The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest last Thursday night, of 39-year old Gabriel Aaron Dabney, of Pacific Junction. Dabney was charged with Willful Disturbance and Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $600.

And, last Friday morning, 25-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a Warrant for Violation of Probation. McDaniel was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a Guthrie Center woman was arrested by Police in Adair on June 9th. 31-year old Lisa Marie Ebrecht faces several charges, including Animal Neglect/Death or Injury. According to the sheriff’s report, the woman allegedly had the power shut off to a home at 602 Adair Street, knowing there were animals in kennels inside the home during the day. Ebrecht was also cited for Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing an Emergency Call, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree, Trespass – causing injury or damage in excess of $200, and Harassment in the 2nd degree. She was being held in the Adair County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 46-year old Kevin Eugene Stark, of Adair, was arrested June 11th in Adair, by authorities with the Iowa Dept. of Corrections. Stark was taken into custody on a warrant. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 33-year old Michael Joshua Jones, of Creston, was arrested June 11th by Adair County deputies, on a charge of Harassment in the 1st degree. His bond was also set at $2,000.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Norman Dallas Olson, of Creston, was arrested Friday afternoon at the Union County Jail. Olson was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for probation violation. He was being held in the jail on $2000 bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests. Officials say on Sunday, 30-year old Sarah Kathleen Hansen, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Last Wednesday, deputies arrested: 41-year old Denise Lynn Esquivel, of Shenandoah, who was sentenced to two days in jail, and 30-year old Zachary Michael Anderson, of Sidney, who was arrested for Failure to Comply with the State’s Sex Offender Registry.

And on June 7th, Fremont County deputies arrested: 27-year old Kassandra Lee Kudlacek, of Thurman, for Serious Domestic Assault; 39-year old Jason Michael Housh, of Bennington, NE., for OWI/2nd offense, Child Endangerment, and Excessive Speed, and 27-year old Jeremy Neil Anderson, of Omaha, for OWI/2nd Offense.

Officials with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Healthways, Inc., and Blue Zones, LLC, today (Monday) announced that the City of Harlan has been named a certified Blue Zones Community®. Certification recognizes the city’s transformation through successful implementation of the Blue Zones Project®, a first-of-its-kind population health program that brings the world’s best practices in food policy, built environment, purpose and social networking to participating cities.

Brought to Iowa through an innovative sponsorship by Wellmark in collaboration with Healthways and Blue Zones®, the Blue Zones Project initiative encourages all Iowa communities to optimize their surroundings to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Community leaders, volunteers and organizations throughout Harlan have been working to achieve certification status since October 2012, when the community was named a Blue Zones Project demonstration site. As a result of its efforts, Harlan can celebrate:

· It’s $350,000 investment in expanding the Pioneer Park 1.2 mile walking trail to include 10-foot wide sidewalks. New lighting also enhances safety and encourages extended use at dawn and dusk.

· A school district that now offers biometric screening opportunities three times per year and a health risk assessment. More than 98 percent of participants have indicated they will continue to participate in the wellness program.

· Members of the Peterson Wellness Center and the Harlan Community School District, who completed more than 700 Blue Zones Personal Pledges during a friendly competition.

· Employees at Elm Crest Retirement Community, who logged 500 volunteer hours in 2014.

· A 5-percent increase in Hy-Vee produce sales each year over the past three years and shelf space for fresh-cut produce has tripled in size.

· The elementary school garden, which has grown fivefold in size during the past year, and the school district’s tobacco policy now prohibits all types of tobacco products.

· And the Sandwich Bowl restaurant, which now offers carrots or an apple as a side, resulting in the use of more than 12 pounds of baby carrots each week. About 15 percent of sandwiches are now ordered with either carrots or apples instead of the regular side of chips.

Harlan achieved Blue Zones Community status after reaching several key milestones, all of which are required improvement goals for Blue Zones Project demonstration communities to receive certification. The community is planning a celebration later this summer to recognize the efforts of the entire community in becoming a certified Blue Zones Community.

Fifteen Iowa communities are currently part of the Blue Zones Project. For more information, please visit www.bluezonesproject.com.