AREA — When teams take the field for the big game on Sunday, there’s no doubt who Kasey Christensen will be cheering for. Kasey is a Chiefs fan, and through the Make-A Wish-Foundation®, he recently met his favorite player, reigning Super Bowl and National Football League MVP, Patrick Mahomes. Kasey was raised in a Chiefs family, his mom, Keri said. “I have been a Chiefs fan for years, so has my dad.

 SHELBY COUNTY — As we navigate through life, the strands of who we are intertwine with those of others and form relationships of the tightest and strongest fabric. Each year, the Mother of the Year Award recognizes one mom from each state across the U.S.

 HARLAN — The Harlan Community Middle School honored the life and memorialized the legacy of a teammate and friend.

HARLAN — For decades, Alvin K. Woodraska, Jr. brought the magic of movies to the Harlan community. Woodraska, former owner of the Harlan Theatre and the Harlan Drive-In, passed away Sunday, January 21. He was 89 years old. Woodraska was born in Aberdeen, SD. He served in the Air Force for five years. Following his stint in the service, he attended barber school. There he met and married Dixie Backer in 1958.

 HARLAN —  There was a shortage of truck drivers throughout the United States in 2023, and according to the American Trucking Association, a new record high deficiency in drivers is forecasted for 2024.

HARLAN — Starting on January 1, 2024, the Harlan-based food hub formerly known as FarmTable Procurement and Delivery has transitioned into a new non-profit corporation called Farm Table Delivery.

 STATEWIDE — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has proposed an overhaul to the state’s nine area education agencies (AEA) that provide special education, media, and additional support and expertise to schools throughout the state. Gov. Reynold’s proposal would redesign the funding structure of the AEA, streamline services offered, and create new oversight.

 History compiled by Seth JohannsenHARLAN — Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan is planning a free public recital featuring music preformed by organist Stephen Bartelt, current Dean of American Guild of Organists Omaha Chaper on the church’s newly rebuilt pipe organ. The concert will be held at the church, located at 1700 19th St. in Harlan at 1 p.m.

 MANNING — A former IKM-Manning middle school reading teacher accused of sexual abuse has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. While employed with the school district, Cassidy Sue (Branning) Kraus, 24, allegedly “enaged in multiple sexually oriented acts with three different students, the youngest of which being 13 years old,” according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Kraus was arrested in October, and charged with Sexual Abuse i

HARLAN — Solutions for today’s challenges may lie within the unseen and unexplored trials. When Ezekiel “Zeke” Q. Christensen, a 16-year-old sophomore, signed up for the new iJAG class at Harlan Community High School in the fall of 2023, his friend mentioned it was an easy class with field trips.

 SHELBY COUNTY — Donald Trump won “The first in the Nation” Republican presidential caucus held throughout Iowa on Monday, in the coldest caucus on record. The former president secured 69% of the 477 votes cast in the Shelby County caucus, held at Veterans Auditorium. Florida Gov.

 HARLAN — Nori Griffith has joined the Harlan Newspaper staff as a graphic designer. Griffith received a Bachelor of Science in Media Communications with an emphasis in animation from John Paul the Great Catholic University north of San Diego, CA in Escondido in August 2023. Prior to attending college, she lived in Idaho and Nebraska, and was born in North Carolina. Her parents are both from Iowa and met attending Iowa State University.

 While searching through the digital archives of the Harlan Newspapers, I stumbled across a story from December 27, 1911. “Santa Claus Girl makes good report”, the headline read, “Christmas cheer bestowed on one hundred and twenty-six Harlan children” underneath. The article began by saying the week before Christmas, “The Santa Claus Girl” told her friends she wanted their help so no child in Harlan would be missed by Santa Claus.

 SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, is pleased to announce that grant applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in Shelby County. As part of this spring grant cycle, approximately $135,000 is available to support Shelby County nonprofit organizations and community projects.

 HARLAN — The wall by the Christmas tree in the home of Patrick and Lorene (Lori) Pucelick is full of family photos. “We have one son, Lucas,” Patrick said. “And our daughters are Clara and 14 others.