REGIONAL -- The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says flu activity in Iowa is increasing, prompting IDPH to increase the level of geographic spread of influenza from local to regional spread.    All three flu viruses covered by this year’s vaccines - influenza A (H3), influenza A (H1N1), influenza B (Victoria) - are currently circulating in Iowa.

    COUNTY – The Shelby County Compensation Board will meet this month to discuss salary compensation for the county’s elected officials.    The date and time has yet to be determined.    Members of the compensation board are selected by the elected officials they represent and include: Ron Rosmann (supervisors), Ron Goodside (supervisors), Tim Meyer (treasurer), Randy Conrad (recorder), Rod Baxter (sheriff), Frank Powers (attorney), and Sandr

    HARLAN – Considering an Iowa retirement soon?  Already live in Harlan?  Well, you’re in luck…according to some “experts,” this is the place to be in your senior years if you live in Iowa.    Real estate website findthehome.com partnered with msn.com recently to rank the “most fun” places to retire in every state, and Harlan tops the list in the state with “fields of opportunities.”    In addition, smartasset.com recently published a study

    AVOCA -- Many residents of Avoca and nearby communities were shocked to receive a letter in the mail indicating their pharmaceutical services would be switching to another provider. Carley Drug, a storefront occupying Avoca Main Street for over 45 years, is closing January 29, 2016.    Many residents immediately reached out to Ronda Holst, longtime Carley Drug employee.

    HARLAN – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating reports of land application of process wastewater potentially entering a stream after receiving numerous telephone calls from concerned citizens.    A contractor was land applying wastewater from Essentia, a processing facility in Harlan (Shelby County) under its chapter 200 license, which is issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

    REGIONAL – The Iowa Department of Education released its Iowa School Report Card Wednesday, Dec.

    HARLAN -- Myrtue Medical Center Trustees in an October meeting heard their CPA tout that MMC had another very good year of operations which ended on June 30, and that over the past 15 years they have had an amazing consistency in operations.        But five months later, finances have changed and MMC is looking at a variety of options to handle a revenue dip that as of Nov. 30 showed a net income loss of $597,389.

    REGIONAL – The annual weather summary from the Farmers Almanac says this winter will be warmer than normal with less snow than average.    If December is any indication of the rest of the winter months to come, then the almanac may be a little off.  Lots of snow and bitter cold temperatures have hit the area in late December and early January.    However, the almanac paints a picture of a late December to mid January freeze, with colder-th

    HARLAN -- Lyrick Chron Cardine is the first baby born in 2016 at Myrtue Medical Center.  The son of Eugene Cardine and Kimberlee Green, Harlan, arrived at Myrtue on Friday, Jan. 1 at 4:17 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces.    Lyrick has three siblings -- Nicholas, 1 1/2; Paxton, 4; and Lyncoln, 3.    Mary Lou Tremel, Earling, scored the closest time of birth when she guessed 2:37 a.m.

    COUNTY – Shelby County has signed a five-year agreement with Myrtue Medical Center to provide community health services for the county.    Costs will begin at $130,000 in the first year, and raise by $10,000 increments over the five years to $170,000 in the fifth year.  The agreement comes on the heels of a three-year agreement at $100,000 each year between the medical center and Shelby County.    Providing the services at that rate create

    COUNTY – The well-being of Shelby County children continues to be better than average, according to the National Kids Count Initiative sponsored by the Annie E.

    Shelby – Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at the Shelby Depot in Shelby at 7 p.m.    An election for positions on the board of directors will be held.  Members will be voting for three board members this year.

    COUNTY -- Gene Gross, chairman of the Shelby County Community Foundation, announced that approximately $108,000 in grant funds are available for local nonprofit organizations and that applications are due no later than February 1, 2016.      Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa.

    COUNTY – Farmland values in Shelby and surrounding counties dropped significantly during the past year, following a statewide trend that has seen values drop for the second consecutive year.    Average Iowa farmland value is now estimated to be $7,633 per acre.   Per acre value declined $310, or 3.9 percent, since last year’s survey.

Four factors play into father / son survival
    • Was going into work later that day, instead of first thing in the morning.    • Uncharacteristically decided to scoop her walk in the middle of a snow storm.    • Had a gut feeling, that someone had to be in the house.    • Remembered the house layout and had a good idea where the bedroom was.