COUNTY – Four Shelby County businesses have been awarded grants from the Iowa Economic Development Authority as part of the state’s Iowa Small Business Relief Fund, as announced by Iowa Gov.

STATE -- Iowa’s peak COVID-19 date has been moved up two days to May 5, according to projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.    But late June remains the first time projections show the state should be able to relax social distancing measures with strict mitigation guidelines in place.    On Friday, April 24, Iowa Gov.

    HARLAN -- The Board of Trustees at Harlan Municipal Utilities approved the temporary $3/hr.

    EARLING -- Multiple fire departments, law enforcement and rescue personnel were called to Earling about 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 27 after an explosion at the Earling gas station.  As of press time there were few details, but there were injuries and significant damages to the building. Medical personnel met LifeNet helicopter in Harlan, which transferred an injured individual to the city for treatment.

GRIMES -- Melanie Scheuring, 35, Grimes, died April 19 at her home.    A private family service was held Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Sts.

    HARLAN -- Betty Markham of Harlan celebrated her 98th birthday on April 17.

HARLAN -- A blaze destroyed a building at the Iowa Agriculture Bio-Fibers business, 1918 900th St.,  east of Harlan Tuesday evening, April 21.  Firefighters were called to the scene at approximately 9:19 p.m., and upon arrival found this building to be fully engulfed with flames.  Departments from Harlan, Elk Horn, Kimballton, Irwin, Kirkman, Walnut and Avoca, along with Medivac, helped at the scene.  Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen said the ca

    COUNTY -- Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell joins Secretary of State Paul Pate and auditors across Iowa in encouraging voters to cast absentee ballots by mail in the upcoming June 2 primary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail is the safest option.    Pate is sending absentee ballot request forms to every active registered voter in the state.

 SIOUX CITY -- Former area standouts Jordyn Moser and Sophia Peppers helped lead the Morningside College women’s basketball team to 23 wins this past season as the Mustangs made their 18th consecutive appearance in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Moser, a 5-foot-5 senior guard and 2016 graduate of Harlan Community High School, led the team with 119 assists and 78 steals, ranking among the top 31 nationally in both categories. Peppers