MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – A 20-year-old Muscatine man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the 2018 stabbing death of his grandmother on her birthday. The Muscatine Journal reports that the jury on Friday found Darian Lensgraf guilty of killing 66-year-old Diana Lensgraf on Dec. 12, 2018.

He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison when he’s sentenced on March 6. He remains behind bars until his sentencing. Lensgraf was arrested after a convenience store clerk called 911 to report that Lensgraf was in the store holding a bloody knife. His grandmother’s body had been found only minutes earlier.

An out-of-control pickup struck a vehicle that slid into the ditch, Friday, and nearly struck two people who were out with the other vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at around 12:04-p.m. on Interstate 80 westbound near mile marker 58, in Cass County.

The Patrol says a 2013 Ford Super Duty pickup driven by 24-year old Sheron A. Williams, of Suwanee, GA., was traveling in the right lane just before the accident took place. The driver of a 2019 Hino straight truck and a State Trooper were walking around the truck and checking out front end damage.

Williams was traveling too fast for the road conditions. She lost control of her pickup, which left the road and entered the north ditch before hitting the front end of the straight truck. Authorities say she narrowly missed striking the driver of the truck and the Trooper. Injured in the crash was 42-year old Skeeter S. Hutchinson, of Burlington, NJ., and 47-year old Michael E. Adger, of Omaha. Both were transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department report a Police vehicle was rear-ended at around 1:35-a.m. Saturday, while an Officer was covering an accident on Interstate 80 eastbound, at mile marker 2. Authorities say the Police vehicle was parked in the right lane, facing east, with his emergency lights activated , when the vehicle was struck from behind.

The Police Officer and driver of the vehicle that struck his cruiser, were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for evaluation of their injuries. The driver of the vehicle that struck the police cruiser, was from Bellevue, NE. A passenger in his vehicle was taken to a Council Bluffs hospital for injuries to his face and wrist. No names have been released.

Authorities say at this time, it appears speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE MOTHER:A VISIT FROM A CIVIL WAR SOLDIER is the name of a program that was scheduled to be given 2-p.m. Sunday, January 19th, at the Armory, in Atlantic. The event has been postponed until April 19, 2020, when O.J. Fargo will portray an Iowa soldier’s Civil War experience dressed in full Union Army regalia.

He’ll bring an artifact display and a roster of Iowans who served in the Civil War. Everyone is welcome. There is no fee and refreshments will be available. The program is sponsored by ARISE and funded by Humanities Iowa and Atlantic Community Promotion Commission. Againt, the program is POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL 19, 2020.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests on Friday night.

At 6:30pm Deputies arrested Shilo Major and Christina Squires on active warrants. They were taken to the Montgomery County Jail and booked in. Major is being held on $10,000 cash only bond and Squiers is being held on $4,000 cash only bond.

At 11:45pm Montgomery County Deputies arrested Justin McConnell following an incident in the Cubby’s gas station parking lot. He was taken into custody for Public Intoxication and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. He was booked in on $300 cash bond. Montgomery County Deputies were assisted by Red Oak Police in his arrest.