MANILLA -- Ray “Bubba” Sorensen of Greenfield was in downtown Manilla last week painting the Crawford County Freedom Rock. Sorensen began painting on Sunday and expected to have it completed by the end of the week.

Images from HCS Homecoming 2015

    HARLAN – Republican Presidential Candidate Bobby Jindal Tuesday called this year’s election “the most important election in our lifetime,” while stumping in Harlan and visiting with approximately 30 local residents who turned out at a town hall meeting at Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative.    The Louisiana governor said the reason for his statement is many-fold, and pointed to the policies of the current administration for the

    HARLAN -- The cost for natural gas from Harlan Municipal Utilities for the upcoming winter heating season is the same as last year, according to Doug Hammer, Director of Marketing and Stakeholder Relations at HMU.    “In 2012, we signed a multi-year agreement to purchase natural gas at $4.59 per thousand cubic feet,” said Hammer.  “This means the cost of gas for this heating season will be the same as it was for last year.    “Our philosop

    REGIONAL -- While the Iowa influenza season typically starts in November and peaks in January or later, flu can begin any time of year.    The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Shelby County Public Health Department at Myrtue Medical Center urge everyone to get their annual flu vaccination as soon as possible.    “Since it takes up to two weeks after vaccination for the body to have the full protection from the flu virus, bei

    HARLAN -- Alex Assmann and Jessica Klein were crowned Harlan Community High School Homecoming 2016 king and queen during coronation ceremonies at HCHS Friday afternoon, Oct. 2.  The two then presided over homecoming activities including the parade and pep rally downtown and the HCHS football game vs. Winterset Friday night.  See more photos in Friday’s NA.

    REGIONAL -- After being one of Iowa’s first community newspaper websites in 1999 and offering the first Shelby County app in 2012 (our e-edition) the Harlan Newspapers is going through its third modification of its Harlanonline.com website this month.    Harlan Newspapers Co-publisher Alan Mores said the new site will offer a variety of new and free services such as a free archive search of online articles going back to 1999; easier naviga

    HARLAN -- Harlan street lights are slowing being replaced by energy efficient LED bulbs with nearly three-fourths of the community completed.    Harlan Municipal Utilities set aside $90,000 each year for the replacement effort and have at least another year of work to do.    HMU hopes to present their board with the 2014-15 audit at their next board meeting, scheduled for Thursday, Oct.

    HARLAN – Kathy Mahlberg has been named president of the Harlan Community Schools Board of Education for the upcoming year, as nominated and approved by fellow board members last month.    Mahlberg, the current board president, was re-named to the position on a 6-0 vote.  Board member Lonnie Muxfeldt was named vice-president. 

    HARLAN – Fire Prevention Week is October 4-10, under the theme this year “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep.  Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!”    Location matters when it comes to a smoke alarm.  Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, the Harlan Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) this week to remind local residents about the importance of having working

    HARLAN – Myrtue Medical Center Behavioral Health will host a community wellness event Thursday, Oct.

HARLAN -- Vernon Lee Hansen, a Harlan native and 1968 graduate of Harlan Community High School, was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Iowa band “Freestyle,” at Lake Okoboji on September 6.    He was primarily the sax player with that band, but got his start playing the trumpet while a student in Harlan. He played trumpet in the Harlan Band and at Drake University.

    HARLAN -- Homecoming week at Harlan Community has a number of activities, including the popular dress-up days for high school students.  Tuesday was twins/duo day.

    HARLAN -- The Harlan Community is ready to celebrate homecoming this week, under the theme “Lion King – Welcome to the Pride Lands.”    There’s plenty of excitement in the air as the Harlan Community Cyclone football team readies to meet Winterset in a Friday night match-up, hoping to get another win after starting its season 4-1 with wins over Denison-Schleswig, Carroll, Lewis Central and Atlantic, and its lone loss to Dallas Center-Grime

    ELK HORN -- The City of Elk Horn, with Southwest Iowa Planning Council, is accepting applications from homeowners for the Elk Horn Housing Rehabilitation Program through October 30.