A man from Nebraska was killed Wednesday afternoon when the SUV he was driving collided with a semi, near Hastings, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol identified the victim as 66-year old Carlos Alvarez, of Omaha. Officials say Alvarez was traveling west on Highway 34 just east of 350th Street at around Noon, when his 2012 Ford Escape crossed the center line of the road and collided with an eastbound 2012 Kenworth semi driven by 27-year old Chase Alm, of Griswold, and registered to Alm Farms of Griswold. Alvarez died at the scene. Alm was not injured. The Highway remained closed for several hours following the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests occurred Tuesday. 21-year old Thomas James Bertelsen, of Glenwood was arrested at around 2:20-a.m. on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Driving While Revoked. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, 39-year old Roy Allan Tyson, of Omaha, was arrested at around 9:30-a.m., on warrants for Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft in the 1st degree, Fraudulent Practice and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. His bond was set at $55,000.

Residents in the City of Harlan who let their dogs run at large will pay a more significant fine. The Harlan City Council Tuesday approved two ordinances pertaining to dog laws in the city with one being heftier fines. The owner of the animal will see a $100 fine for the first offense with the 2nd offense, $200 and the 3rd, $300. A fourth fine would lead to a fine of $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Vicious dogs At Large fines also will increase with the 1st offense $200, 2nd offense $300, 3rd $400 and 4th $500 or imprisonment. Other fines added into the ordinance include: A $25 fee for impounding on the first offense, doubling to $50 for the 2nd and $75 thereafter.

In other business, the Harlan City Council held two public hearings during their meeting. The first was on re-zoning a residence in Harlan so the owner can build an apartment complex. The residence at 1401 7th Street had to be placed in an R-3 Medium Density Residential zone in order for the apartment complex to be structured. The council heard no public comments, closed the hearing, dispensed with the 2nd and 3rd hearings and approved. The other hearing was for the 2013 Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The council did not have any comments from the public, closed the hearing but did not approve a bid. City Administrator Terry Cox informed the council the city only received one bid and it was $80,000 over budget. The Harlan City Council tabled the item for 30 days.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The City of Harlan has announced they will be receiving a new K-9 for the Harlan Police Department. Following a few fundraisers, Officer Tim Pedersen recently gave an update on the movement for the Department to purchase the dog. He told the city the department has raised $11,500. The cost for the dog is $5,500, $2,000 for a new kennel and the remainder of the funds will be used for miscellaneous expenses. The city is expecting to receive the dog within the next two months and training will begin in October.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)