HARLAN -- Students in the Harlan Community Schools were paid a visit from firefighters with the Harlan Fire Department, who talked about fire safety as part of Fire Prevention Week activities in Harlan. 

    ELK HORN -- On Monday, Oct. 5, the Museum of Danish America closed on the purchase of land that adjoins its current property, adding five acres to its grounds.    The land, purchased from the recently-dissolved First Baptist Church with the help of the congregation and a number of individual donors, is the site of the former Elim Children’s Home. 

    HARLAN -- The City of Harlan has filed a petition in Shelby County District Court this month, seeking title to an abandoned property located at 1014 Broadway St.    According to court documents, the defendant is Paul E. Berkley, 1410 7th St. Apt. #2, Harlan.  Also named in the petition are an unknown spouse of Paul E.

    COUNTY -- Every five years in Iowa, local boards of health lead a community-wide discussion about health needs and decide what can be done about them.    A Shelby County community health survey has been developed and is open for the public to complete.      Public opinion is an important step in this planning process. Your time and input is valued, Myrtue Medical Center officials said.

    SPRING, TX -- Former Harlan resident Stella (Bissen) Hodapp of Spring observed her 93rd birthday on October 3.    Her family is requesting a card shower in her honor. Cards will reach her if sent to 75 Marabou Pl., Spring, TX, 77380. She resides with her daughter, Jeanie.      

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- All in all, it was a busy and successful Tuesday night in Council Bluffs for the Harlan Community volleyball team. Playing seven rapid-fire sets within a three-hour window - four of them highly competive - the Cyclones handled their own business first by winning a Hawkeye Ten triangular vs. St.

 CRESTON -- Barring any upsets elsewhere in District 8, the Harlan Community football team can actually clinch a playoff berth Friday night with a win at Creston/Orient-Macksburg. And considering all the struggles of last year’s 3-6 campaign, that’s a good place to be when it’s only Week 7 on the schedule. Bringing that victory back to Harlan may not be easy, however, when the 7th-ranked (3-A) Cyclones tackle an unranked Panther team that has

 WOODBINE -- Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s Evan Wilson was the overall boys champion and the Spartan girls were conference team champions at Monday’s combined Woodbine Cross Country Invite and Rolling Valley Conference Meet held at the Woodbine Athletic Complex. Area teams IKM-Manning, AHSTW and Exira-EHK were all part of the meet, which saw the Underwood girls and Tri-Center boys win team titles. The Exira-EHK girls placed third in the overall

    MANILLA -- Ray “Bubba” Sorensen of Greenfield was in downtown Manilla last week painting the Crawford County Freedom Rock. Sorensen began painting on Sunday and expected to have it completed by the end of the week.