HARLAN -- Myrtue once again has been named one of the 100 highest-ranked Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the United States by The Chartis Center for Rural Health.    This annual award is in its 10th year of honoring rural hospital performance. Myrtue is the only Iowa hospital to receive this award nine years in a row and is among only seven other CAH hospitals in the U.S. that have received nine times.

 ALTOONA -- Harlan native Lynn Cadwell and former Irwin coach Gary McElmuray were among four men inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Association’s 2020 Coaches Hall of Fame class on February 28 at the IFCA “Clinic of Champions” Awards Dinner at Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel.

 HARLAN -- Two Harlan Community seniors, Jayden Gessert and Darren Stein, recently signed their letters of intent to join the women’s and men’s bowling programs, respectively, at Morningside College in Sioux City. Gessert averaged a 158.5 score as a senior and rolled a high game of 234, helping the HCHS girls qualify for their second consecutive state tournament.

    STATE -- On March 21, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Public Health released updated isolation guidance for all Iowans.

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Municipal Utilities on Friday, March 20 re-assessed its operational decisions as related to the COVID-19 pandemic.    CEO Ken Weber made this statement:    “HMU operations continues to comply with federal and state recommendations regarding the coronavirus.     “We said in our release of March 17th we would assess where we stood with the office closing and issue new information today.     “The HMU office will remain cl

    COUNTY -- Governor Reynolds issued a proclamation on March 19, that waives late penalty on property tax payments through April 16, 2020, to help give some assistance to Iowans dealing with the impact of COVID-19’s arrival in our state, says Shelby County Treasurer, Carolyn Blum.    Payments must be postmarked by April 16, 2020 or paid online at www.iowatreasurers.org by April 16, 2020 to avoid a

Where to get the latest information --
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry Facebook pageHarlan Newspapers Facebook Pagewww.myrtuemedical.orgwww.idph.iowa.govwww.harlanonline.com

    I chided my parents “Depression mind set” about saving every scrap of worthwhile goods for a rainy day -- money, food, furniture or that knotted ball of twine in the corner of the garage. I’m starting to gain a greater appreciation of the whipsaw they went through in their teens during the Depression.    They too had an invisible enemy that was very difficult to tame.

    COUNTY – Shelby County has approved a disaster declaration due to the confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus in Iowa, United States and worldwide.    The Shelby County Board of Supervisors Thursday, March 19 declared a state of emergency authorized under Iowa state statute.  The declaration allows for the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, invokes all mutual aid agreements, and the applying to the state for assistance.