The Harlan Police Department reports three people were taken into custody last Friday, Oct. 18th, after a loud explosion was heard in the city. Officers were called to investigate the noise and a search warrant was issued for 1807 5th Street. Following the investigation, 25 year old Michael Hall, 47 year old Thomas Carney and 41 year old Pamela Frieze, all of Harlan, were arrested on numerous charges.

All three suspects were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, prohibited act penalties and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hall faces additional charges of possession of stolen property and reckless use of fire or explosives. Carney was also charged with possession of stolen property.

Also last Friday, 27 year old Steven Riley of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop. Riley was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant stemming from an incident in July where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia. As a result of the traffic stop, Riley was charged with driving while revoked, carrying weapons, prohibited acts, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Shelby County Jail.

The Harlan Police Department is investigating two separate thefts that took place over the past week. On Tuesday, October 15th, Jeron Henschied of Harlan reported his 1998 Buick Park Avenue was stolen from a parking lot at 6th and Hill. This past Monday, Randy Davis of Harlan reported a cement deer lawn ornament was taken from his residence in the 500 block of 5th Street. Both cases remain under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say no injuries were reported following a two vehicle accident that took place about seven-miles southeast of Audubon Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say an SUV driven by 64 year old Gary Lee Borkowski of Carroll was traveling north on County Road N-36 at the same time a car driven by 30 year old Nicholas Brooks Peck of Audubon, was traveling westbound on 220th Street.

The vehicles collided when at the intersection when Peck failed to yield from the stop sign.  The accident took place around 12:50pm. Damage from the crash amounted to $4,000. Peck was charged with failure to yield.

Two fires that took place Monday night in Jefferson are being investigated as cases of arson. Authorities told Raccoon Valley Radio, a fire destroyed a Greene County School bus parked at the bus barn on the fairgrounds in Jefferson, at around 8:45pm. Three-hours later, a structure fire damaged a four-story concrete storage building in the 700 block of North Elm Street, in Jefferson.

There were no injuries reported. An investigator with the State Fire Marshall’s Office was expected to in Jefferson to determine how both fires started, but officials say the preliminary causes are suspected to be arson-related.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening and received an update on various district capital improvement projects. Superintendent Dana Kunze told KJAN News the track project is nearly complete. All that’s left is seeding around the area, and the board is trying to decide whether to take care of that yet this fall, or next spring. There’s been no new developments on the boiler project. The board is waiting for design specifics before any decision is made.

Kunze said the Board also authorized a project which was added to the agenda, for asphalt work on the parking areas at the Lewis School building. He said they also received and approved a bid from Landon Preston, of Griswold, for snow removal. And, the Griswold Board authorized Kunze to assemble a package for the offering of an early retirement package for district staff.

Kunze said also, he briefed the Board on the district’s Certified Enrollment numbers. The numbers showed a loss of about 17 students from last year, for a total enrollment this fall of 576. He says the general population continues to drop, and while they’d like to see open enrollment numbers turn around, there is no consistent reason for a decline that he can pin-down.