HARLAN – Harlan property owners will see a decrease in their tax levy this year as part of a proposed budget approved by the Harlan City Council Tuesday, March 8.    A public hearing on the proposed $8.32 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year was held Tuesday with no comments from the public.  The Harlan City Council approved the measure 5-0.    Harlan’s tax levy will decrease approximately 21 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation, from

MILLARD, NE -- Richard “Dick” Serp, Millard, NE, died March 7 in Omaha.    Funeral services will be Saturday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Rockbrook United Methodist Church in Omaha with visitation Friday, March 11 from 5-7 p.m.

    HARLAN -- Harlan Community Schools elementary students had fun this week participating in Read Across America Week, celebrated in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday March 2.  Students had fun dressing up in character and reading during the week.

HARLAN – Twenty Harlan Community High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) students have qualified for the national conference to be held in Boston, MA May 5-8.    The 2016 national leadership conference, This is Our Time, will welcome more than 5,000 conference delegates from across the nation to participate in national level business skills competitions, workshops, general sessions, and the national officer candidate campaigns and

    COUNTY – The poor and needy in Shelby County are helped in numerous ways by local taxpayers under a county relief ordinance last reviewed in 2008.    General assistance is available to families or individuals who are poor and needy, when their own means, relatives or other public or private resources does not support the person.    General relief is a short term emergency assistance program that is understood to be the “payer of last resor

    KIMBALLTON -- Tom and Kay Schechinger of Harlan announce the engagement of their daughter, Nicole Kay to Todd Joseph Shults both of Westphalia. Todd is the son of William and Kathy Pickens, Harlan.    The couple will wed on April 2 in a ceremony at the Cottonwood Barn in Kimballton.

    ASHLAND, NE -- Bruce and Julie Goeser of Harlan announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelli to Jason Florell both of South Bend, NE. He is the son of Eugene and Barb Florell, Elm Creek, NE.    The couple will exchange marriage vows on April 2 at the Ashland Golf Club.

    HARLAN -- Denny and Nancy Greer of Harlan will mark their 35th wedding anniversary on March 14. Their family includes Ryan and Christina Pearson, Omaha; Dena and Paul Lucci, Denver, CO; Beckie Greer, Scottsdale, AZ; Angie Hansen, Sioux Falls, SD; Christy and Matt Bandy, Urbana, OH; and Jeana and Denny Gross, Harlan.    Denny and Nancy have 15 grandchildren. The Greers are engaged in farming.

    HARLAN -- Jim and Judy Zea of rural Avoca will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at an open house on Saturday, March 19 from 2-4 p.m. in the fellowship hall at the First Baptist Church in Harlan.             Hosting the celebration will be their children. Friends and relatives are invited to attend.