AREA -- Led by AHSTW’s 17 total selections, 50 players from the Harlan Newspapers’ coverage area have been recognized on this year’s All-District football teams. During the 2017 season, Harlan Community, AHSTW, IKM-Manning and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton combined for an overall record of 30-11, two district championships and three playoff berths. HCHS led the local charge by going 10-2 overall, winning the Class 3A, District 7 title with a perf

    HANCOCK -- Alden Krueger, 87, Hancock, died December 1.    Services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

    AVOCA -- Patsy Ann Nuzum, 50, Avoca, died November 23 in Harlan.    Graveside services were held Monday, Dec. 4 at 11 a.m.

    DUNLAP -- Marilyn (Schomers) Grote, 62, Dunlap, died Sunday, Nov. 26 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.    Services will be held Friday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dunlap.  Visitation with family was held Thursday, Nov. 30 from 4-8 p.m. at the St. Patrick’s Parish Center where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m.

HARLAN -- Beautiful weather greeted hundreds who turned out Saturday, Nov. 25 for the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony in downtown Harlan.  Participants got a chance to visit with Santa Claus, check out the downtown lights and climb on trains.  Refreshments were provided by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

HARLAN -- The remains of a body were discovered in a vehicle in southwest Harlan late Tuesday night, Nov. 28 following an explosion and vehicle fire in the back yard of a residence along Ridgeway Drive.    Shelby County Sheriff reports indicate at approximately 11:18 p.m., the Harlan Police Department, Medivac Ambulance, Harlan Fire Department and the sheriff’s office were dispatched to 4025 Ridgeway Dr.

Snowy Owls in the middle of the day in Iowa?  Numerous sightings have already occurred around Iowa this fall.  Every four or five years a large number of Snowy Owls head south, known as an irruption.  Researchers predict that this will be a good year to see Snowy Owls in the United States.    Irruptions typically occur following a summer with abundant food supply.  A Snowy Owl’s favorite thing to eat is a small furry animal called a lemming. 

COUNTY – Two Shelby County kindergartners are warming up hearts this holiday season through book and food drives, with all proceeds to be presented to West Central Community Action.    Brooklyn Hess, 5, the daughter of Brad and Staci Hess, Portsmouth, and Hunter Burmeister, 6, the son of Mitch and McKenzie Burmeister, Harlan, are excited for their donation drives.  The two say it’s important to give back to the community and they are doing it

    PARKER, TX -- Harold F. Smith, 86, Parker, TX, died November 17 in Texas.    Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 11 a.m.