Two Russell Springs men have been arrested after several local burglaries of copper wiring, air conditioning units and various other metals locally, according to Deputy Sheriff Nick Bertram with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.

Last Friday afternoon, two men, Johnathan Davis, 28, and Aaron Scott, 31, were arrested and charged with second degree burglary and complicity in connection with thefts from several houses and other properties in the Eli, Russell Springs, and Gosser Ridge areas.

According to Deputy Bertram, he and fellow Deputy Sheriff Clete McAninch arrested the two after several positive identifications from people who had seen a suspicious white van in their respective areas where the metal had gone missing.

Once arrested, deputies found a substantial amount of copper and other metals inside the vehicle, according to Bertram.

Charges have been filed against one other suspect in the case with another arrest pending, according to Bertram.

The investigation is continuing by the Russell County Sheriff’s Department.

Anyone with information concerning the recent rash of copper and other metal thefts should call the Russell County Sheriff’s Office at 270-343-2191 with their details.

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A lengthy first meeting of the new-term Russell County Fiscal Court and Judge/Executive Gary Robertson covered many topics of business and even included an hour-and-a-half executive session, showing that the beginning of a new year will bring many challenges to county leaders.

New Russell County Jailer Bobby Dunbar told the magistrates that several employees of his jail staff have been receiving training at similar-sized facilities in Marion and Taylor counties while others, who some still need training, are working inside the new jail as it nears its opening.

Dunbar even said some of his employees, who are still transportation officers, had been putting in some time working at the local recycling center through the downtime from transporting.

Dunbar said members of the Department of Corrections, including several jail inspectors, are tentatively due to be in Russell County to go over numerous things inside the jail, including anchoring down of the beds.

He also told the court there were a number of files that had to be gone through and sorted out at the old jail before the state will allow the new jail to open. DOC training for the jail employees is slated for January 31 through February 4 while two other training sessions, one in Pulaski County and one in Rockcastle County, will also soon be held.

A total of 124 inmates were housed in other facilities last month, including the Casey County Detention Center, on charges filed in Russell County. Jail fees were $380.17 with the total jail income at $4,464.24.

Robertson said the new Russell County Detention Center should be open and housing inmates in the next three to four weeks. Work on the facility is currently in its final stages.