PORTSMOUTH -- The family of Mary Ellen Reisz is planning a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday on October 19. Cards will reach her if sent to P.O. Box 171, Portsmouth, IA 51565.    Her family includes Joan and Keith Potter, Harlan; Phil Reisz, Portsmouth; the late Carol and Randy Musich; Peg Patten, Storm Lake; and John and Pat Reisz, Bellevue, NE. Mary Ellen has 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

    FRENCH CREEK, WV -- Hannah Winfree of Oberlin, OH and Robert Galo of Lakewood, OH were married on June 25, 2016 in an outdoor ceremony in a scenic hollow near French Creek.    The bride’s cousin, Pastor Matthew Winfree, performed the 5 p.m. double ring ceremony. 

    HARLAN – Hands-on learning is exciting, as evidenced by the popularity of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Club participation this fall at the elementary and middle schools in the Harlan Community Schools.    Having a chance to cook homemade meatloaf, interact with nature, construct wind turbines or build a go-cart are just a few of the opportunities that greet the more than 130 students who have signed up for after-school

    HARLAN -- Customers of the Harlan Municipal Utilities may see a drop in their gas bills this winter, depending on usage, due to a drop in the cost of natural gas.    Doug Hammer, Director of Marketing and Stakeholder Relations at HMU, said this week that the price of natural gas will drop 20 cents per 1,000 cubic feet (MCF), or about 4.3 percent, compared to last year.

    REGIONAL -- Protect yourself, your family and community this season with an annual flu vaccine for everyone in your family who is six months and older.    Shelby County Public Health officials say it’s that time of year again where local residents should consider getting a flu shot.  A number of flu vaccine clinics have been held and will continue to be held through the rest of October into November (see schedule).    While the timing of f

    HARLAN – The City of Harlan has signed off on a project spearheaded by volunteers to implement a sound system in downtown Harlan.    The Friends of the Downtown group has worked tirelessly during the past year to fundraise and obtain grants for the project, which will see the installation of a sound system – speakers on the corners of the Harlan downtown square.  Music will be played through the speakers, which also can be utilized as a PA

 HARLAN -- It was arguably one of the top-quality wins of the year for the Harlan Community volleyball team. Starting strong and finishing in the same manner, the Cyclones needed just four sets to take down a Clarinda team above them in the Hawkeye Ten standings Thursday night, winning 25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16. HCHS served just under 96 percent with seven aces (to just four errors) and compiled a kill efficiency of .265 against an opponent w

 HARLAN -- In the span of a week, Harlan Community has gone from fighting for its playoff life to trying to avoid the basement of Class 3-A, District 7. A frustrating football season reached a new low point Friday night as HCHS was soundly defeated by Winterset, 47-21, at Merrill Field.

 TABOR -- Fremont-Mills proved every bit as good as advertised here Friday night, scoring six first-half touchdowns and taking advantage of crucial Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton mistakes to beat the Spartans 50-21 in a battle for the District 7 lead. The top-ranked (8-Player) Knights improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in district play while Exira-EHK slipped to 4-3 and 4-1, respectively - tied with CAM for second place going into another important ga