, which was announced in September, as well as the locations of the fiber projects they will be doing.    Accor

    AVOCA -- Buena Vista University (BVU) and the Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tennant-Walnut Community School District (AHSTW) have united in a Strategic Partnership, working together to strengthen their communities.    This agreement allows employees of AHSTW, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost of education while enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus.

    REGIONAL -- In this charitable season, dropping a donation locally into the red Salvation Army kettle, you know your goodwill stays in Shelby County to help your neighbors in need.      The local SA committee members like Marian Greer-Stokes, Salvation Army Committee Member and Special Project Coordinator, will ensure that all contributions are used wisely.

   EARLING – Work has begun on a stream mitigation bank project on Mosquito Creek along the east edge of Earling, with the goal being to prevent future erosion and provide flood control for the community.    Shelby County Conservation Director Nick Preston said the conservation board, City of Earling, Shelby County Board of Supervisors and JEO Consulting have partnered since 2018 in the planning and development of the stream mitigation bank on