The Harlan Police Department has released a report on recent arrests. As we mentioned Monday, 25-year old Colton Benson-Blaine, who was listed as escaped Sunday afternoon from the Council Bluffs Work Release Facility, was arrested in Harlan later that same evening. Benson-Blaine, who allegedly stole a vehicle from a construction zone, was located in the area of 5th and Laurel Streets in Harlan, and brought to the Shelby County Jail. He was held at the jail pending transfer to authorities in Council Bluffs. The stolen vehicle was located at J-J Jensen Park, and returned to its owner.

Two people were arrested Saturday, in Harlan. 18-year old Perry Gross, of Manilla, was cited for Open Container as a driver, and charged with OWI. And, 45-year old Carrie Green, of Harlan, was arrested Saturday, for OWI. She was also cited for failure to display a registration plate.

Last week, 19-year old Brett Keane, of Panama, was arrested in Harlan on an active Shelby County warrant for Probation Violation. Keane was brought to the Shelby County Jail.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Muscatine police say they have charged a teenager in connection with the toppling of dozens of headstones at a cemetery. The Muscatine Journal reports police arrested the 17-year-old Monday morning and charged him with second-degree criminal mischief. The Associated Press doesn’t generally name juveniles charged with crimes.

Workers discovered April 3 that about 50 headstones had been pushed off their bases at Greenwood Cemetery. Crews had to use equipment to put the headstones back into place. Police estimated the vandalism caused $3,000 in damage.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) released additional information pertaining to a pickup truck vs. tractor accident that took place Monday afternoon, south of Cumberland. Officials say the crash happened at around 3:34-p.m. on southbound 690th Street, about 1.5-miles south of Cumberland. It occurred, as 31-year old Cole Andrew Christensen, of Hamlin, attempted to pass an International tractor, driven by 54-year old David Crum, of Atlantic, as Crum was attempting to turn left into a farm drive.

The 1994 GMC Sierra pickup struck the tractor, causing the tractor to flip onto its side. Christensen and a passenger were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Cumberland Rescue, and later transported to Omaha for further medical treatment.

Picture courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency.

Crum was transported to CCMH by private vehicle. Damage to Christensen’s vehicle is estimated at $15,000; damage to the tractor is also estimated at $15,000. The incident remains under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley has had breakfast with the man whose nomination to the Supreme Court he has promised to block. The Iowa Republican dined with federal judge Merrick Garland Tuesday in the Capitol’s Senate Dining Room. Grassley evaded reporters afterward, and his office said it would release a statement on the meeting.  As usual, Garland said nothing to reporters.

Grassley has joined with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and most GOP senators in saying they won’t consider a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia until the president elected this November nominates someone.  When he agreed to meet with Garland, Grassley said he would tell that to the judge. Democrats have relentlessly attacked Grassley for refusing to hold the usual hearings for the nominee.