HARLAN — This past summer, HCHS band director William “Bill” Kearney got an unexpected email stating how the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton (E-EHK) students would be merging with the Harlan Community High School Band for this school year. The situation came about after the E-EHK band director, Cody Parmley, accepted a new position at the Harlan Community Elementary School.

HARLAN — “The Church on the Hill” (Congregational UCC/First United Methodist Mission Church) raised funds for Tori’s Angels Foundation as part of the church’s state mission project for 2025.Tori’s Angels Foundation assists Iowa families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition by paying for medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Harlan — The Western Iowa Arts Association (WIAA) and the Harlan Community Theater (HCT) extend heartfelt gratitude to Harlan and the surrounding communities for their generous support throughout the 2025 season.This year’s productions — The Last Five Years, Shrek: The Musical, the Kids Camp production of The Wizard of Oz, and the upcoming Home for the Holidays — have all been made possible through community patronage.

SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with TheSheriffapp.com to release a free app to the public.Users may download the app on a mobile device by searching in the App Store or Google Play Store, scanning the QR Code found at the right, or by visitng https://apps.myocv.com/share/a149051537 The app will have prompt information which can be sent to the public via not

SHELBY COUNTY — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with TheSheriffapp.com to release a free app to the public.Users may download the app on a mobile device by searching in the App Store or Google Play Store, scanning the QR Code found at the right, or by visitng https://apps.myocv.com/share/a149051537 The app will have prompt information which can be sent to the public via not

by Renée Brich, Managing EditorSHELBY COUNTY — A total of 1,560 of Shelby County’s 8,367 registered voters cast ballots in the 2025 City/School Election on Tuesday, November 4.In addition to selecting local officials, voters were asked to decide on two bond referendums—one for Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) and another for the IKM-Manning Community School District.The majority of Shelby County voters supported the $55 million IWCC bond,

AREA — The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition benefits to help low-income families afford food. However, benefits did not reach accounts as expected on November 1 after the U.S.

EARLING — Dan and Shirley Grote will mark their 50th wedding anniversary on November 8. The couple married November 8, 1975, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling.The Grote’s are the parents of four children: Kevin Grote (Jennifer) of Clive, IA; Diane Thies (Mike) of Omaha, NE; Greg Grote (Courtney) of Dallas Center, IA; and Brian Grote (Jaurel) of Earling, IA. They have also been blessed with eight grandchildren.

MANNING — For more than two decades, former IKM-Manning resource teacher Beth Hagedorn has helped save lives — not just through her own donations, but by inspiring generations of students to do the same.Hagedorn was recently recognized by the American Red Cross for her many years of service hosting and donating at blood drives — contributing more than 50 donations over the years.