Sheriff investigating July 4 explosion

GENOA — The Nance County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an explosion that occurred just after 11 p.m. on July 4.

Sheriff Ben Bakewell said that a homemade explosive was set off in the 400 block of Willard Avenue. 

“Flying shrapnel from the explosion caused damage to the store fronts of two businesses on the north side of Willard Avenue,” he said. “At one business a large piece of flying debris shot through the front window, through a piece of wood furniture and struck a point-of-sale computer inside the business.”

Bakewell said that Carol’s Cutting Creation and Ramaekers Patrick Funeral Chapel were the businesses hit in the explosion. No one was in the businesses at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported.

“Shrapnel from the device easily could have been fatal,” he said.

This is an ongoing investigation, and the Nance County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to identify the person or persons responsible for the damage to these small businesses. If you have any information, pictures, videos, or other evidence that can assist the Sheriff’s Office in this investigation including identifying who was responsible please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 308-536-2452 to speak to a deputy.