COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 40-year old Jason Paul Rodriguez, a/k/a “Chico,” of Council Bluffs, was sentenced today (Thursday) in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. Rodriguez will serve 30 years in for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The prison terms for each conviction will be served concurrently. Hewill serve 10 years of supervised release after his prison term.

Authorities say Rodriguez organized and led a large-scale drug trafficking operation from 2016 until his arrest in April 2019. Rodriguez and his co-conspirators distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine. Co-defendants Lacey Jo Smalley and Erik M. Barber have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date. The conspiracy involved dozens of others and the investigation is ongoing.

Rodriguez was arrested on April 30, 2019, following a traffic stop. A drug dog alerted law enforcement to the presence of approximately eleven pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle. $14,933.55 in cash was also seized.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, South West Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Clarinda Police Department, Audubon Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Page County Sheriff’s Office, Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Intelligence, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Atlantic, IA – Officials with the Cass County Health System said Thursday, they are indefinitely postponing several upcoming public events. This measure is being taken to help protect the health of our community from the spread of COVID-19. The impacted events include:

· The CCHS Foundation Gala scheduled for March 28, 2020 is postponed until further notice.
· All Healthy U sessions are postponed until further notice.
· All Healthy U & Baby, Too! sessions are postponed until further notice.

As this situation progresses, we will keep the public updated about other postponements or cancellations.

The Atlantic Rotary is asking all parents, students, and community members: do you know a teacher who deserves recognition for going above and beyond the call of duty? The Atlantic Rotary Club is seeking nominations for the 7th Annual Rotary Club of Atlantic Outstanding Teacher Award, and would love to hear from you! The award, designed to recognize excellence in education in the Atlantic Community Schools, can be given to any certified, full-time teacher who spends at least 60% of his/her time instructing students.

The teacher selected will receive recognition at a school employee event, and will also receive a $3000 cash award. The award may be used to enhance the educational resources of the teacher, further the teacher’s education, or for any other purpose which the selected teacher deems appropriate.

The Atlantic Rotary Club has been a dedicated supporter of education in the community for many years through senior scholarships, and annual events such as senior recognition and new teacher welcome. In addition, they are frequent contributors through funding for many school needs such as updating technology in the classroom, supporting curriculum for local preschools, and a number of other school requests. Members of our club have been continually insistent that we also recognize and support the talented educators that are the heart of our schools, and we are very happy we have been able to continue this program.

Justin Williams and Karen Vogl, Atlantic High School CCEOC teachers were the 2020 award winners. They both continue to teach here in Atlantic. The outstanding nominees each year make this process difficult and exciting.

For teachers to be considered for the 2020 award, completed nomination forms, including letters of support, must be received by Monday April 13th. Nominated teachers will be evaluated based on their skill with students, classroom management, parent communication, peer interaction and community involvement. Teachers must be nominated by three individuals- they can be current or former students, parents of students, co-workers, or any combination of these. Forms were sent via email to all current parents through from the Atlantic Community School System in March. Application materials may be found on the Rotary Club of Atlantic website: www.atlanticrotary.com under the Grants and Scholarship tab.

It is the intention of the Atlantic Rotary Club, through this award, to recognize and reward outstanding educators in our public school system who exemplify the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” through their continuous dedication to students, parents, peers and the larger community, as well as the art and practice of education. This award is funded by proceeds from the Atlantic Rotary Club’s annual auction, which is made possible by the generous donations of local businesses and community members.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum reports that on March 5, 2020, 52-year old Gregory Herbert Markham, of Carter Lake, was sentenced to 151 months (nearly 12 1/2 years ) in prison, after he plead guilty to Transportation with Intent to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Distribution of Child Pornography, and 120 months for the Distribution of Marijuana and Cocaine to a Person Under the Age of Twenty-One. The sentences will run concurrently (at the same time).

Markham’s term of imprisonment is to be followed by supervised release for seven years. Markham was ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution. The investigation into his activities began in March 2019, when a Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Department Deputy encountered a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Travel Inn. The driver was subsequently arrested and the two females involved in this matter were left at the motel.

One of the females contacted the Defendant Markham for a ride. Markham picked up the two females, ages seventeen and eighteen from the Omaha motel and drove them to his home. Markham had previously transported one of the females from Omaha across the state line to his home for prostitution. Markham allowed the females to stay at his home and set up prostitution dates for sex. He also provided them with cocaine and marijuana. Markham took pictures of the seventeen year old on his cell phone and distributed the child pornography to a friend.

The case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Omaha FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, Carter Lake Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A large community college system in eastern Iowa says that most, but not all, of its classes will be temporary held online to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Kirkwood College said that all classes with a lecture format will not meet in person beginning March 23 through at least April 10.The college is based in Cedar Rapids but has a secondary campus in Iowa City and several centers throughout the region. Its announcement comes one day after Iowa’s three public universities said they would suspend in-person instruction through at least April 3.

Representative Tom Moore, from Griswold, reports Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds today (Thursday) approved the State Supplemental Aid for the the 2020-2021 school year. Moore says this will appropriate an additional $99.2 million to the state’s education budget for the upcoming school year. The increase will address important issues such as transportation inequity for rural schools, and reduce the per pupil cost (breakdown of spending below).

Moore said he had the honor of joining the governor, as well as other legislators for the signing of the legislation into law.

• Supplemental State Aid $85.57 million
• Rural Transportation $7.65 million
• Per Pupil Equity $5.8 million

TOTAL $99.02 million

A Cass County man was sentenced last week to 25-years in prison in association with his plea of guilty to one Class-B Felony count of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, in Guthrie County. Court records show a second count of sexual abuse in the 2nd was dismissed against 22-year old Matthew David Ross, of Marne. As part of his plea deal, Judge Randy Hefner ordered Ross to serve up to 25 years in prison with a required 50% minimum, but the sentence was suspended and he was instead given five years probation.

Matthew David Ross

Ross was also ordered to remain under supervised parole for the rest of his life. He must also register as a sex offender, pay a $100 sexual abuse victim surcharge, victim restitution, and up to $500 for category two restitution. The case against him stems from a January 31st, 2019 arrest into his activities with a person under the age of 12. The investigation was conducted by the Stuart Police Department.