A gas leak in Council Bluffs Thursday led to a brief evacuation of the area.

The Omaha World Herald reports firefighters were called to the East Pierce Street and Kimball Avenue area Thursday at about 3:15 PM where Black Hills Energy crews were already on the scene.

Council Bluffs Assistant Fire Chief Matt Thomas tells the World Herald that Black Hills Energy crews were doing work on East Pierce and they may have severed a 2 inch gas pipe.  He says traffic was stopped on East Pierce and Kimball for a short period while authorities checked gas levels in the area.  He says they also evacuated a few homes in the area, but did not evacuate Jennie Edmundson Hospital or Mercy Hospital where people reported smelling gas.  Black Hills personnel were already on the scene at those hospitals making sure there weren’t problems according to Thomas.

The World Herald says Black Hills Energy stopped the leak by about 3:35 PM.

Guthrie Center is looking into the possibility of becoming a Main Street Community.

The Guthrie Center Times reports a meeting was held Tuesday at Guthrie Activity Center regarding the city becoming a Main Street Community.  About 100 citizens attended.  After the keynote speaker, Thom Guzman of the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s Main Street program spoke, it was decided that a committee would be formed.  The committee would be made of volunteers who would travel to other Main Street Communities and determine the pros and cons of membership

Mayor Denny Kunkle tells the Guthrie Center Times that anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact City Hall at 641-332-2190

Main Street is an Iowa program that includes 48 member communities across the state that aims to help towns restore and revitalize their business districts.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office says a rear-end accident occurred Wednesday, and it involved the Sheriff himself.

The Guthrie Center Times reports that on Wednesday Sheriff Marty Arganbright was called to the 200th Street and Panorama Drive area to conduct traffic control for a double wide home that was being moved into place.  Arganbright arrived on the scene slowing down on 200th Street, but noticed a vehicle rapidly approaching his 2007 Chevy Silverado.  He was unable to move his truck in time and was struck by a 2007 Ford Fusion driven by Margaret Jeanne McDermott of Panora.

The Guthrie Center Times says damage to McDermott’s vehicle was about $2,500.  No damage was reported on Sheriff  Arganbright’s truck.  No citations were issued.

Police are looking for a hit and run driver in Council Bluffs after the driver tried to beat a railroad crossing.

The Omaha World Herald reports that Council Bluffs Police say woman was struck by a vehicle Tuesday at 11 PM in the 900 block of South 17th Street.  Reports say that 37-year-old Carrie Schwiesow was crossing the street near railroad tracks when the crossing arms began to flash.  An eastbound driver was attempting to beat the railroad crossing and struck Schwiesow near the middle of the street.  The vehicle reportedly stopped for a brief time, but then continued onto ninth avenue.  The crash caused Schwiesow to be flipped onto her head.  She was released from Mercy Hospital after treatment of her injuries.

The World Herald says authorities believe the vehicle may be a 2005 Kia after finding a driver-side mirror at the scene.  Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at 712-325-STOP.

A two vehicle crash in Guthrie County Wednesday resulted in one injury.

On Wednesday shortly before 4 PM, a 2008 Ford F25 driven by 26-yar-0ld Justin Zika of Adel was southbound on Wax Trail just north of 330’th Street when he crested a hill.  At the same time a 2012 Honda Civic driven by 68-year-old Barbara Richt of West Des Moines was northbound  on Wax Trail.  Zika panicked as he crested the hill and saw Richt’s vehicle.  Zika thought his break was on but instead accelerated as he approached Richt.  Zika was in the northbound lane when his vehicle struck Richt’s vehicle.  Both vehicles ended up in a ditch.

Richt was transported by Stuart rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for treatment of unknown injuries.  Her vehicle was totaled.  Zika did not sustain injuries.  His vehicle sustained about $5,000 damage.  He was cited for driving the wrong way on a two-way road.

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

On July 14 two people were arrested in separate incidents.

40-year-old Chad Wiese of Omaha was arrested when police were called to veteran’s Memorial auditorium for a disturbance.  The investigation determined that Wiese had assaulted two people.  He was taken into custody and transported the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault and public intoxication.

Also July 14, a 15 year old male was arrested when officers patrolling the Shelby County fairgrounds witnessed the juvenile threatening another person with a knife and demanding money.  He was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs where he was charged with a Class B felony robbery.

On July 12, 23-year-old Cameron Behrens of Harlan was cited for failure to maintain control and striking fixtures upon a highway in a July 4th incident where mailboxes were struck in the 300 block of 7th Street.

On July 7, 22-year-old Andrew Vazquez of Harlan was arrested when officers were called to a report that Vazquez had passed out on a bench in the 1000 block of 7th Street.  He was charged with public intoxication.  Vazquez was also arrested July 13 when officers were called to the 1000 block of 7th Street where a fight was in progress.  Vasquez was again transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.