The Harlan Police Department reports several arrests the past few weeks.

On Thursday, 28-year-old Carl Parkhust of Harlan was cited for driving without a valid drivers license following a traffic stop.  He was cited and released.

On Tuesday, 59-year-old Gary Anderson of Harlan was cited for violation of open burning regulations when police received calls from citizens alleging that Anderson was burning household garbage.  Anderson was cited and released.

On September 23, 23-year-old Casey Sheehan of Harlan was arrested when officers were called to the intersection of 16th and Pine Streets for a male subject passed out behind the steering wheel of his car.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

On September 14, Travis Culp of Harlan reported that someone had taken money from his account through an ATM.  As a result of an investigation, 23-year-old Ramon Briones of Council Bluffs was arrested and charged with 5th degree theft and identity theft.  Briones was also held on an active warrant out of Pottawatamie County.

On September 10, Andrea Petersen of Harlan reported that someone had forged her checks and cashed them at a local business.  Subsequently, 19-year-old Kaitlyn Stessman of Harlan was taken into custody and charged with two counts of forgery.

Two Council Bluffs men were sentenced in US District Court in Council Bluffs according to United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt Thursday.

27-year-old Steven Lacey Etherington and 34-year-old Nicholas Joseph Franks, both of Council Bluffs, were sentenced on September 18 in United States District Court in Council Bluffs for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Etherington to 150 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Judge Jarvey sentenced Franks to 133 months imprisonment, plus 5 years of supervised release for the drug trafficking conspiracy, and 120 months imprisonment, plus 3 years of supervised release for the firearms conviction, with the sentences on both counts to be served concurrently.

The conspiracy involved distribution of methamphetamine to some females under age 21, the operation of a drug house in Council Bluffs, and trading stolen property for methamphetamine.  Franks was also involved in the sale, in Council Bluffs, on or about July 27, 2011, of a stolen shotgun and fifty shells to what he later learned was an undercover officer from the South West Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. At the time of the sale, Franks had previously been convicted of Theft in the Second Degree.