HARLAN -- Francis “Frank” J. Murtaugh, 88, Harlan, died Sunday, March 4 in Harlan.    Services will be held Monday, March 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan with burial of ashes in the Harlan Cemetery.  A wake service will be held Sunday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at the church.  A rosary will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at the church.  Friends may call Sunday from 4-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Jacqueline V. Jensen, 91, Harlan, died March 2 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services will be held Saturday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan with burial in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery in Elk Horn.  Visitation is Saturday from 9-10:30 a.m.

    SHELBY -- Lula Margaret Pingel, 108, Shelby, died March 3 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services were held Thursday, March 8 at 10:30 a.m. at United Lutheran Church in Shelby with burial in the Shelby Cemetery.  Visitation was Thursday from 9-10:30 a.m.

    HARLAN – Music students from Harlan Community High School are headed to the warmth of Florida next week to showcase their vocal and instrumental skills at Disney World.    Traditionally, every four years the marching band has blasted off for sunny Orlando for the Disney trip, to have some fun and to march down Main Street at Magic Kingdom.  This year’s trip is a little different, as it is a combined vocal and band excursion, and students f

    HARLAN – Harlan property owners will see a tax levy decrease this year as part of a proposed budget to be considered by the Harlan City Council Tuesday, March 13.    A public hearing on the proposed $8.58 million budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year will be Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center Board of Trustees approved a proposal to lower the current tax levy rate from $1.22 to $1.20792 per thousand taxable valuation for 2018-2019. The unanimous board approval was given following no written or verbal comments or objections at the Tuesday public hearing.     According to MMC CEO Barry Jacobsen by lowering the levy rate by one cent the funding will remain the same as the current year.

    HARLAN – Shelby County’s tax asking will increase an estimated $90,750 under a budget proposal expected to be adopted by the Shelby County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, March 13.    A hearing on the 2018-19 county budget will be held at 9 a.m.

    PORTSMOUTH -- Lloyd Pauley of Portsmouth will observe his 80th birthday at an open house on Saturday, March 24 from 1-4 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Portsmouth. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. He requests no gifts.    Hosting the celebration will be his children. Cards will also reach him if sent to 321 1150th Street, Portsmouth, IA 51565. 

    HARLAN -- George Kenkel of Harlan will mark his 80th birthday on March 12. He plans to celebrate with his family.