(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, reports a Carroll man, 45-year-old Darwin Robinson, Jr., was sentenced last week to more than 5-1/2 months in prison on federal gun and drug charges. Robinson pled guilty July 20, 2023, to illegally possessing a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Robinson was previously convicted of cocaine-possession and three domestic abuse assaults which prohibit a person from possessing any firearm.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed Robinson had prohibitive convictions and was a regular user of methamphetamine while possessing a .40 caliber handgun. On March 22, 2021, law enforcement stopped the vehicle Robinson was driving and officers seized 2 small bags of methamphetamine from Robinson and a loaded .40 caliber handgun from the vehicle. Robinson admitted that he planned on selling some or all of the methamphetamine that was found.

Sentencing was held November 9th in Sioux City Federal Court. United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Robinson to 70 month in prison and five years of supervised release following his imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Robinson remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Carroll, Iowa Police Department, Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – News around the world told of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to southwest Iowa, in 1959. Liz Garst was eight years old at the time but she remembers his visit and has stories to tell. Garst will present a program on Sunday, November 19 at 2 pm at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Old Armory), in Atlantic.

The Garst Family has deep roots in the history of Iowa. Based on her family experience in Coon Rapids, Liz tells of agricultural development especially during the mid-century explosion of farm productivity. She tells entertaining stories from her personal memories as an 8-year-old participant. There is a powerful message about the ability of an individual to make a difference.

Liz Garst

Liz manages banking and farming interests for the Garst family. She is the granddaughter of Roswell and Elizabeth Garst the hosts for Khrushcev. She likes to tell a good story. Liz is a volunteer and board member Whiterock Conservancy which is dedicated to finding balance between agriculture, the environment and people.

Her presentation, Sunday, is one of the series of programs sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). There is no fee but donations are appreciated. Everyone is welcome. The Building located at 201 Poplar Street, Atlantic is handicapped accessible.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert, Tuesday, updated the Board of Supervisors on Secondary Roads Department maintenance projects and activities.

Six Secondary Roads Department employees, she said, were undergoing specific training in Atlantic, Tuesday. Albert handed-out to the Board some pictures of the K Avenue Railroad Bridge. Albert received a call last Thursday from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, informing her the bridge had been damaged by deep gouges caused by an unknown implement or device.

The railroad owns the K, L and Q Avenue bridges in Montgomery County, and the County is not allowed to conduct any type of maintenance on them. She said “The railroad can choose to close these bridges if they want to. They are the railroad’s bridges…they own the bridges.” She urged the Board to keep that in-mind.

In other business, Karen Albert updated the Supervisors in Montgomery County on the 180th Street precast concrete box culvert project.

She said work on the 250th Street bridge continues, as well. When the 250th Street bridge project is completed, the County plans to hold a dedication ceremony and grand opening.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) — Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie COunty report Deputies and multiple fire departments were dispatched at around 4:05-p.m., Tuesday, to an accident in the area of Juniper Road and Jasper Lane, near McClelland, that involved a train and a vehicle. When first responders arrived, they discovered the vehicle was occupied by two adults and three juveniles. Authorities say the three juveniles appeared to have been unharmed. The two adults were extricated from the vehicle. Both were transported to the hospital. One of the adults was transported by helicopter ambulance.

As of 9-a.m. today (Wednesday), authorities said they had not received any updates on the condition of the two adults. No one on the train was hurt. Due to the seriousness of the crash, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Accident investigators responded to the scene. Authorities say the accident remains under investigation.

Agencies assisting at the crash scene included the Underwood, McClelland, Treynor and Lewis Fire Departments, and the Iowa State Patrol.