Snowy Owls in the middle of the day in Iowa?  Numerous sightings have already occurred around Iowa this fall.  Every four or five years a large number of Snowy Owls head south, known as an irruption.  Researchers predict that this will be a good year to see Snowy Owls in the United States.    Irruptions typically occur following a summer with abundant food supply.  A Snowy Owl’s favorite thing to eat is a small furry animal called a lemming. 

COUNTY – Two Shelby County kindergartners are warming up hearts this holiday season through book and food drives, with all proceeds to be presented to West Central Community Action.    Brooklyn Hess, 5, the daughter of Brad and Staci Hess, Portsmouth, and Hunter Burmeister, 6, the son of Mitch and McKenzie Burmeister, Harlan, are excited for their donation drives.  The two say it’s important to give back to the community and they are doing it

    PARKER, TX -- Harold F. Smith, 86, Parker, TX, died November 17 in Texas.    Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 11 a.m.

    HARLAN -- Larry Edward Buttry, Sr., 81, Harlan, died November 22 at Elm Crest Assisted Living.    Services were held Monday, Nov. 27 at 11 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.    Buttry is survived by sons Larry (Denise) Buttry, Jr.

SHELBY – Former Shelby resident Alicia Rau of New York City played her trumpet at the TD Garden in Boston Nov. 18 along with some celebrity special guests.

COUNTY – Shelby County has agreed to serve as the fiscal sponsor for grants received by the Shelby County Trails Committee, should it be fortunate to receive the grant monies the committee is applying for during the next few months.    The county’s board of supervisors unanimously approved the request by the committee for the county to serve as fiscal sponsor – specifically acting as a pass through for funding received and paying bills associa

HARLAN – A 50-year-old Harlan woman was killed early Thursday, Nov.

200 in grants have been awarded to Shelby County nonprofit agencies by the Shelby County Community Foundation, it was announced this week.  With these grants, the foundation has distributed nearly $2.4 million in grants and scholarships during the last 20 years.    The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Shelby County Community Foundation by the September 1 deadline, were awarded grants by the Shelby County B

    DEFIANCE -- Mike Kimmen of Defiance will celebrate his 80th birthday at an open house on Saturday, December 9 from 1-3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Defiance.