Explosives found, detonated

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A call to the sheriff’s department ended with a bang after suspicious-looking devices in an old trash can turned out to be explosives.

According to Sheriff Rob Craft, officers were summoned to a barn in the 2500 block of Unicorn Rd. at 3:30 p.m. June 6.

When deputies arrived, the property owner directed them to a trash can in the back portion of a barn.

It contained what the owner believed to be explosives.

Deputies contacted Fort Riley’s explosive ordinance disposal unit, which agreed to dispose of the items.

The bomb squad arrived about 5:30 p.m., and confirmed the contents were potentially explosive, Craft said.

The items were identified as a type of explosives used in mining or quarrying.

Lincolnville fire department and Marion ambulance were summoned, and neighbors were contacted about an upcoming explosion.

The explosives were taken a safe distance from the owner’s property and detonated by the bomb squad at 7:30 p.m.

The items appeared to have been stored in the trash can many years, perhaps decades, and may have been placed there by the property owner’s deceased husband, Craft said.

No injuries were reported.