Not everyone trapped by alcohol is an alcoholic.  Families and friends are suffering too.  Do you worry about how much someone drinks?  Al-Anon can help.  Meetings are Sunday Nights from 7 to 8 pm at the lower level of St. Michael's Rectory, the Centennial Room, in Harlan.

​Need a ride?  Southwest Iowa Transit Authority - SWITA - is now available online - swita.com.  Through the website you can schedule a ride, setup your student's transportation for the upcoming school year, schedule medical transportation, schedule work routes for you employees, schedule a special trip, check rates and make payments on your account.

The Shelby County Food Pantry needs donations. Donations can be made year round at the West Central Community Action on 7th Street in Harlan. Both non-perishable food items and non-food items can be donated.

​ The Harlan Senior Center is open for in-house dining.  Home delivery meals are $3.75.  To reserve/order, please call the Senior Center at 755-2757 by 9:15 am the day before your meal.   To cancel a meal you have ordered, call the Senior Center at 755-2757 by 9:15 am the day before your meal is reserved.  

Hansen House Senior Living will be holding an Alzheimer's Support Group every fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 to 11 am and an Alzheimer's Education Class every first Thursday of the month from 4:30-5:30pm.  Both the group and class will be held at Hansen House Senior Living.  Also every second Tuesday from 6 to 7 pm, Myrtue Medical Center will hold an Alzheimer's Support Group, presented by St. Croix Hospice.  This will be held at the Medical Center business entrance on Garfield in Harlan.

​----------
Friday, September 30th - 
HERE’S A FRIENDLY REMINDER FROM CAROLYN BLUM, SHELBY COUNTY TREASURER – THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES ARE DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH.  TO AVOID PENALTY ON THE FIRST INSTALLMENT, PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE TREASUER’S OFFICE OR POSTMARKED BY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2022.  PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED ONLINE AT IOWA TREASURERS DOT ORG OR BY CALLING THE TREASURER’S OFFICE AT 755-5847 EXTENSION 2.  PAYMENTS MAY ALSO BE POSTED ONLINE BY E-CHECK FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A POSTAGE STAMP.  JUST 25 CENTS PER TRANSACTION!  CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ARE ALSO ACCEPTED ONLINE.  ALL CITIZENS OF SHELBY COUNTY ARE INVTED TO VISIT THE WEBSITE WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOUR CONTY TREASURER 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
---------
Saturday, October 1st - 
JOIN THEM FOR THE FUN AND FESTIVITIES AT OKTOBERFEST 2022 AT MANNING HAUSBARN HERITAGE PARK ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST.!  ENJOY A DELICIOUS GERMAN MEAL CATERED BY HY-VEE AND MUSIC BY BAREFOOT BECKY AND THE IVANHOE DUTCHMEN.  DOORS OPEN AT 5 PM, THE KEG WILL BE TAPPED AT 5:30.  DINNER RESERVATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH WEDNESDAY SEPT 28TH, BY CALLING 712/655-3131.  DINNER PLUS ENTERTAINMENT IS $25.  ENTERTAINMENT ADMISSION AT THE DOOR IS $15.  OKTOBERFEST 2022, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST AT THE MANNING HAUSBARN HERITAGE PARK.

Originally scheduled for September 10th, but postponed due to rain, the Walk to End Alzheimers will be held this Saturday, October 1st at Pioneer Park in Harlan.  Registration is at 9 am with the walk beginning at 10 am.  Come and raise funds and awareness to help end this disease.  Visit alz.org/walk for more information.​

Sunday, October 2nd - 
The last kayaking event of the season at Prairie Rose State Park will be held on Sunday, October 2 at 4:00 p.m.  We will meet on the east side of the lake and east side of County Road M47.  Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets will be provided.  We will go over some paddling basics and then kayak for a while.  Anybody under the age of 12 must be accompanied on the water by somebody over the age of 16.  If winds are 30 mph or more, we will cancel.

Monday, October 3rd - 
The Harlan Community Library will hold After School  Activities from 3:30 to 4:30.  There will be a kid's movie - Spies in Disguise.

The Harlan Lion's Club will  host a Mobile Drive-Thru Food Pantry Monday, October 3rd from 4:30 until all the food is gone.  The event will be held at Veteran's Memorial Building at 1104 Morningview Drive in Harlan.  Please enter from 12th street, you will be directed where to line up.  There is a limit of 2 boxes per vehicle, to serve a total of 300 households.  There will be 1 box of non-perishable food, 1 box of produce, 1 loaf of bread plus frozen meat purchased by the Lions Club.  If you have questions, call Sharon at 579-0286.  The food pantry is open to everyone.  

Tuesday, October 4th - 
The north parking lot of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce building will be closed due to work on electrical wires above the lot on Tuesday, October 4th and Wednesday, October 5th.   A;; Chamber visitors are asked to use the Iowa Western Community College parking lot on the south side of the building, enter through the south doors of the college and then proceed to the chamber office.  If you have any questions, call 755-2114.

The Harlan Community Library Read-In will be held 10:30 to 4:30 - Read for Ukraine.  Tech time will be held at 3 pm  and the Bookworms will meet from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Wednesday, October 5th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have Story Time at  10 am.

A free Welcome to Medicare seminar is being offered by the State of Iowa's senior Health Insurance Information Program and the Harlan Senior Center, Thursday, October 13th, from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Therkildsen Activity Center in Harlan.  The seminar will cover Medicare Parts A & B benefits, Prescription Drub Benefits - part D. Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Identify Medicare Fraud, Errors and Abuse.  Registration is required by October 5th.  Call 755-2757.​

Thursday, October 6th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have LEGO Challenge Night at 6:30 pm

Friday, October 7th -
It's the first Friday of the month and that means that it's Popcorn Fri-Yay at the Harlan Community Library.

Sunday, October 9th - 
St. Michael's Parish in Harlan will hold their Harvest Dinner, Sunday, October 9th, from 11 to 1:30 at the Rosman Parish Center.  You can dine-in or drive-thru for your meal of Staley's Broasted chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, a dinner roll and assorted dessert bars.  Cost is $15 for adults, kids 3 to 8 years old $5 and kids under 3 are free.  Get a $1 raffle ticket for your chance to win some great prizes, too.

Monday, October 10th - 
The Harlan Community Library will host After School Activites from 3:30-4:30 and there will be a Library Board of Trustees Meeting at 5:15 pm.

Tuesday, October 11th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have a Library and Lunch B ook Club at  12 noon; Tech time will be held at 3 pm; Bookworms will meet from 3:30 to 4:30 pm; and there will be an Ault Program: Visiting the Beyond with  Curt Strutz at 4 pm.

Wednesday, October 12th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have Story Time at 10 am.

The Immanuel Lutheran Church Women's Group invites you to their annual luncheon /bazaar to be held Wednesday, October 12th.  Serving time for the traditional turkey casserole, salad, vegetable, dessert and beverage meal is 11 am to 1 pm.  Carry out is available.  Cost is $12 with tickets available from church members or the church office or at the door.  The bake sale/craft store opens at 10:30 am.  Quilts made by the Immanuel Lutheran Church women will also be for sale.
​
Monday, October 17th - 
After  School Activities will be held 3:30 to 4:30 pm at the Harlan Community Library.

Tuesday, October 18th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have Tech Time at 3 pm and Bookworms from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Wednesday, October 19th  - 
The Harlan Community Library will hold Story Time at 10 am.  Also at 10 am, they will have the Classic Movie "Gattaca."

Thursday, October 20th -
The Harlan Community Library will host their Adult  Creative Writing Group at 5 pm.  Family game night will start at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, October 22nd - 
Cass County Conservation is hosting their 7th Biennial Lighted Halloween Campground, Saturday, October 22nd at Cold Springs Park in Lewis from 7 to 9 pm.  This event is a great, non-scary, family friendly free drive into the night!  Prizes will be for the top 3 voted sites, and for some special categories.  Sign up to decorate a site in their lighted Halloween campground.  Deadline for decorating a site sign up is October 14th and the groups will have October 22nd from noon on to decorate.  If you choose to camp overnight, camping will be free.  Call the Cass County Conservation office to get involved at 712/269-2372!

Monday, October 24th -
The Harlan Community Library invites you to OWLS - at the Harlan Senior Center starting at noon.  The topic is "Who was Doris Day."  After School  Activities will be held at the library starting at 3:30 pm.

Tuesday, October 25th - 
The Harlan Community Library will hold Tech Time at 3 pm and Bookworms from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Wednesday, October 26th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have Story Time at 10 am and the 5 o'clock Somewhere Book Club will meet at 7 pm.

Thursday, October 27th - 
The Harlan Community Library will have White  Elephant Bingo at 6 pm.

Saturday, October 29th - 
Harlan's 21st annual Harvest Festival will be held Saturday, October 29th.  This year's theme is "Beach Party".  There will not be a parade this year, but it will kick off at 10 am with the $1 Movie at the Harlan Theatre.  They'll also have a petting zoo, kids' games, costume contest for kids and pets, Harlan Library's Spooky Storytime, face stickers and free hotdogs served with free lemonade or hot chocolate, depending on the weather.  They're also bringing back the cookie decorating.  And something new this year, the Hansen House Train.

The Harlan Community Library will have Spooky Story Time on the  Square at HarvestFest from 10:30 to 1 pm.

Monday, October 31st - 
The Harlan Community Library will close at 5 pm.