Des Moines Man Arrested for Marijuana Possession in Montgomery County 2024-10-12

A Des Moines man faces drug charges following his arrest in Montgomery County early Saturday morning. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office says 27-year-old R. Crooks Jr. was arrested for possession of a controlled substance--marijuana, 1st offense. Crooks was arrested following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highways 34 and 48 shortly after 12:30 a.m. Crooks was released from the Montgomery County Jail after posting $1,000 bond. Red Oak Police assisted the sheriff's office with the arrest.

murder

Iowa Teen Sentenced to 35 Years for Killing High School Teacher 2024-10-12

An Iowa teen who pleaded guilty to beating his high school Spanish teacher to death with a baseball bat must serve 35 years in prison before the possibility of parole, the state's high court reaffirmed Friday. W. Miller was 16 when he and another teen killed N. Graber, a 66-year-old teacher at Fairfield High School, in 2021. Miller was sentenced last year to life in prison with a mandatory minimum number of years served, but he appealed his sentence to the Iowa Supreme Court, arguing it's unconstitutional to sentence juvenile offenders to a minimum term before parole eligibility. The state Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the district court's decision, finding that the court's precedent explicitly allows mandatory minimums for juvenile offenders so long as the unique factors of their case are considered.

sports

Top-Ranked Mount Vernon Volleyball Team Upset in Westside Invitational Semifinals 2024-10-12

The Class 3A top-ranked Mount Vernon Mustangs were knocked off by Dike-New Hartford in the semifinals of the Westside Invitational volleyball tournament Saturday at Jefferson High School. Mount Vernon Coach M. Willems said the team's seniors didn't make the plays they were expected to make. Class 5A No. 2 Pleasant Valley eventually won the tournament, topping 2A No. 4 DNH in the championship match. Other area teams that participated in the tournament included West Delaware, West Liberty, and Iowa City Liberty.