On Monday July 8, a staff member of the Blue Mountains Council's Blaxland waste management facility was sorting through a box of personal items that had recently been disposed of at the facility.
The staff member found what they believed to be a genuine human skull. It was reported to Springwood police and a coronial investigation started by Blue Mountains Police Area Command detectives.
Detective Sergeant Brendan Bayliss, the Investigations manager at Blue Mountains, said the person who disposed of the skull at the facility was identified as being a 54-year-old man from Sao Paulo, Brazil, formerly a Faulconbridge resident.
He has been spoken to by Blue Mountains detectives.
"The investigation is ongoing; no suspicious circumstances have yet been identified," Det Sgt Bayliss said.
Eldon Guest House fire
The former Eldon Guest House in Katoomba suffered significant damage from a fire on Monday night.
Blue Mountains Police have asked for witnesses who may have seen anyone in the area of the Eldon, Lurline Street about 9pm to come forward.
Contact Springwood station on 4751 0299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with information.
Cats killed in Hazelbrook
Two dogs broke into a Hazelbrook back yard last week and killed three of the owner's cats. Patricia Faets said the dogs came in on consecutive nights - July 10 and 11.
On the first occasion they mauled one of her cats; on the second, they killed two, including a rare grey Manx.
"People talk about cats roaming at night but do they talk about dogs that are allowed to roam," she said.
"I should not have to fortress myself in my yard to keep these killers out."
Ms Faets said a neighbour who was disturbed by the noise saw a dog with one of her cats in its mouth. She said the pair were labrador-sized and black.
She hoped the owners would hear about their exploits and keep them inside at night.
Man, 79, hit by car
A 79-year-old man was taken to Westmead Hospital after being hit by a car on the highway about 3.30pm on July 10.
The accident occurred on the Great Western Highway, near Lewin Street, Springwood. Two ambulance crews attended (with a paramedic in each van).
The cause of the incident was not known.
The man was complaining of chest pains and was bleeding from his hands. He was described as being in a stable condition.