COUNTY -- The Shelby County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that grants totaling $103,870 were awarded to Shelby County nonprofit organizations and community projects as part of its spring grant cycle.    The following organizations were awarded grants by the Shelby County Community Foundation Advisory Board:    • Concerned, Inc., Automated External Defibrillator (AED),     $1,500    • Country Care Center Corporation,    Person

    HARLAN -- Tim D. Edgecomb, 55, Harlan, died April 26 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Friday, April 30 at 10 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  Visitation was Thursday, April 29 from 3-7 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m.

    AVOCA -- Carol Francis Young, 84, Avoca, died April 21 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services were held Monday, April 26 at 11 a.m. at Shelby United Lutheran Church in Shelby with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.    Young is survived by sons Phil Hobus of Avoca, Roger (Penny) Hobus of Avoca, Brian (Alina) Young of St.

HARLAN -- Having grown up in a natural health-minded family, Esther Arkfeld had always taken interest in the idea of alternative health options found in plants.    The Shelby County resident’s intrigue for the field came to full fruition four years ago, when she launched her natural health company, Stillwood Naturals, from her modern homestead in rural Shelby County, just northeast of Harlan.

 HARLAN -- A former all-state player and recent assistant coach has been hired as Harlan Community High School’s next head baseball coach. Heath Stein, a 2004 HCHS graduate, accepted the job on Friday, April 9, and officially became the head coach following school board approval on Monday, April 12.

 HARLAN (April 13) -- The meet didn’t end on the brightest of notes, but Harlan Community still put forth a strong showing on the home track Tuesday night as part of the annual Cyclone Ken Carstens Boys Invitational. Treynor and Lewis Central paced an 11-team field with five gold medals apiece and also scored the most points as the Cardinals would up winning the team title over the Titans by a slim 133-130 margin. HCHS won three events and fin

 HARLAN (April 12) -- A promising start and a halftime lead still didn’t result in Harlan Community’s first win of the boys soccer season Monday night as Kuemper Catholic rallied past the Cyclones for a 2-1 win at Merrill Field. The Knights scored two goals in the first nine minutes of the second half to erase Harlan’s 1-0 advantage, then held firm defensively the rest of the way to win their season opener. HCHS, meanwhile, slipped to 0-5 over

    DOW CITY -- Mrs Lavern (Estelle) Leinen of Dow City observed her 99th birthday on April 16. She celebrated her 99th birthday in her home with family.    Her children include Philip, Larry, Mary (Jostes), Vincent, Joan (Gould) and Dolores (Shaw).    Estelle is the oldest resident of Dow City. She is one of the last remaining U.S. Navy W.A.V.E.S. veterans from World War II.

    ELK HORN -- Roland “Rollie” Hansen of Elk Horn will celebrate his 85th birthday at an open house on Sunday, April 25 from 1:30 - 3 p.m. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church (downstairs dining room). Friends and relatives are invited to attend.