DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate Government Oversight Committee intends to question under oath a number of current and former top state government administrators about confidential settlement agreements. Committee chairwoman Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, says she’s determined to find out who authorized payments for secrecy to former state workers.

More than 320 state workers have entered settlement agreements since Gov. Terry Branstad returned as governor in 2011. Some were asked to sign confidentiality agreements and were paid to keep quiet. No one has ever taken responsibility for authorizing the agreements. Subpoenaed to testify Wednesday are former Iowa Department of Administrative Services attorney Ryan Lamb and the agency’s fired director, Mike Carroll.

Also called are the department’s former chief operating officer, Doug Woodley, who resigned last month, and current director Janet Phipps.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place on Monday. Deputies arrested 30-year old Trent Matthew Suhr, of Walnut,  on charges of Driving While Barred, Operating without Owner’s Consent, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Suhr was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day.

And, 38-year old Troy Adam Dillavou, of Carroll, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Dillavou was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains on $25,000 bond.

Red Oak  High School Principal Jedd Sherman submitted his resignation at the Red Oak school board meeting last night.  As part of the terms of the resignation, Sherman will receive a $100,000 payment and the school board waived its appeal on any kind of unemployment claims.   Sherman and his attorney formulated the resignation and the school board agreed that it would be in the best interests of the district to accept it and move on.  Sherman’s last day is June 30th.

The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Guthrie County man suffered serious injuries in a rollover accident Monday morning near Jefferson in Greene County.   Troopers say the accident happened around Monday morning at 10:05  at the intersection of Highway 4 and 250th Street.  The report shows 29-year-old Levi Dawson was driving a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer  south when he left the roadway and the vehicle flipped over on its top, coming to rest on the northwest corner of Highway 4 and the North Raccoon River Bank.   Dawson was taken to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines by helicopter.  Jefferson Fire and Rescue also responded to the accident.

Nearly two years ago, the City Clerk in the Harrison County town of  Logan got a pink slip.  Now, a settlement has been reached that will give her the job back and $400,000.  According to a story in the Omaha World-Herald, court documents filed Friday and Monday outline the terms of the deal with Angela Winther.  In July of 2012, Winther and City Attorney Joe Lauterbach were fired by the city council for what they said was insubordination in e-mails between the two.  Winther later filed suit, claiming that her first amendment rights were violated.  Since the firing, the size of the Logan city council has been trimmed from five members to three and none of the current members were part of the council when the firings occurred.  Winther will return to work and be paid $20.04 per hour.  Vicki Schroder has been serving as the city clerk, but she will resign and be given a $15,000 severance payment.  The city’s insurance carrier will cover the $400,000 payment to Winther.

w/ Jim Field

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Council Bluffs Police are investigating yet another robbery.  Sunday afternoon, just after 3:00 pm, police say a white male entered the Kum and Go store on Bennett Avenue and told the clerk to open the drawer.  He reached over the counter and took an undetermined amount of cash.  He did not display a weapon during the theft.  The man fled on foot.  The man was described as being in his twenties, possibly 5′-10″ and 165 pounds.  He was wearing a black sweatshirt with a large graphic print on the front, black gloves, a black beanie cap, a black bandana over his face, light blue jeans and tennis shoes.  Police say they have not yet determined if this is the same suspect that is involved in the rash of robberies that have recently occurred.  Four Council Bluffs businesses were hit early Sunday morning.  Police are asking anyone with information to contact them through the Crimestoppers hotline at 712-328-7867.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Corning woman on Monday, June 23rd on drug charges.  At approximately 10:05pm the Adams County Sheriff’s Office arrested 23-year-old Storm Louise Armstrong of Corning on a valid Red Oak Police Department Warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Armstrong was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $50,000 cash bond.

Police in Lenox report a dog bite in the community last Friday resulted in the animal being quarantined and may be put down because its vaccinations had expired and the tags were improper. Officials say a woman jogging  at around 7:30-a.m. Friday was bitten just above her ankle by a loose dog. The bite was severe enough to require the victim to undergo two-hours of emergency surgery.

The dog and its owners were identified. The animal was taken into custody and placed into quarantine. Authorities say that type of situation creates a number of problems for the dog owners. Citations will be issued, the dog will be destroyed and there will likely be civil responsibility.

Lenox Police remind residents to “Please make sure your dogs are in compliance and you DO NOT allow them to run loose.” Do not hesitate to contact the Police Department if you observe a dog at large. If officials catch the animal, it will be impounded. If the owner can be identified, the issue will be addressed.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Authorities say 45-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena, was arrested Sunday on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance +5 grams (a Class-B Felony). Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $5000 bond.

Also  arrested on Sunday, was 55-year old Dennis Charles Bagshaw, of Massena. He was wanted on a district court warrant for Probation Violation. Bagshaw was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was being held on $3000 bond.

And on Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 31-year old Amber Leigh Lind, of Atlantic,  on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Lind was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released the following day on her own recognizance.