A drug bust Friday evening in Villisca culminated in the arrest of six people. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, a five-month long investigation into narcotics activity resulted in the execution at around 5:30-p.m., of a search warrant at 129 north 4th Avenue, in Villisca. The search warrant resulted in the discover of about 127 grams of marijuana, more than $2,200 in US currency, numerous items of drug packaging material, a 9-millimeter handgun, and around 600 rounds of ammunition. Those items were taken into evidence and and those in the home arrested.

Among those arrested was: 19-year-old Jeffery Steven Whitt of Villisca, who was charged with 3 counts of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and drug tax stamp violation. 20-year-old Jesse Leroy Barger of Villisca was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, drug tax stamp violation, child endangerment, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Barger was also wanted on a Pottawattamie County warrant for contempt of court associated with a 3rd degree burglary charge

24-year-old Andrew Jackson Rice, 27-year-old Brandon Scott Johnson, and 27-year-old Lacey Faye Dorris, all of Villisca, were all charged with child endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  26-year-old Joseph Dean White, of Villisca, who was also charged with child endangerment, faces an additional possession of drug paraphernalia charge.

Each of the suspects were being held in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an appearance before a magistrate. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office was assisted by the Adams County Sheriff’s office, Page County Sheriff’s office and the Red Oak Police Department.

Two people died following a motorcycle crash Saturday evening, in Warren County. The Iowa State Patrol said the crash happened on Highway 28, at around 5:15-p.m., when the driver of a 2005 Harley Davidson cycle lost control on a curve and hit a cable barrier south of the Highway 5 bypass. Friends and family members told WHO-TV the victims were Jon “Dutch” Richeson and Lanette LeCroy, of Des Moines.

Authorities said both riders were transported to Mercy Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

A man from central Iowa faces multiple charges in connection with a police chase and standoff incident Saturday. KCCI TV reports 52-year old Monte Allen Stuart, of Des Moines, was arrested on charges that included assault with a dangerous weapon, eluding police, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said Stuart was first pulled over about 1:15 p.m. Saturday in Windsor Heights, during a routine traffic stop. The man took off in his SUV and later stopped in the 1800 block of 55th Street, where police say he displayed a handgun and a rifle

Video from the scene showed Stuart had a rifle on the hood of his Ford Bronco before he got into a vehicle with the rifle and drove around a police barricade. Police say he again got out of his SUV in the 2500 block of 51st Street and showed a handgun and rifle to authorities.

Stuart eluded police until his vehicle spun out near Euclid Avenue and Beaver Avenue. He was taken into custody following the incident, which lasted about 45-minutes. Stuart is currently in the Polk County Jail.

The City Manager in Avoca is getting some heat over potential conflicts of interest involving his work for other cities, and his outside business interests. The Omaha World-Herald reports 37-year old Clint Fichter who became Avoca’s first city manager in 2007, is chief executive officer of a company he founded that advises and provides administrative services for area communities, including Adair, Shelby and Neola. He also is executive director of the nonprofit Avoca Betterment Association, which develops affordable housing in that city of 1,600, and is one of three partners in A-Town Capital Group, which has purchased two commercial buildings on the town’s main street.

Mayor Jennie Maassen said she questions whether his work for other cities represents a conflict of interest. She also doesn’t think Avoca gets enough work out of Fichter because of his outside commitments. Both State Ombudsman Ruth Cooperrider and the president of the Iowa City/County Managers Association said Friday that when it comes to conflict of interest issues, appearances matter. Nonetheless, neither had enough information to say if Fichter’s actions were contrary to professional ethics or state law.

Councilwoman Sandy Petersen said for every dollar spent on Fichter’s salary, he has returned $11 to the city as a result of his grant writing. Fichter is paid $81,000 per year by the City of Avoca. He said he works about 45 hours at his job as city manager and about 15 more hours per week on other projects. He and his consulting business received about $49,000 for the outside work last year.

Fichter claims his opponents are trying to make his life unpleasant to get him to leave Avoca. He noted that his five-year contract, approved by the City Council in 2013, allows him to do work for other cities. Fichter advises other cities through a consulting company he founded called Polychronic. Polychronic provides a variety of services, including financial accounting, record-keeping and strategic planning for both Adair and Neola. He also serves as the city attorney in Shelby. He represented the city in its recent dispute with its volunteer firefighters.