HARLAN – Budgeting issues will monopolize this year’s Iowa legislative session, as legislators discuss how best to handle built-in expense increases with less-than-expected revenues.    Those words come from Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison) and Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) who met with constituents Saturday, Dec.

COUNTY – Shelby County this week approved a first reading of an amendment to its winter road maintenance ordinance that, if approved, would spell out financial penalties for residents who push snow into the roadway.    A second reading of the amendment will be presented at the county board of supervisors’ January 4 meeting.    In essence, the amendment calls for penalties for rural residents who push snow from their lanes across the roadway, l

    HARLAN -- If you shovel it, they will come.

    HARLAN – The annual Christmas Adoption program is coming to a close, but there are more than 50 families still needing to be adopted this holiday season.    Dena Matthews with West Central Community Action, said it’s hoped many of the remaining families will be adopted for Christmas later this week.  “But for those who do not get adopted, we are still requesting monetary donations so that we may provide the “unadopted” families with gift c

    PORTSMOUTH -- Gerald L. Waltz, 84, Portsmouth, died December 20 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portsmouth with burial in the St. Mary’s Cemetery at Portsmouth.  A wake service will be held Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.

 DENISON -- The offense was still sporadic at times, but Harlan Community coach Zach Klaassen is doing his best not to complain about 28-point victories. On Friday night at Denison-Schleswig, defense remained a constant for the third-ranked (4-A) Cyclone girls, who swiped 18 steals using a mix of 1-3-1 and 2-3 zones and defeated the Lady Monarchs 50-22 in a Hawkeye Ten game that did not count toward the conference standings. Seniors Taylor Fre

 DENISON -- For the Harlan Community boys basketball team, the bridge between high potential and high performance is a little bit of patience. The Cyclones aren’t hitting on all cylinders just yet, but the tools are in place for a big season. On Friday night, HCHS finished the first half on a 13-2 run and continued to pull away after the break, posting a 65-44 conference win at Denison-Schleswig to improve to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Hawkeye

 RED OAK -- AHSTW, Harlan Community and Kuemper Catholic all finished with 2-1 records while host Red Oak was 0-3 in a quad wrestling meet held Thursday. Most of the duals came down to the final match, including AHSTW’s 37-34 win over HCHS in round one. The Vikings started and finished the dual with technical fall wins by Tim Barr at 170 pounds and Gabe Pauley at 160, winning seven of 12 matches overall.

 MANNING -- Kyle Wagner led IKM-Manning with 25 points, 12 rebounds and four steals as the Wolves improved to 4-0 Friday night with a 72-43 win over Tri-Center. Ben Wegner also had a big night for the Wolves with 18 points and eight rebounds, Jared Vollstedt added 10 points, 10 assists and three steals, Jon Brandt chipped in nine points and Austin Dahlgren had six points and 10 rebounds.