COUNTY – Temperatures nearing 100 degrees for an extended period of time last week and weekend claimed its first victim in the form of a buckled county road in northern Shelby County.    County engineer Dan Ahart said the hot temperatures caused a portion of Linden Road north of County Road F24 to buckle.  It’s not an uncommon site when the heat gets excessive for a longer period of time.    “We weren’t surprised at all,” Ahart said after

    HARLAN – Harlan has been awarded a 2016 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Iowa Economic Development for downtown building façade improvements.    The state’s grant amounts to $299,750 (50 percent) toward the total project cost of $514,500.  The city will provide a portion of the total project percent cost, $117,375, while building owners doing projects will be responsible for $97,375 of the cost.  City officials said word t

    HARLAN –  As Randy Pash grips the steering wheel hundreds of feet above ground, he observes the land reaching for the horizon in front of him.    “I just love being up in the air and having control of the airplane,” Pash said. “[I love] looking at the earth from a different perspective. It is really a great experience.”    Growing up around planes, it was fate when Pash fell in love with flying in high school.

    ELK HORN -- JoAnne Sanders, 84, Elk Horn, died June 13 at Myrtue Medical Center.    Private services will be held at a later date.    Sanders is survived by nephew Bradford Chambers of Gainesville, GA, and niece Kim Vrana of South Bend, IN.    Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is in charge of arrangements.

    BATTLE CREEK -- Harlan native Helen Henry of Battle Creek marks her 90th birthday on June 26. Her family is planning a card shower in her honor.    Cards will reach her if sent to Willow Dale Care Center, 404 1st Street, Room 309, Battle Creek, IA 51006.

    HARLAN -- In the late 1940s, Chuck Smith could be found playing “farm” with his brothers in the grove at the age of 10. With walnuts as pigs and acorns as horses, he would dig fields in the dirt.    Now, 65 years later, he’s still playing farm, but with decades of toys.

HARLAN -- “Are you Ralph?” Clarence Coenen asks a new Golden Kiwanis member. “Would you like some more coffee?”    As men and women gather at the American Legion building in Harlan every Wednesday for the Golden Kiwanis meeting, they can’t help but show up early.    One of the earliest tends to be Dallas Havick. Entering with a mission, he heads straight to the table to start coffee.

HARLAN -- Two individuals were injured in an accident involving two semis on Highway 59 north of Harlan Friday, June 10.  Shelby County Sheriff’s officials report that the accident occurred about 3:07 a.m. near 1200th St., and both drivers were transported to Myrtue Medical Center for treatment.  The drivers were Barry Shumate, Dow City, and Harold Hilliard, Coushatta, TX.

    HARLAN -- Roberta Golden points out where the motor is on the display tractor to Shawn Shouse at the Kids Farm Safety Day Camp in Harlan Friday, June 10.    The annual Myrtue Medical Center/Progressive Agricultural Safety Day for kids 8-13 years old stresses ag safety.