CEDAR RAPIDS -- Perhaps it’s a sign of things to come later this week, or simply a validation of why the Harlan Community volleyball team is back at state for a fifth straight year to begin with. This much is certain: there have been more experienced, state champion Harlan teams with more firepower that did not play as composed and business-like in their state opener as the 2015 Cyclones did Tuesday inside the US Cellular Center. Trailing onl

 CEDAR RAPIDS -- Janelle Sears of Westphalia was recognized prior to Harlan Community’s first round state volleyball match Tuesday as the school’s recipient of the Iowa Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award. 

    REGIONAL – Needy families will get some help from generous donors this holiday season as part of the annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas program in Shelby County.    The Christmas season is just around the corner and a few families already are signed up for adoption.    Since the program was first started 58 years ago by the Harlan Newspapers, more than 3,900 low-resource families in need of assistance have had a merrier holiday season.  In 20

HARLAN -- Sam Bladt thanks veteran Ken Olson of Harlan for his service following the Harlan Community Elementary School Veteran’s Day program Wednesday morning.    Programs honoring local veterans were held in the elementary and at the middle/high school on Veteran’s Day last Wednesday, Nov. 11. (Photo by Kim Wegener)

Highlights from State games in Sports!

COUNTY – Lonnie and Joann Rose called it “experiencing four seasons” all in one day last Wednesday, Nov. 11, as a powerful storm system rolled through the Midwest, including Shelby County, causing damage in its path.    The two were home when a suspected tornado raced through their property at 512 Juniper Rd, just southwest of the Harlan airport, at about 2 p.m.

    HARLAN – The search for a new city clerk/finance director to serve the City of Harlan has begun, following action by the Harlan City Council last week to hire HR-OneSource as consultants to coordinate the efforts.    At a cost of upwards of $15,000 to the city to utilize the search firm, city officials had good conversation about the pros and cons, and ultimately decided that the position is very important one for the community, and a prof

    HARLAN – Harlan’s City Council this month forgave a $11,550 balance of a fire response bill to ROV Holdings, LLC, and pledges to re-assess the city’s need for the city’s uniform fire billing ordinance.    The council voted 5-0, and Harlan City Administrator Terry Cox said Harlan residents can expect changes.

    AVOCA -- Joan “Jo” Maxine Miller, 84, Avoca, died November 11 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan.    Services were held Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m.