RURAL HARLAN -- Rodney and Rhonda Knudson of Harlan announce the engagement of their daughter, Tara to Colton Clack both of St. Louis, MO. Colton is the son of Brian and Diane Clack, Hillsboro, MO.    The couple will exchange marriage vows on May 11 at Altamont Baptist Church in rural Harlan.

    PORTSMOUTH -- Robert Grote, 96, formerly of Portsmouth, died Thursday, March 14 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.
See a PDF below of their obituary, if one was provided by the family or funeral home.

    WESTPHALIA -- William Goetzinger, 67, Westphalia, died Wednesday, March 13 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services are pending at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan. 

    IRWIN -- Richard Dean Straw, 58, Irwin, died March 9 at his home.    A memorial service will be held at a later date in Nebraska City, NE.    Straw is survived by his father, Richard Straw, of Nebraska City; daughters Catherine (Jorge) Broca of Lincoln, AL, Jessica (Jason Wiley) Straw of Lincoln, and Kindra Straw of Lincoln; son Rickie (Stephanie Clark) Straw of Lincoln; sisters Susan Holm of Defiance, Vicki Straw of Detroit Lakes, MN, Den

To the citizens of Shelby County,    Approximately 22 months ago, the State Auditor’s Office was contacted by Shelby County’s legal counsel, Michael Galloway, requesting a special investigation to review various payroll issues and policies governing various Shelby County departments.  Although the process took some time to complete, we believe the review was thorough and it demonstrated that the process of engaging an independent review was th

Improper paid leave, improper payroll and improper vacation buy-back payments identified

    COUNTY -- Heavy rains this week, slightly warmer temperatures and a rapid snow melt and thaw due to the rain created flooding conditions throughout Shelby County and the region on Wednesday, March 13.    Wednesday night the City of Harlan ordered a mandatory evacuation of Westridge Acres Mobile Home Park and the southern homes on Exchange St.  Two shelters were set up -- one at Vet’s Auditorium and the other at the Community Health buildin

    COUNTY -- Shelby County early Thursday morning, March 14 passed a resolution of necessity placing an embargo on all of the county’s gravel roads.    Load limits of 10 tons are placed immediately on all granular surfaced roadways within Shelby County.    It’s the first time since 2010 an embargo has been enacted, but then it was a limited embargo.  County officials are calling this week’s snow melt, rain and release of frost from the ground

 DES MOINES (March 12) -- Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s career record holder in steals and assists added another title to his name this week as senior Cole Burmeister was named second team All-State by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. The IPSWA announced its 2019 boys basketball all-state teams on Tuesday following a selection meeting in Des Moines last Saturday. In addition, Bettendorf’s D.J.