The Fire Chief in Shelby says three area fire departments were called to the Menard’s Distribution center outside of Shelby yesterday (Thursday) morning. Brian Anderson says the Shelby Fire Department was the first to respond at around 11-a.m., Thursday. Anderson says a spark in a dust collector located in one of the buildings was to blame for the incident. Shelby Fire requested and received mutual aid from the Minden and Avoca Fire Departments to fight the blaze, which was kept under control beforehand, thanks to the Menard’s maintenance team, which Anderson said does a good job keeping the equipment clean. That, in-turn, helped keep the fire contained to one specific area. 

The damage was caused mostly by smoldering embers and smoke. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours. No injuries were reported, and there was no dollar amount of the damage, available.

(courtesy: Joel McCall at KNOD in Harlan)

A benefit fundraiser will take place this weekend in Shelby, for a fallen firefighter’s family. Michael Collins, of Shelby, was killed in the line of duty while directing traffic at the scene of an accident on Interstate 80 on September 18th. Brian Anderson, Shelby Fire Chief, says Woodmen of the World are sponsoring the benefit. The Woodmen of the World’s marketing team has helped the Shelby Fire Department gather some of auction items as well.

The lunch will be held from 11-a.m to 2-p.m., Saturday. Anderson says the hamburgers will be grilled for a reason: He says Collins held a grill out for the firefighters at the station in Shelby, just a few hours before he responded to the accident scene, and later died.

The lunch is a free will donation at the Shelby Fire Hall. If you are unable to attend, a memorial fund has been set up at the Shelby County State Bank.

(courtesy Joel McCall at our sister station KNOD in Harlan)

The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports a woman from Pottawattamie County was arrested Monday in Shambaugh. 42-year old Jodie Marie Sherman, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 9:15-p.m., for allegedly violating a No Contact order. Sherman plead guilty to the charge Tuesday, and was sentenced to serve seven consecutive days in jail.

No injuries were reported following a car-versus-deer accident Wednesday, in Page County. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a 2005 Nissan Altima driven by 17-year old Marcus Allen Taylor, of Villisca, was traveling east on 130^th Street off of Highway 71, when a deer popped up out of a ditch.

The ensuing collision, which happened at around 7:05-p.m., caused about $3,000 damage to the vehicle.