COUNTY -- The Shelby County Board of Health is requesting that all Shelby County residents follow public health guidance to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.    These preventative measures include wearing masks in public, social distancing of six feet or more in public, and staying home if you are sick.    The Board of Health said as of November 10, positivity rates have risen to the current level of 24.8%, the 19th highes

    DUNLAP -- Lyro A. Knights, 89, Dunlap, died November 8 at Dunlap Specialty Care.    Services will be held at a later date.    Knights is survived by daughters Peggy Knights of Tekamah, NE, Rita Knights of Harlan, and Janae Schomers of Harlan; son Gail Knights of Iowa Falls; special friend Wally Auen of Denison; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is in charge of arrangements.

    SANTA FE, NM -- Word has been received of the death of Colleen LaPorte, 92, on November 9.    LaPorte is a former teacher and principal at St. Michael’s Catholic School in Harlan.  She is survived by nieces, nephews, friends and piano students.    Services are pending at Pojoaque Catholic Church in New Mexico.
 

    DUNLAP -- Ruth Rose Koch, 90, Dunlap, formerly of Earling, died November 8 at Dunlap Specialty Care.    A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Nov. 13 with burial in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Earling.  Visitation was held Thursday, Nov. 13 from 3-7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling.  A Catholic Daughters Rosary was held at 5 p.m.

    ATLANTIC -- Former Harlan resident Helen Schmitz of Atlantic will celebrate her 97th birthday on November 23. Her family is requesting a card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to Allen Place #127, 1406 E. 19th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022.    Helen’s family includes Janice and Bob Book, Atlantic; Jerry and Bev Wilson, Seattle, WA; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
 

    PANAMA -- Marlin and Phyllis “Tiny” Smith of Panama will mark their 40th wedding anniversary on November 22. Their family is planning a card shower in their honor.

   CEDAR FALLS (Nov. 12) -- The title game drought is officially over.
   For the first time since 2009, the Harlan Community football team is headed back to the Class 3A championship game following Thursday's dominating 44-7 victory over Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley in a semifinal game at the UNI-Dome.

 CEDAR FALLS (Nov. 12) -- Harlan Community and Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley have met three previous times in the football playoffs, but never this far down the road. That will change Thursday when the second-ranked and top-seeded Cyclones (10-0) face the surging Nighthawks (8-2) in a Class 3A semifinal at the UNI-Dome.

 HARLAN (Nov. 6) -- For the first time in three years and just the second time since 2011, the Harlan Community football team is headed back to the friendly confines of the UNI-Dome. Much like they have done all season, the 2nd-ranked Cyclones earned every bit of Friday night’s 21-14, Class 3A quarterfinal playoff win over No.