Officials in Shelby County say 4 people were arrested in connection with the theft that took place on September 8th at the Shelby County Speedway. KJAN’s sister station KNOD says the Harlan Police Department reports 26 year old Zachary Scheffler, 27 year old David Coenen, both of Harlan and 19 year old Kaitlyn Stessman of Defiance, were all charged with 1st degree theft. In addition, 18 year old Zachary Kloewer of Harlan was charged with possession of stolen property. 23 year old Jacob Scheffler of Harlan, along with Kloewer and Coenen were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors had their final September meeting Friday morning at the Cass County Courthouse.

The Board heard from Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner and unanimously approved hiring Deb Church as a temporary office assistant for a few weeks until they get a final hire done.  Feistner explained that she’s been a tremendous help and typically comes in a couple of days each week.

The Supervisors then heard from Cass County Engineer Charles Marker.  He provided the Board with an update on the various projects the Secondary Roads Department is handling.  He says they recently sent out proposals to construct a bridge at the intersection of G43 and N28 just north of Cumberland.  They hope to have a bid on that project from a contractor soon.

Marker also says they have begun spraying weeds on county roads.  He says they’re trying to cover as much ground as possible but they do have 750 miles of road left to spray in the county.  According to Marker, they used to be able to hire a contractor to do the work about 10 years ago but because of finances they are no longer able to hire contractors, which is why the County is seeing 10 years worth of growth on the roads.  He says they hopefully might be able to have some of the farmers take up the responsibility.

The Harlan Police Department reports several arrests the past few weeks.

On Thursday, 28-year-old Carl Parkhust of Harlan was cited for driving without a valid drivers license following a traffic stop.  He was cited and released.

On Tuesday, 59-year-old Gary Anderson of Harlan was cited for violation of open burning regulations when police received calls from citizens alleging that Anderson was burning household garbage.  Anderson was cited and released.

On September 23, 23-year-old Casey Sheehan of Harlan was arrested when officers were called to the intersection of 16th and Pine Streets for a male subject passed out behind the steering wheel of his car.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

On September 14, Travis Culp of Harlan reported that someone had taken money from his account through an ATM.  As a result of an investigation, 23-year-old Ramon Briones of Council Bluffs was arrested and charged with 5th degree theft and identity theft.  Briones was also held on an active warrant out of Pottawatamie County.

On September 10, Andrea Petersen of Harlan reported that someone had forged her checks and cashed them at a local business.  Subsequently, 19-year-old Kaitlyn Stessman of Harlan was taken into custody and charged with two counts of forgery.

Two Council Bluffs men were sentenced in US District Court in Council Bluffs according to United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt Thursday.

27-year-old Steven Lacey Etherington and 34-year-old Nicholas Joseph Franks, both of Council Bluffs, were sentenced on September 18 in United States District Court in Council Bluffs for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Etherington to 150 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Judge Jarvey sentenced Franks to 133 months imprisonment, plus 5 years of supervised release for the drug trafficking conspiracy, and 120 months imprisonment, plus 3 years of supervised release for the firearms conviction, with the sentences on both counts to be served concurrently.

The conspiracy involved distribution of methamphetamine to some females under age 21, the operation of a drug house in Council Bluffs, and trading stolen property for methamphetamine.  Franks was also involved in the sale, in Council Bluffs, on or about July 27, 2011, of a stolen shotgun and fifty shells to what he later learned was an undercover officer from the South West Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. At the time of the sale, Franks had previously been convicted of Theft in the Second Degree.