The Harlan Police Department has released a report on recent arrests. As we mentioned Monday, 25-year old Colton Benson-Blaine, who was listed as escaped Sunday afternoon from the Council Bluffs Work Release Facility, was arrested in Harlan later that same evening. Benson-Blaine, who allegedly stole a vehicle from a construction zone, was located in the area of 5th and Laurel Streets in Harlan, and brought to the Shelby County Jail. He was held at the jail pending transfer to authorities in Council Bluffs. The stolen vehicle was located at J-J Jensen Park, and returned to its owner.

Two people were arrested Saturday, in Harlan. 18-year old Perry Gross, of Manilla, was cited for Open Container as a driver, and charged with OWI. And, 45-year old Carrie Green, of Harlan, was arrested Saturday, for OWI. She was also cited for failure to display a registration plate.

Last week, 19-year old Brett Keane, of Panama, was arrested in Harlan on an active Shelby County warrant for Probation Violation. Keane was brought to the Shelby County Jail.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Muscatine police say they have charged a teenager in connection with the toppling of dozens of headstones at a cemetery. The Muscatine Journal reports police arrested the 17-year-old Monday morning and charged him with second-degree criminal mischief. The Associated Press doesn’t generally name juveniles charged with crimes.

Workers discovered April 3 that about 50 headstones had been pushed off their bases at Greenwood Cemetery. Crews had to use equipment to put the headstones back into place. Police estimated the vandalism caused $3,000 in damage.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) released additional information pertaining to a pickup truck vs. tractor accident that took place Monday afternoon, south of Cumberland. Officials say the crash happened at around 3:34-p.m. on southbound 690th Street, about 1.5-miles south of Cumberland. It occurred, as 31-year old Cole Andrew Christensen, of Hamlin, attempted to pass an International tractor, driven by 54-year old David Crum, of Atlantic, as Crum was attempting to turn left into a farm drive.

The 1994 GMC Sierra pickup struck the tractor, causing the tractor to flip onto its side. Christensen and a passenger were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Cumberland Rescue, and later transported to Omaha for further medical treatment.

Picture courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency.

Crum was transported to CCMH by private vehicle. Damage to Christensen’s vehicle is estimated at $15,000; damage to the tractor is also estimated at $15,000. The incident remains under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley has had breakfast with the man whose nomination to the Supreme Court he has promised to block. The Iowa Republican dined with federal judge Merrick Garland Tuesday in the Capitol’s Senate Dining Room. Grassley evaded reporters afterward, and his office said it would release a statement on the meeting.  As usual, Garland said nothing to reporters.

Grassley has joined with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and most GOP senators in saying they won’t consider a replacement for the late Justice Antonin Scalia until the president elected this November nominates someone.  When he agreed to meet with Garland, Grassley said he would tell that to the judge. Democrats have relentlessly attacked Grassley for refusing to hold the usual hearings for the nominee.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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• 8 large or more apples, sliced
• 1/2 cup sugar

Topping:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup butter
• 5 crushed graham crackers

Place sliced apples in buttered 9″ x 13″ glass dish.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar over apples.  Mix topping ingredients by cutting together like pie dough; will be crumbly.  Spread over sliced apples.  Bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until done.  Serve with ice cream.

(Mildred Bergmann)

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Creston arrested a Ringgold County woman Monday evening on an outstanding warrant out of Union County. 24-year old Megann Danielle Stewart, of Mt. Ayr, was arrested at around 7:40-p.m. in Creston. Stewart was being held without bond, in the Ringgold County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A lawsuit has been filed against the Iowa Utilities board for authorizing use of eminent domain to access land for the Bakken oil pipeline. The Des Moines Register reports that the lawsuit was filed Friday in Polk County on behalf of the Northwest Iowa Landowners Association and individual landowners.

The proposed 1,130-mile Dakota Access Pipeline planned by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners would pass through North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa on its way to Illinois. The suit says Dakota Access does not qualify as a utility and should not have the ability to use eminent domain to build a pipeline.

Police and Sheriff’s Deputies in Red Oak responded to a report of shots, fired late Monday night. Authorities say one person was detained for questioning in connection with the incident which took place at around 11:42-p.m. in the vicinity of 1st and Joy Streets, in Red Oak.

According to the police report, the Montgomery County Communications Center received a call from a residence with regard to a man walking down the street, shooting a firearm. The caller indicated they thought the shots were directed toward a vehicle parked along the street, and possibly a house. The caller said also, the suspect took off in a northerly direction after the shots were fired.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department arrived on the scene within minutes and established a perimeter. The Montgomery County K9 unit also arrived on the scene and began a track of the suspect. The scent led the K9 Unit to the area of 1st and Prospect Streets, where the dog lost contact with the scent.

Officers on the scene determined at least three shots had been fired into the hood of a 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo owned by Nakia Nicole Lamb, of Red Oak. Early reports indicated that a shot could also have been fired into a nearby residence, but no evidence to collaborate that statement could be found.

An investigation into the incident continues. Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including deputies from Cass, Fremont and Page Counties.