SHELBY COUNTY - Nominations
are now being accepted for Shelby County Citizen of the Year.
Nominees must be residents of Shelby County for at least one year, and have achieved excellence in service and volunteerism to the Shelby County Community.

SHELBY COUNTY — Shelby County State Bank (SCSB) announced today that it will consolidate operations and close its Irwin, Portsmouth, and Battle Creek branch locations, effective April 30, 2026 at 4:00 pm. 

HARLAN - An estimated 20,000 participants of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will stop over in Shelby County July 19, as Harlan was named the first overnight community for the 53rd RAGBRAI. 
Harlan Mayor Jay Christensen  and  other Harlan municipal representatives attended  the RAGBRAI Announcement Celebration Saturday, January 24 at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee. 

ATLANTIC — The Harlan Community Cyclones boys basketball team put together one of its most complete performances of the season Friday night, using a fast start and dominant second half to earn an 80–60 victory over rival Atlantic.
HCHS opened the game with energy as Colton Schneider knocked down an early three-pointer. 

NEOLA- The Harlan Community wrestling team competed in a deep field on Saturday and came away with several strong individual performances high-lighted by two second-place finishes by Chayton Snethen and Brody Bendorf. 

Rita Mary (Goetz) Doran was born on June 5, 1927, at the Goetz family farmhouse east of Westphalia, Iowa, to Joseph Bernard Goetz and Antonia (Schechinger) Goetz. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, where her faith was nurtured and remained an important part of her life.

Becky Lynn Kleffman was born on August 25, 1958, in West Point, Nebraska, to Robert Ahlers Sr. and Geraldine Thompson. She was baptized at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Orchard, Nebraska, and later attended St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Portsmouth, Iowa. Becky graduated from Wisner-Pilger High School.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Harlan Community Cyclones boys’ basketball team traveled to St. Albert on Friday night for a Hawkeye 10 Conference matchup, coming up just short in a 56–53 loss to the Falcons.
HCHS entered the game at 3–4 overall and 1–4 in conference play, while St. Albert came in at 7–3 overall and 3–1 in the league.
The Cyclones got off to a hot start behind Dallas McDowell, who caught fire early. 

HARLAN — The Harlan Community Cyclones battled throughout the game, but came up short in a 67–55 loss to rival Lewis Central on Tuesday night.
Lewis Central opened the game with a three-point-er, but HCHS responded quickly as Colton Schneider and Dallas McDowell helped keep the Cyclones close early. 
After trailing 8–5, McDowell tied the game and later scored a tough basket to give HCHS its first lead at 9–8.