Officials with the Harlan Police Department report several arrests were made following the execution of a search warrant at a residence last Friday (7/26).  The following people were arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail:

• 25-year old Brett Allen Ballantyne, of Harlan, was charged with distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and gathering where a controlled substance is unlawfully used.

And, the following Harlan residents were each charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and gathering where a controlled substance is unlawfully used…

• 47-year old Gerry Dean Ballantyne, Jr.; 43-year old Kimberly Ann Ballantyne; 19-year old Dylan Ray Janssen; 24-year old Brandon Lee Anderson, and 39-year old Larry John Chambers.
• 47-year old Andrea Christine Wyatt, of Shelby, was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and gathering where a controlled substance is unlawfully used.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management officials put out a notice at around 2:45-p.m. today, that the City of Carson is currently under a 48-hour Boil Water Advisory. The City has experienced a water and sewer main break. Citizens of Carson are encouraged to boil water meant for consumption and let it cool prior to use. Boil tap water for at least one minute before cooling and drinking it, using it for washing fruits and vegetables, or using it for brushing teeth.

Bottled water is acceptable for those purposes, as well.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors are dismissing several criminal charges and traffic tickets against people arrested by an Iowa police officer who is no longer considered credible. Cedar County Attorney Jeffrey Renander said Tuesday his office is dismissing cases tied to officer Robert Smith “in the interest of justice.” He says his office has concluded it is unlikely to obtain a conviction in criminal cases where Smith is the primary or only state witness.

Court records show that cases involving at least three people have been dismissed since Friday, and Renander says more will be tossed in coming days. Smith resigned last week as an officer in the town of Durant, after video surfaced showing him striking a motorcyclist during a 2017 traffic stop. He previously worked 30 years for the Iowa State Patrol.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have approved a final set of rules for the state’s new law allowing sports betting, which is set to go live at noon on Aug. 15. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission on Tuesday approved the new rules to legally bet on professional, collegiate and international sporting events. The new law also legalizes fantasy sports contests and internet fantasy sports betting, but delays betting based on college sporting event statistics until next May.

The new law excludes betting on some events, like in-state college team players. While it allows betting on-site or through a mobile app, players must first travel to a casino to prove their age and identity and set up an account with that casino. Mobile apps also will only be operable within state borders. So, for example, residents in Omaha, Nebraska, would have to cross state lines each time they wished to place a bet on their phones.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — A reward has been doubled to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest in the slayings of two Iowa cousins. Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers said Tuesday the increase was possible because of a donation from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Waterloo Police Department investigator Brice Lippert coordinates the Crime Stoppers program, and he says the Crime Stoppers reward is separate from another reward being offered for a conviction in the case.

Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins were 10 and 8 when they disappeared in Evansdale on July 13, 2012. Their abandoned bikes were later located on a trail near Meyers Lake in Evansdale. Hunters found their bodies at Seven Bridges Park in rural Bremer County, about 25 miles from where they disappeared, on Dec. 5, 2012.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a woman from Lorimor reported Friday morning, that her 2008 Jeep Liberty had been entered while parked on her property. A checkbook and various tools were taken from the vehicle. Damage to the vehicle and value of the items taken, was estimated $450.

The drivers of two vehicles suffered possible/unknown injuries after they complained of pain during two separate accidents in Union County, Monday afternoon. At around 3:20-p.m., a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van and a 2002 Chevy pickup collided at the uncontrolled intersection of Pierce and Polk Streets, in Afton. Following the collision, both vehicles came to rest in a ditch at the northeast corner of the intersection. The driver of the van, 37-year old Mia Rae Williams, of Afton, was transported by EMS Ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. The report said she was not wearing a seat belt. The pickup driver, 17-year old Jarryn Ray Stephens, of Lorimor, was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Damage from the accident amounted to $7,000. No citations were issued.

And, at around 4:10-p.m. Monday, a 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup driven by 44-year old Bobby Jo Haley, of Creston, left the road and entered a ditch as the vehicle was northbound on High and Dry Road, south of Creston. Haley was transported by EMS ambulance to the hospital in Creston. Damage to the vehicle amounted to $8,000. No citations were issued.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa safety regulators are proposing fines for two companies involved in the fire and explosion at a Clinton grain silo that killed a firefighter and injured another.
Clinton fire Lt. Eric Hosette was killed in the Jan. 5 blast and fire at the Archer Daniels Midland Co. silo, and firefighter Adam Cain was injured. The Clinton Herald reports that ADM is contesting the nearly $56,000 in penalties proposed by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Bill Whitter’s Construction is contesting a penalty of nearly $7,800.

Iowa OSHA issued ADM five citations, including one that said firefighters were not given adequate information to combat the fire. The agency says Bill Whitter’s Construction was cited because its employees assigned special tasks at the facility, such as bin entry and the handling of flammable or toxic substances, were not trained to safely perform the tasks.

Anita Rescue, Wiota Fire and Medivac Ambulance were dispatched to a reported ditch cave-in this morning off Whitepole Road in Anita, near B.C. Murphy Enterprises. The call went out at 10:18-a.m.  Dispatch reports indicated a man who was pulled out of the ditch was suffering from possible rib and chest injuries. Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Mike Kennon said Medivac was cancelled enroute. No other details are available at this time.

(Press Release from Cass & Page County Public Health Systems) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 1.5 million more current youth e-cigarette users in 2018 than 2017. E-cigarette use increased from 11.7% to 20.8% among high school students and 3.3% to 4.9% among middle school students. Local Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, Brandy Powers, reminds residents e-cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, JUULs, vapes, whatever you call them – are not harmless.

According to the CDC, 99% of e-cigarettes contain nicotine and many youth are unaware of this – they think they’re a safe alternative to “regular” cigarettes. They are not. Nicotine is highly addictive and young people can become addicted to e-cigarettes as easily as traditional cigarettes. Nicotine has been shown to harm adolescent brain development, which continues until the early to mid-20s. “Parents need to talk to their kids about e-cigarettes and make it clear they are not safe,” said Powers, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator serving Southern Iowa. “The ‘fun’ flavors and availability of electronic smoking devices leaves the impression they are safe for kids. They are not.”

Quitline Iowa is a free resource for all Iowans aged 13 and older. A tailored quit plan can be created for users of any type of nicotine – from chewing tobacco to cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Benefits of Quitline include:

• Free and confidential
• Users may be eligible for free Nicotine Replacement Therapy
• Trained Quit Coaches

Iowa residents can take advantage of the program by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), or visiting www.quitlineiowa.org to enroll. Registration specialists and Quit Coaches® are available 24 hours a day. Iowa youth can help educate their peers about the dangers of tobacco and e-cigarettes by joining their local chapter of Iowa Students for Tobacco Education (ISTEP) or creating a chapter of their own. Learn more about ISTEP at https://IowaSTEP.org.