COUNTY – Shelby County will help fund a feasibility study and environmental survey for a company that plans to build a $4-5 million agricultural production facility, bringing full-time jobs to the region.    The Shelby County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $11,000 in funding for the study and survey for FiberFactor Feeds, LLC.  The monies will be paid out of the county’s economic development fund.    Formerly known as Iowa Agric

REGIONAL – Unique baby names continue to be the trend not only nationally but locally as well, as parents opt to identify their little bundles of joy with exclusive or uncommon names, or more common names with different spellings.    A child’s name can be a stressful decision for some new parents. Some parents name their children after family, history, pop culture, or just because the name fits the child.

Health conditions?    The district will offer accommodations for remote or online learning if a child, another resident of the child’s residence, or one of the child’s caretakers has a significant health condition that increases their risk for COVID-19.    The child’s parents or guardian must provide written verification from a licensed healthcare provider.    The programming provided will not necessarily be delivered by HCSD instructors or be

    HARLAN - Using new state guidance, the Harlan Community School Board weighed in  on the side of caution and voted on Monday, August 10 to proceed with a Hybrid Plan for grades 6-12 and a fully open, Face-to-Face classroom model for grades K - 5 for at least the first two weeks of the school year -- which starts Monday, August 24.     A key decision component was to give parents, guardians, students and teachers ample time to prepare for th

 HARLAN - High winds moved through the area the morning of Monday, August 10th causing downed tree limbs and flying debris.
In several locations, a tarp and large tree branches were blown into the 69kv transmission line that encompasses our community.  The circuit breakers in three substations did their job and were tripped around 9:30 a.m.

    COUNTY -- Non-profit agencies within Shelby County will have until the end of August to complete applications for funding from Shelby County Community Chest (SCCC). Funds from SCCC are made possible by the generosity of local donors to the SCCC annual fund drive which will be taking place this fall.    Shelby County Community Chest accumulates and then disburses the funds from this campaign to local non-profits for a single year.

    REGIONAL -- AHSTW Community School District, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton and IKM-Manning School Districts have all released Return to Learn plans on their respective school websites. AHSTW has set Thursday, August 20 as the first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year.         Both Exira-EHK and IKM-Manning have set Friday, August 14 as the first day of school for their districts.

    HARLAN – COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government handed down to states and then to individual school districts are being utilized by the Harlan Community School District to keep students and staff safe during the 2020-21 school year.    HCS Director of Finance Brian Gubbels said the district already has expended $58,955.27 of its total allotment on an extensive list of items including hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, safety partiti

    REGIONAL – Shelby County residents have turned out in a positive way to fill out the Census, but there are still many who have not done so.  It’s an important step in ensuring the community will receive its fair share of federal funds, grants and support for local hospitals, first responders, health clinics and many other programs such as the school lunch program and services for needy families.    To date, Shelby Countians have done well

    REGIONAL -- Shelby County’s population has decreased for another consecutive year since 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimates, but hopes are that efforts to attract business and develop affordable housing will reverse that trend in the near future.    The population has dropped from 12,169 to 11,454 over the past nine years.

Hand washing?    The district will educate students on appropriate hand washing protocol and encourage and promote healthy practices by allowing for frequent hand washing.
Sanitizing?    There will be hand sanitizing stations.  Each classroom will have hand sanitizer available and stations will be located at entrances and in common areas.
Visitors?    Visitor access will be monitored and limited.

    COUNTY -- Bacon Buddies, a new program that pairs people with special needs with 4-H and FFA members to show pigs, kicked off this summer and was considered a huge success.    The special needs participants had the opportunity to not only interact with livestock, but to show pigs in the main ring.

    EARLING – A cherished windmill damaged during heavy thunderstorms and straight-line winds back in 2006 is getting new life after being restored and erected last month on an Earling family farm.    On Wednesday, July 22, a crane operated by Tom Muenchrath lifted the vintage windmill into the air.  He was assisted by Gary Blum with a loader on the windmill base to prevent the legs from buckling as the 40-foot tower was raised from the ground

    SHELBY -- Marsha Hursey learned to sew by trial and error. A seamstress for more than five decades, her projects range from wedding dress alterations to making memory quilts. During the pandemic she has made more than 500 masks.    Hursey didn’t take her high school home ec teacher’s advice when she said Hursey had no talent for sewing. It just made her more determined to learn on her own.
 

    STATE --  The annual Iowa Sales Tax Holiday will take place this weekend on Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8.    Shoppers will be exempt from the seven percent sales tax within stores throughout the entire state of Iowa these days, thanks to a sponsorship from the Iowa Department of Revenue.    Sales of a single item with a price that is less than $100 only qualify for the exemption, but items that sell for more than that do not.