The Harlan Police Department reports today (Thursday), a few arrests took place over the past week. On Monday, 19-year old Brett Keane, of Panama, was arrested when officers were called to investigate activity in an apartment that was supposed to be vacant.  Keane was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts penalties.

Last Saturday, 24-year old Alina McFarland, of Emerson, was arrested when Harlan Police Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated female in the 500 block of Market Street.  McFarland was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with intoxication in public.

On. Nov. 11th, 55-year old Larry Dean Hansen, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Hansen was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while barred.  Hansen was also cited for insufficient number of headlamps.

And, on Nov. 10th, 31-year old Brandon Martin, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Martin was cited for driving under suspension, given a court date and released.

A central Iowa man is accused of trying to abduct a child in western Iowa. Onawa Police responded to a call Wednesday afternoon about a man who attempted to abduct a young girl. Witnesses provided a description of his vehicle, which an Iowa State Trooper spotted south of Onawa on Interstate 29. The trooper arrested the driver, 56-year-old Jeff Lee Altmayer, of Ankeny. Altmayer is charged with enticing a minor, impersonating a public official, and unlawful possession of a prescription drug.

(Radio Iowa)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Kansas was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, after trying to evade a Deputy. Authorities say at around 3-a.m., 69-year old James Benard Zimmerman, of Olathe, Kansas, traveling 82-mph in a 55 zone, on Highway 92, near 270th Street. When a Pott. County Deputy tried to stop the 1996 Oldsmobile Cutless Supreme, Zimmerman turned south onto 275th Street in an attempt to evade him. He stopped his car in the 1400 block of 275th, and was placed under arrest for Failure to Have a License. He was also cited for speeding.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The state of Missouri will pay $9 million to the family of an Iowa man who drowned while he was in custody of a state trooper. The settlement announced Thursday ends a civil lawsuit filed by the family of Brandon Ellingson after he died in May 2014 on the Lake of the Ozarks. Ellingson, an Arizona State University student from suburban Des Moines, Iowa, was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated. While in a boat with Trooper Anthony Piercy, Ellingson fell into the water while wearing handcuffs and an improperly secured life vest.

Ellingson’s family alleged in the lawsuit that Piercy, the state and the Missouri Highway Patrol were liable in Brandon’s death. The Kansas City Star reports Piercy is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Ellingson’s death.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Western Community College is asking voters to support a $14.5 million bond issue to upgrade security on its campus. The Daily Nonpareil reports (As KJAN News told you on Nov. 10th), the special election on the bond issue will be held in parts of 13 western Iowa counties on Dec. 6.

College spokesman Don Kohler says the plan calls for installing new locks and doors throughout the campus, adding new cameras and upgrading the college’s computer system to better monitor activity. Some of the issues were discovered last year during a drill with Council Bluffs police. College officials say the bond issue shouldn’t lead to higher taxes because it would replace an existing tax levy.

Iowans who want to kick the cigarette habit can get plenty of encouragement today (Thursday). The annual Great American Smoke Out is getting underway, according to Caroline Clark, with the Iowa chapter of the American Cancer Society.  “We’re encouraging everyone to put up your cigarettes, your chewing tobacco and quit smoking for a day forever,” Clark says. “We have some great tools to help you do that.”

The rationale is, if you can quit for one day, you can quit for good. For help, call the agency’s toll-free number, 800-227-2345, or visit the website cancer-dot-org-slash-smokeout. Clark says, “We have some great materials, lots of brochures, different ways to keep their mind off smoking, different tips and tricks to help them stay motivated and a great tool kit and a plan to help them quit smoking and stay smokefree.”

A survey released earlier this year found around 18-percent of Iowans over age 18 smoke. That’s down from just over 20-percent in 2011.

(Radio Iowa)

City officials in Wiota report the drinking water (Boil order) ban that was in effect since Nov. 7th, has now been lifted. The water is safe to drink or use for other purposes. Wiota Water Supply had taken well #4 off-line last week for repairs, and placed well #2 on-line. Well #2 is known to be high in nitrates, which is why the boil order was originally posted.

(8-a.m. News)