REGIONAL -- Area cross country teams will compete in state qualifying meets this week looking to advance teams and/or individuals to the 2020 State Cross Country Meet set for Friday-Saturday, Oct. 30-31, in Fort Dodge. On Wednesday (Oct. 21), the Harlan Community girls and boys squads will travel to Spencer to compete in a Class 3A State Qualifying Meet at the municipal golf course.

 HARLAN (Oct. 22) -- After receiving a first-round bye on Tuesday, the Harlan Community volleyball team will open Class 4A regional play Thursday at 7:00 p.m., hosting Lewis Central (17-6) or ADM (3-21) in a Region 2 semifinal. The Cyclones, who finished the regular season 16-13 overall, have defeated both potential opponents.

 HARLAN (Oct. 16) -- The Harlan Community football team learned the identity of its second round playoff opponent on Friday night when Bondurant-Farrar defended its home field with a 14-7 first round win over ADM in Class 3A, Pod 15. HCHS, which earned a first-round bye, will host the Bluejays on Friday (Oct. 23) at Merrill Field. The second-ranked Cyclones will take a 7-0 record into their 39th all-time playoff appearance.

HARLAN -- Signs have popped up in Harlan during the last few weeks.

   HARLAN (Oct. 23) -- The Harlan Community football team shook off some bye-week rust on offense and got scoring help from the special teams and defense Friday night to handle Bondurant-Farrar 36-7 in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs at Merrill Field.

    REGIONAL -- The Iowa Western Community College Board of Trustees announced this week it has selected three finalists for the presidency of Iowa Western Community College.      “I would personally like to thank the entire College community for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next president,” said Brent Siegrist, chairman.

    COUNTY – Shelby County needs new representation on zoning boards after a change in state law mandates an adjustment in the make-up of those commissions to include only rural residents.    Shelby County Zoning Administrator Tony Buman said effective July 1, the legislature and governor signed into law legislation that requires two county boards be comprised of members who live in an unincorporated area, meaning outside any city limits.    H

HARLAN – It wasn’t officially a “snow quall” according to the National Weather Service until it reached further east of Harlan, but the beginning of the unexpected snow event had its origins in western Iowa, dropping four-five inches of snow in Shelby County early Monday morning, Oct.

    AVOCA -- The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded Avoca Main Street, Inc. a $75,000 grant for the Edward Carroll Building Project. Thirteen other Main Street Iowa communities also received grants.    “We are very thrilled and honored to receive funding for this important project in our Main Street District,” said Amber Mohr, Director of Avoca Main Street, Inc.