AVOCA -- Donna M. Bylund, 87, Avoca, died January 27 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital.    Services will be held Friday, Jan. 31 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Walnut with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  Family greeted friends Thursday, Jan. 30 from 4-7 p.m.

 CLARINDA (Jan. 16) -- Andrew Andersen bowled a 264 high game and William Funke had a 257 on Thursday, but it wasn’t enough as the Harlan Community boys bowling team lost a dual at Clarinda by the final of 2,788 to 2,663. The Cyclone girls also came up short, falling 2,257 to 2,133. Both HCHS squads are now 1-3 against Hawkeye 10 competition.

 RED OAK -- The Harlan Community girls placed first and the boys took second at the Red Oak Bowling Tournament held last Tuesday (January 14). The Cyclone girls finished with a total team score of 2,394, closely followed by Red Oak (2,362), Lewis Central (2,325) and Shenandoah (2,306). Creston came in last with 2,068 pins. Shenandoah won the boys’ half of the meet with a team score of 2,919 total pins.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community High School hosted Pink Out activities Friday, Jan. 24 during the boy/girl doubleheader basketball game vs. Clarinda.  A number of activities were planned to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research.  Above, Sarah Strom, a breast cancer survivor, spoke to the crowd about the importance of self exams.  Here she is with her story board on display in the hallway. 

    HARLAN -- The City of Harlan will open a yard waste disposal site this spring for city residents to take their yard waste to for disposal free of charge.    The site is scheduled to be open March 15, and is for City of Harlan residents only.  The site is only available for waste from residential areas -- no dumping by any business or commercial user is allowed.    Harlan City Administrator Gene Gettys, Jr.

    COUNTY -- Shelby County businesses are being asked to update their contact information with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency.    Emergency Management Director Alex Londo said the updated information is needed to make sure the county has the correct information should an emergency situation arise at a local business, especially after hours.    Business owners are asked to log on to the emergency management website, and click on

    HARLAN – A Harlan man is questioning the feasibility of the Harlan Municipal Utilities continuing to offer telecommunications services after its board approved loaning it more surplus revenues from the electrical department.    Mike Anliker addressed the Harlan City Council Tuesday, Jan.

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan is moving forward with updating it’s comprehensive plan, signing off last week on an agreement with Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) to coordinate the project.    A comprehensive plan is an official public document adopted by resolution that sets forth its major policies concerning the future development of the community.  The city will pay SWIPCO $18,000 to coordinate the comprehensive plan update, the

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan has been notified that it did not receive state funding that, if approved, would have allowed for the construction of bio retention cells near the back of Nishnabotna Valley REC’s property along Chatburn Ave.    Harlan City Administrator Gene Gettys, Jr.