HARLAN -- The first of of five legislative coffees will be held Saturday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Purple Door restaurant in Harlan.    Iowa legislators Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison) and Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) will be on hand to discuss the upcoming legislative session.

    AVOCA -- Eldon Bruce Riesgaard, 90, Avoca, died December 16 at Myrtue Medical Center.    Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Avoca with burial in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.  A prayer service will be held Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.  Visitation is Friday from 4-7 p.m.

    OAKLAND -- Dorothy Swope of Oakland will celebrate her 90th birthday on December 31.    Her children, Steve Swope, Oakland; Suzanne “Sue” Fischer, Atlantic; and Shawn Evans, Hancock; are planning a card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to Dorothy Swope, % Oakland Manor, 737 Highway 6, Oakland, IA 51560.
 

    SHELBY -- Aletha (Staub) Buck of Shelby will celebrate her 95th birthday on December 20. Her family is planning a card shower in her honor.    Cards will reach her if sent to 700 West Street, Shelby, IA 51570.
 

    WEST DES MOINES -- Shannon Coughlon and Michael Schwery both of Grimes exchanged marriage vows on September 28, 2019 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. The 2 p.m. double ring ceremony was performed by Father Mark McGeary.    Parents of the couple are Steve and Deb Coughlon, East Peoria, IL; and Ed and Wendy Schwery, Harlan.
 

    HARLAN – Harlan’s Matthew Van Baale was among 20 individuals recognized Tuesday, Dec.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community held Blue Out Friday, Dec. 13 to raise funds for and awareness of men’s cancer research.    The HCHS Cyclones split thrilling games vs. Denison-Schleswig with the boys winning 68-60 in overtime and girls losing a heartbreaker, 48-47.  (Photos by Mike Oeffner)

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan is the financial applicant for state funding that, if approved, will allow for the construction of bio retention cells near the back of Nishnabotna Valley REC’s property along Chatburn Ave.    The cells will manage the flow of water runoff at the REC and across the Harlan Golf and Country Club, First Baptist Church and residences in that area, officials said, which has been a problem during heavy rain events.  

    HARLAN – Work is expected to begin soon on the new Christiansen Meadows Development in north Harlan as proposed by Prairie Fire Development, a Kansas City firm that was been working with the City of Harlan and the State of Iowa for more than a year.    Final agreements have been signed on the housing project, a pre-construction meeting has been held, and dirt could be turned yet this early winter.