Fire Departments from 3 counties ended up battling a fire for over two and a half hours on Friday. The Manning, Manilla, Irwin and Defiance Fire Departments were all called to the residence at 2439 F-16 in Shelby County for a fire that began when the resident was cutting metal with a torch inside an outbuilding. The fire spread quickly from the outbuilding through another outbuilding and eventually into the house. The call came around 3:30pm Friday. The 2 outbuildings were destroyed and the house is currently not in livable conditions as the fire destroyed part of the roof and the attic. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross is assisting the family in their time of need.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A southwest Iowa man is dead following a tractor rollover accident in Taylor County. According to the Sheriff’s Department, 54-year old Leon Francis “Lynn” Balster, of New Market, died when his tractor rolled on a steep hillside. Balster, who was mowing on the hillside, was pinned beneath the tractor as it came to rest, and died at the scene. The accident happened at around 9:30-a.m., Saturday.

The Harlan Police Department says several people were arrested May 5th following an investigation into a noise complaint at a residence on 12th Street. Taken into custody on Public Intoxication charges was: 23-year old Douglas Raven; 17-year old Tabatha Wyatt; 18-year old Frank Bates; 24-year old Rebecca Hibbard, all of Harlan, and 19-year old Michael Jacquard, of Avoca. Raven was also charged with Supplying Alcohol to persons under legal age. He was brought to the Shelby County Jail, posted a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on June 5th. The others were cited for their offenses, and released.

Police in Harlan report a Harlan man was arrested May 7th after authorities received word someone was breaking into a residence on 12th Street. Officers took 47-year old Larry Finstad into custody on Aggravated Misdemeanor charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of burglary tools, and a Class D felony charge of Burglary in the 3rd degree. Finstad posted a $5,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on May 24th, but a request for a continuance is currently pending court approval.

The Harlan P.D. reports also, 38-year old Bryan Croft, of Harlan, was arrested May 6th, after authorities received word of a man standing in the middle of Highways 44 and 59. Croft was taken into custody on Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Carrying weapons charges. Croft pled not guilty to the Serious Misdemeanor charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and is scheduled for trial on that charge on November 13th. His initial appearance in court on the remaining Aggravated Serious Misdemeanor charges is scheduled to take place May 31st.