COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Viola M. Brown, 93, Council Bluffs, formerly of Harlan, died Wednesday, Aug. 9 in Council Bluffs.    Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Harlan with burial in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Kirkman.   Friends may call Friday, Aug. 11 from 1-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m.

    MINDEN -- Joseph Daniel Lehan, 77, Minden, died August 7 at his home.    Services will be held Friday, Aug. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola.  A rosary was held Thursday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at the church.  Visitation was held Thursday from 5-8 p.m.

    OMAHA, NE -- Jacqueline Jane Moon, 87, Omaha, NE, formerly of Harlan, died August 6.    A family burial will be at the Elkader, IA cemetery at a later date.    Moon is survived by her son, Todd Moon, of Waukon; daughter Jill (Kurt) Powers of Omaha; grandson Tim Moon of Elizabeth, IL; great-grandson Aiden Moon; granddaughter Stephanie (Justin) Papka of Alexandria, VA; brother Merrill (Elaine) Smith of Mt.

SHELBY --     Verna and John Christensen lived lives that could be called congruent far before they were married.    They went to the same church, had the same mutual friends, and had children who were in school with each other.

REGIONAL -- Areas of western Iowa are lacking rain in what has been an uncharacteristically dry summer season.    “It’s a pretty typical year until you get into June and July, where the rainfall numbers really started to go downhill,” said Iowa’s State Climatologist Harry Hillaker.    The state of Iowa often relies on heavy, wide-spread rainfalls that cover up to 10 or 12 counties and at times, in bigger systems, up to 1/3 or 1/2 of the state.

COUNTY – Local governments in Shelby County have debt obligations totaling $36.7 million, most of which can be attributed to the City of Harlan and Harlan Community Schools.    Much of the school’s debt, totaling $10.9 million as of June 30, 2016, directly correlates to construction projects, namely paying off its primary building project.  The city’s debt obligations total $22.9 million, and include the Harlan Municipal Utilities’ debt.    Ot

    REGIONAL -- Depending on what area you’re in, it’s a pretty average season for the crops in Iowa.    Randy Pryor has been fortunate. Areas around western Iowa have had differing levels of luck with rainfall, causing some dry pockets in areas around the state such as Harlan.

PANAMA -- Janice Marie Hoffmann, 67, Panama, died August 6 at Methodist Hospital.    Services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Panama with burial in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Panama.  A rosary will be held Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Parish Center in Panama.  Visitation is Tuesday from 5-8 p.m.

WALNUT -- Services are pending for Avery Michael Chapman, son of Ashley and Michael Chapman, Walnut.  Avery was stillborn Friday, July 28 at Methodist Women’s Specialty Care Hospital in Omaha, NE.    Avery is survived by his parents; brothers Adam and Ashton; sisters Alexis and Adalynn; maternal grandparents Randy (Eva) Neese of Walnut; and paternal grandfather Dana “Richard” Cook of Casey.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca is in charge of