COUNTY – The eyes of the nation will be upon the State of Iowa once again Monday, Feb. 3 for the Republican and Democratic Caucuses, and Shelby County will be included in the national media spotlight.    Republican caucus participants will elect delegates, alternate delegates and junior delegates to the Shelby County Republican Convention.

    HARLAN – An Avoca man has been charged with lascivious acts with a child and assault following an alleged incident in Harlan January 1.    Trent Allen Nielsen, 34, 913 Grandview Rd., Avoca, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and 30 days in jail, with an additional fine of $10,625 if convicted of the class C felony and simple misdemeanor charges against him.

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors unanimously has approved a resolution allowing for the master matrix to be utilized in the county in regards to livestock confinements.    The approval again this year came with some conversation, with the continued thought there has to be some changes in regard to public hearings about confinements.

    HARLAN -- The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Harlan area.    This study will geographically define which communities contribute to Harlan’s workforce, regardless of political boundaries. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns.
 

 AREA -- The 2019-2020 winter sports season will resume Friday (January 3) with three area girl/boy basketball doubleheaders on the docket. Harlan Community will host Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, IKM-Manning will host Missouri Valley and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton will play at Ar-We-Va.

 HARLAN -- The Harlan Community Athletic Booster Club Hall of Fame inductees for the 2019-2020 school year are Kevin and Suzanne Goshorn of rural Harlan. The Goshorns were recognized prior to the HCHS vs. Red Oak boys basketball game on Friday, December 20. The Goshorns are the parents of two daughters, Nicole and Brooke, and have been very active booster club members, serving on the board of directors from 2011-2017.

 AVOCA -- AHSTW senior Kinsey Scheffler became the school’s all-time girls basketball leader in career rebounds last month, breaking the school mark of 543 previously held by Casey Peters during the Lady Vikes’ December 13 home game against Audubon. Scheffler enters January with 573 career rebounds and is averaging 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as a senior for AHSTW, which will take an 8-1 record into its January 7 home game vs.