The HCHS Marching Band made a surprise visit to the Dr. Don, Laurel and Jack Klitgaard home early Wednesday morning for a special concert.

    ELK HORN – Grace on Main Restaurant in Elk Horn has been honored as Rural Operator of the Year by the Iowa Restaurant Association.    On November 16, the association will present its annual state hospitality awards at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines.

    COUNTY -- Shelby County Community Chest (SCCC) has kicked off its annual fund drive to support a variety of area non-profit agencies.    Since 2004, Shelby County Community Chest has served as a collection basket for community organizations by seeking donations from area residents which are then disbursed as grants to local non-profits to help them fulfill their missions.    This year, the Community Chest is also introducing its new slogan

    MANILLA -- Just southwest of Manilla on the Crawford-Shelby County line is a 450-acre gift to Iowans who love to be outdoors.    Vern and Wilmer Petersen Wildlife Area is the former Petersen farm that was donated to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 1993 to provide public outdoor recreation all year long.    The rolling prairie with small woodlots on the southwest and north side surround a two-acre pond.

   REGIONAL -- Iowa’s recently completed annual pheasant survey is great news for hunters – statewide, Iowa averaged 20.2 birds per 30-mile route, up significantly from 2019, with six of the nine survey regions averaging more than 20 pheasants per route, the most since 2007.    “Pheasant hunters should expect significantly better pheasant numbers in 2020,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Reso

    COUNTY – Shelby County has signed off on a five-year agreement extension through the Shelby County Board of Health with Myrtue Medical Center to provide public health services to the county and its residents.    Shelby County will provide funding to support/implement public health services for the next five years beginning July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026.  Funding will be $185,000 in the first year, $180,000 in year two and $185,000, $1

    STATE -- The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) are updating guidance for long-term care facilities to comply with new requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).    This updated guidance aligns with federal regulations to balance resident and staff safety with quality of life.    The guidance allows flexibility and additional clarity around allowable

SHELBY COUNTY CONFIRMED CASES:  310Recovered:  275  
Negative:  1,815 
Pending:  5

Leroy, owned by Tim and Dianne Blum, is all tuckered out after spending the day watching trick-or-treaters at Nishna Bend Recreation Area Saturday, Oct. 10. It was a fantastic event.

Lots more photos in this week's NA available on Thursday, courtesy of Eleisa Preston. Won't want to miss her great photos!

GREAT CONCERT by the UNO Jazz Ensemble this week. First tune features HCHS and Harlan Jazz Experience Alum Ben Rihner! Also on bass is Henry Tomsu, who has ties to Shelby County as his mom, Tami, is an Earling native. Give this a look as the group sounds fantastic! Musicians from the Harlan area doing great things at the next level!
 

    HARLAN – A former Harlan City Council member and his son have petitioned the City of Harlan for a public vote of the citizens via special election to discontinue operation of and dispose by sale the Harlan Municipal Utilities Telecommunications Department.    Operating and net income financial losses, and borrowing from the utility’s electric department via an intra-utility loan, make it impractical to continue, said Mike Anliker and Aaron

HARLAN -- Harlan Firefighter Kristi Pederson shows first-grade students at Harlan Community Primary how she would find someone and carry them out of a burning residence.  This youngster is Payton Jurgensen, daughter of Michael Jurgensen and Cheyanne Jurgensen.  This week is Fire Prevention Week, and local firefighters spoke to students about the importance of fire safety.

    COUNTY -- Shelby County will pay $25 each for beaver tails from November 7-April 15 as part of an ongoing effort to minimize the damage the critters cause to roadways and structures throughout the county.    The county’s board of supervisors re-authorized the bounty this month, with a total dollar limit outlay of $5,000.