The American Red Cross chapter that serves southwest Iowa is hosting what’s called a Mass Care Boot Camp starting next week for those interested in volunteering. Chapter spokeswoman Alyson Roach says the free event is a great way for those who were considering getting involved to learn about the program. Roach says, “It’s a chance for new volunteers to get to know the Red Cross and think of what they might fit into in the organization.” Roach says those who attend the boot camp will see what options are available to volunteers. How a person serves depends on their availability and lifestyle. Roach says some volunteers are able to travel and go to disaster sites for several weeks at a time, like last year’s tornado in Joplin, Missouri.

“We have volunteers who respond periodically to big disasters in other states,” she says. “Other volunteers respond weekly to house fires.” Roach says those attending the boot camp will be able to see what positions are available. She notes, volunteers are not assigned to certain areas but select how they want to help.

She says, “What a volunteer is available to do and what they want to train for is entirely up to that individual.” The goal of the free boot camp is to boost the number of local volunteers after last year’s busy storm season and Missouri River flood. The classes run February 27th through March 4th. Classes will be held in Omaha and in Council Bluffs. Learn more at “redcrossomaha.org”. 

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

U-S Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced Thursday that two Clarinda men, 33-year old Edward Eugene Gray, Jr., and 23-year old Levi Edward Gray, were sentenced Tuesday, for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Edward Gray, Jr. to a total of 20-years in prison. The sentence included 180 months on the conspiracy charge and 60 months for possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Levi Gray was sentenced to 2-years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute charge. Both were sentenced to a term of five years supervised release.

According to the written plea agreement, from approximately January of 2004 until November of 2010, the Grays were involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Southwest Iowa and Northwest Missouri areas with co-conspirators Orvis Lee Wagaman, of College Springs, Iowa; Edward Eugene Gray, Sr., of Coin, Iowa; and others. In addition,  Edward Eugene Gray, Jr. was aware that a co-conspirator carried a firearm while distributing methamphetamine with Gray, Jr., and the possession of the firearm was in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. Wagaman, and Edward Gray, Sr., have entered guilty pleas to the drug conspiracy and are scheduled for sentencing on March 27th, 2012.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office (MO), Buchanan County Drug Strike Force
(MO), NITRO Task Force (MO), Tri County Task Force (Adams, Ringgold, and Taylor Counties), Ringgold County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, Page County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, and the Ringgold and Taylor County Attorneys’ Offices. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.