COUNTIES: DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-

331 PM CDT TUE OCT 22 2013

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MONIES HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 8 AM CDT WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL BELOW FREEZING WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S AND LOW 30S.

SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY END THE GROWING SEASON FOR OUTDOOR VEGETATION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

The Harlan Police Department reports three people were taken into custody last Friday, Oct. 18th, after a loud explosion was heard in the city. Officers were called to investigate the noise and a search warrant was issued for 1807 5th Street. Following the investigation, 25 year old Michael Hall, 47 year old Thomas Carney and 41 year old Pamela Frieze, all of Harlan, were arrested on numerous charges.

All three suspects were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, prohibited act penalties and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hall faces additional charges of possession of stolen property and reckless use of fire or explosives. Carney was also charged with possession of stolen property.

Also last Friday, 27 year old Steven Riley of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop. Riley was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant stemming from an incident in July where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia. As a result of the traffic stop, Riley was charged with driving while revoked, carrying weapons, prohibited acts, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Shelby County Jail.

The Harlan Police Department is investigating two separate thefts that took place over the past week. On Tuesday, October 15th, Jeron Henschied of Harlan reported his 1998 Buick Park Avenue was stolen from a parking lot at 6th and Hill. This past Monday, Randy Davis of Harlan reported a cement deer lawn ornament was taken from his residence in the 500 block of 5th Street. Both cases remain under investigation.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say no injuries were reported following a two vehicle accident that took place about seven-miles southeast of Audubon Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say an SUV driven by 64 year old Gary Lee Borkowski of Carroll was traveling north on County Road N-36 at the same time a car driven by 30 year old Nicholas Brooks Peck of Audubon, was traveling westbound on 220th Street.

The vehicles collided when at the intersection when Peck failed to yield from the stop sign.  The accident took place around 12:50pm. Damage from the crash amounted to $4,000. Peck was charged with failure to yield.

Two fires that took place Monday night in Jefferson are being investigated as cases of arson. Authorities told Raccoon Valley Radio, a fire destroyed a Greene County School bus parked at the bus barn on the fairgrounds in Jefferson, at around 8:45pm. Three-hours later, a structure fire damaged a four-story concrete storage building in the 700 block of North Elm Street, in Jefferson.

There were no injuries reported. An investigator with the State Fire Marshall’s Office was expected to in Jefferson to determine how both fires started, but officials say the preliminary causes are suspected to be arson-related.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening and received an update on various district capital improvement projects. Superintendent Dana Kunze told KJAN News the track project is nearly complete. All that’s left is seeding around the area, and the board is trying to decide whether to take care of that yet this fall, or next spring. There’s been no new developments on the boiler project. The board is waiting for design specifics before any decision is made.

Kunze said the Board also authorized a project which was added to the agenda, for asphalt work on the parking areas at the Lewis School building. He said they also received and approved a bid from Landon Preston, of Griswold, for snow removal. And, the Griswold Board authorized Kunze to assemble a package for the offering of an early retirement package for district staff.

Kunze said also, he briefed the Board on the district’s Certified Enrollment numbers. The numbers showed a loss of about 17 students from last year, for a total enrollment this fall of 576. He says the general population continues to drop, and while they’d like to see open enrollment numbers turn around, there is no consistent reason for a decline that he can pin-down.

The CAM Community School District’s Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting Monday night, in Anita. Business Manager Linda Edwards told KJAN News the Board approved various contracts during the meeting, including one for a pre-school driver and Co-head Speech Coach. The rest were essentially coaching contracts. Sharing the position of Junior High Wrestling Coach, is Corey Stephenson and Brian Follmann. The Board also made appointments for Junior High Basketball Coaches.

Edwards said the CAM School Board also received a presentation from the Anita Library Board, who pitched the services and opportunities available through the library that will enhance the learning opportunities for students and teachers alike. One of the tools is LearningExpress, while another is EBSCOhost, an online research database, which offers magazines articles, encyclopedias, newspapers, sound, information, pictures and more.

LearningExpress also has SAT and ACT prep information, and basic skills improvements for grades 4 and up. Another service is WILBOR, which includes downloadable audio and electronic books. The Anita Library wants to partner with the school district, so times are being set-up to visit with the staff at the various district buildings to explain what’s available.

w/ Ric Hanson

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w/ Ric Hanson

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There’s been yet another delay in the court proceedings for a former Harlan teacher facing sexual abuse charges. During a hearing held Monday, Judge Tim O’Grady,  continued the pre-trial date for 72-year-old Lee Nelson, who has waived his rights to a speedy trial. A pre-trial will be held January 6th, 2014, with a jury trial slated to begin at 9-a.m., on March 4th, 2014.

Nelson faces charges of sexual exploitation by a school employee and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. A 17-year-old female claiming to be a victim and her parents contacted police on May 30, 2013, and reported that Nelson had allegedly been saying rude and inappropriate things to the female, as well as touching her inappropriately.

The incidents allegedly occurred at school, on band trips and at his residence.

Investigators looking into a personal injury accident in Montgomery County Monday evening, said no citations were issued following a collision between two semis that sent one person to the hospital. Officials blamed dusty conditions at the intersection of 230th and M Avenue as the reason for the crash between semis driven by Frank Blaha and Shawn Costales, both of whom are from Lincoln, NE.

The accident happened at around 5:23-p.m. Officials say Blaha was driving a 1999 International semi tractor pulling a 2013 Smithco side-dump trailer. He stopped at the intersection to allow another vehicle to enter. Costales, who was coming up behind Blaha in a 2001 International semi tractor which was also puling a side-dump trailer, did not see Blaha had stopped, due to the dusty conditions. He tried to avoid a rear-end collision by turning left, but ended-up hitting the left rear bumper and tire of the trailer being pulled by Blaha’s semi.

Costales’ semi then left the road and crashed through a fence. Costales was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Hospital, to be checked for possible injuries. Blaha refused medical treatment. Both men submitted to DOT drug testing at the hospital.

Damage from the crash amounted to slightly more than $15,600, including damage to the fence owned by Max Peterson, of Stanton.