DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chairman of Iowa’s Republican Party will step down later this month once a replacement can be chosen. The Iowa GOP said Saturday that A.J. Spiker had submitted his letter of resignation. The party will chose a new chairman on March 29.

Spiker plans to become a political adviser to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s political action committee. Rand Paul is a potential 2016 presidential candidate, and Spiker had previously backed Paul’s father, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Spiker became chairman in 2012 after tea party conservatives and Paul supporters worked at the precinct level to take control of the state GOP leadership.

On Saturday most of the GOP state convention delegates chosen were moderate candidates who back Gov. Terry Branstad.

Authorities in Montgomery County say two men face separate charges following their arrests over the weekend. Early Sunday morning, police in Red Oak arrested 26-year old Myles Dustin Longcor, of Henderson, after officers responded to disturbance caused by an allegedly intoxicated man.

When police arrived at 404 1st Avenue in Red Oak at around 3:30-a.m., they found Longcor creating the disturbance inside the residence. After he was escorted outside Longcor began to ignore officers’ commands and allegedly became physically aggressive. One of the officers deployed a stun gun, which incapacitated Longcor, who was subsequently put in handcuffs. As police were bringing to a cruiser, Longcor allegedly resisted arrest again, and tried to pull away several times. His actions caused both the officers and Longcor to fall to the ground. During the scuffle, one of the officers suffered an ankle injury.

Longcor was then taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and charged with interference with official acts, an aggravated misdemeanor. He was being held in jail on $2,000 cash bond.

The other incident happened at around 4:30-p.m., Saturday. Police in Red Oak arrested 23-year old Nicholas Philby, of Red Oak, on charges that include OWI 1st Offense,Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. Philby was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Authorities say Philby was taken into custody after officers pulled over the 1989 Ford Ranger pickup he was driving in the 1600 block of Miller Avenue. Philby was given a field sobriety test, which he failed. A search of his vehicle by the Red Oak K-9 Unit resulted in the discovery of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Police in Lenox arrested one person late Sunday morning (3/9) on a felony burglary charge. Authorities say officers were called to an address on N. Main Street in reference to an assault.

Jesus Alvarez

An investigation determined 18-year old Jesus Alvarez, of Lenox, allegedly kicked in a door and assaulted a male in the home. Alvarez was seen running from the area when the officer responded.

The teen was located at his home and arrested by officers of the Lenox Police Department and deputies with the Taylor County Sheriffs Office. He was charged with Burglary in the 1st degree, a Class B Felony, and transported to the Taylor County Sheriffs Office

(Updated 3/12/14, with bond set & court dates)

Authorities in Lenox report Sheriff’s deputies in Union County South Dakota have arrested a man wanted on a Lenox Police Department warrant for harassment in the 1st degree and  stalking, in violation of a protective order. 40-year old Chadwick David Sager, of Beresford, SD, was arrested Thursday after deputies were called to a residence in rural Beresford, with regard to a domestic dispute.

Chad Sager

Sager waived extradition at a court appearance on Friday, March 7th. He was transported back to Iowa by Officers of the Lenox Police Department on March 8th. He is currently being held in the Adams County Jail on $7,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was set for March 20th at 9:30-a.m. A judge Monday ordered Sager to have no contact with the alleged victim.

The charges originating in Lenox stem from a 5 month investigation during which Sager is alleged to have stalked and harassed a female who lives in Lenox. The Lenox Police Department was assisted in their investigation by the Taylor County Sheriffs Office, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit, the Delaware State Police, the San Diego Calif. Police Department, and the Florida Division of Law Enforcement.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening in the High School Media Center, beginning at 7:30. On their agenda is a special presentation with regard to the “Friend-to-Friend” Program, and action on approving resignations,  recommendations with regard to the 2014-2015 District Calendar and Snow Make-up days schedule.

Following their Feb. 10th meeting, Superintendent Mike Amstein had said the those days will be added to the end of the current school year, which will mean classes would dismiss May 23^rd instead of  May 21st, assuming there are no more make-up days due to the weather.Since then however, the district has missed some time because of both snow and cold weather.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board, Monday, will update the Facility Use fee schedule, and act on: A District Early Retirement proposal; the termination of the Head Tennis Coach’ contract; the hiring of a 1-to-1 Special Education Paraprofessional and then discuss the 2014-2015 budget, as well as review the District’s 1-to-1 computer proposal.

The Audubon City Council is expected to act Monday, on the consideration of applications for, and the appointment of, a City Clerk. At least six applications from persons interested in the position had been received as of early last week.

At its Jan. 13th meeting the City Council voted 4-1 to appoint Janet Nelson to the fill the position, instead of re-appointing long-time City Clerk Lora Hansen. Nelson later turned down the job, and the Council voted on Jan. 27th to leave Hansen in the position until it could get legal advice on hiring an interim clerk. On Feb. 9th, the Council voted to nullify the action it took Jan. 13th, and opted to have Hansen serve as the “Hold over” clerk, while at the same time seeking applications for her possible successor or an interim clerk. Action on the appointment of a City Clerk or Interim City Clerk was tabled, because as with the January 13th meeting, there was not a sufficient notice of publication of the Council’s intent.

Audubon County Attorney Francine Anderson has said she is considering filing a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board regarding a possible violation of the state’s Open Meetings law by the Audubon City Council, Mayor and City Attorney. Andersen said in a letter dated Feb. 28th, that she had been conducting a low-key review and investigation of matters related to the controversial, and possibly illegal firing of the Audubon City clerk in January, and has concluded that there is “Probable cause” to believe violations of Open Meetings and Public Records laws have taken place.

In other business, the Audubon City Council, Monday, will a hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget, followed by action on a Resolution approving the budget. They will also act on a motion to set the date for a public hearing on accepting a purchase agreement for property at 408 Market Street, and authorize the Mayor to execute any and all documents needed to finalize the purchase, including, but not limited to, the deed in lieu of condemnation. The hearing is expected to take place March 24th, at 7-pm.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights groups and some Democrats in the Legislature say Iowa has a wage theft problem and it needs to be fixed. Wage theft can include underpayment of wages, theft of tips, and unlawful deductions from paychecks. It’s most common in low-wage jobs often employing immigrant workers.

Sen. Bill Dotzler, a Waterloo Democrat says it’s an epidemic involving up to 1,000 workers a year in Iowa. He’s proposed a bill that holds employers responsible and forces them to tell workers up front in writing how much they’ll get paid and what deductions will be taken from their checks.

The bill passed the Democratic-led Senate but it’s expected to die in the House Labor Committee where majority Republicans contend it would be too costly for honest businesses.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

TRIPOLI, Iowa (AP) — The northeast Iowa town of Tripoli is advising its residents to boil their tap water before using it for drinking or cooking. The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier reports that the boil advisory was issued Friday afternoon. It follows a weather-related problem in the Tripoli water supply distribution system. The advisory is in effect until further notice.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The state is investigating what caused the death of Black Hawk County Jail inmate. Black Hawk County officials say a man being held at the jail was found unresponsive in a cell around 6:25 p.m. Friday. The inmate was taken by ambulance to a Waterloo hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the inmate.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of making terroristic threats after police say he acknowledged writing a threat on a wall at Spencer High School. The Sioux City Journal reports that the teen was arrested Friday and released to his parents. The case has been referred to juvenile probation authorities.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jon Ekey hit a 3-pointer in the final second to lift Illinois to a 66-63 victory at Number 24 Iowa Saturday night. Iowa’s Roy Devyn Marble — the Big Ten’s leading scorer — was held to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting on his home court. The Hawkeyes have lost five of their last six games.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Even as central Iowa residents continue to deal with winter, one utility is warning that it could ration water this coming summer. The Des Moines Water Works tells television station KCCI that it anticipates a dry summer ahead and may ask customers to reduce water use.

If Des Moines faces drought conditions, customers may be asked to voluntarily cut lawn watering. But if a drought persists, mandatory cuts will be enforced. The utility says that under mandatory cuts, anyone going over a set amount of water could pay four times the normal rate.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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