Police in Harlan said today (Friday), three people were arrested over the past week. On January 27th, 47-year old Jeffery Erlbacher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop. Erlbacher was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Prohibted Acts penalties, carrying weapons, and Possession of contraband in a controlled facility. Erlbacher has entered a plea of not guilty to the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He posted a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on February 16th.

Two days earlier, 39-year old Jason Nielsen, of Harlan, was taken into custody on a charge of Public Intoxication/2nd offense, after police responded to a report of an allegedly intoxicated person attempting to drive away from the 500 block of Market Street. Nielsen allegedly refused several offers to take him home. Nielsen posted a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on Feb. 14th.

And, on January 31st, 63-year old Karen Burgin, of Blair, NE, was arrested on a charge of reckless driving and for violation of a one-way traffic designation. Additional charges are pending. Burgin was taken into custody, after she was observed allegedly hitting several mailboxes with a vehicle, ran over a stop sign, and eventually hit another vehicle while traveling the wrong way in the 1500 block of Laurel Street, in Harlan. Damage from the incident amounted to $17,000. Burgin plead guilty to the charges and was ordered to pay a $300 in fines, plus court costs.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 24-year-old Texas man who wanted to release minks from Sioux City farm has been given five years in prison. Victor Vanorden had pleaded guilty to trying to release the minks and to attempted burglary. Court records say Vanorden’s two-year term on the burglary charge are to be served at the same time as the five years on the other charge. Vanorden also was ordered to pay nearly $8,800 in restitution to the farm’s owner.

Vanorden and a companion, 21-year-old Kellie Marshall, were found in a soybean field in October before they could release the animals. Officers found fences nearby that had been cut.  Marshall has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on March 6th.  Vanorden and Marshall are from Austin, Texas.