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.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has suggested Iowa residents could one day buy cannabis oil in neighboring Illinois, a move that industry experts say has major legislative roadblocks if it’s ever seriously considered. Branstad recently said he was open to working with officials in Illinois, which has a pilot program to produce and distribute medical marijuana. Iowa has a law that allows residents with some forms of epilepsy to use oil with an ingredient derived from marijuana for treatment.

Illinois law would need to be changed to let Iowa residents purchase the oil there. Federal law would prohibit them from bringing it back to Iowa. Chris Lindsey, with the Marijuana Policy Project, says the situation highlights the dilemma for states that allow some medical marijuana without a clear path to access it.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Burlington police say they have located a vehicle they believe was involved in the shooting death of a man earlier this week. Police had asked the public for help on social media websites and through the local crime stoppers program in finding a black SUV after 24-year-old Deonte Carter was found fatally wounded in a city street Monday afternoon.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Two northern Iowa men are in trouble for telling a fish story that state officials say may not be true. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Aaron Lauber of Clear Lake and Jason Schuttler of Manly are charged with theft by deception after officials believe they cheated at a state-sponsored fish tournament at Clear Lake on February 8th.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Students, faculty and staff at the University of Iowa are making it clear they want candidates for university president committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive campus. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the university held three town hall meetings Friday as the process of finding a successor for Sally Mason begins.

MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — At least 17 women in prison at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville are donating some of their hair to be used to make wigs for women diagnosed with cancer. The Iowa Department of Corrections says the women will have at least eight inches of their hair cut by a Madrid hair stylist on Sunday.

(This is a correction issued by the Iowa State Patrol to their earlier report indicating 2 fatalities!)

One person died, three others were injured during a rollover accident in Madison County, early Saturday morning (2/21). According to the Iowa State Patrol, 24-year old Austin D. Ayers, of Casey, was partially ejected and died in the crash that happened at around 4:20-a.m. on 310th Street near the intersection with Clark Tower Road, about 8-miles south of Winterset. 

22-year old Shy J. Terry, 23-year old Cody L. Zimmerline and 15-year old Drew Steckelberg, all of Adair, were injured in the crash. The State Patrol says Terry was ejected during the crash and flown by Life Net helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, where she is recovering from multiple injuries, which reportedly include a broken hand, collarbone and collapsed lung, along with numerous cuts and abrasions.

Zimmerline and Steckelberg were transported by Madison County Ambulance to the Madison County Hospital, in Winterset. They suffered minor injuries, were treated at the hospital and later released. Zimmerline and Terry were not wearing their seat belts, while Steckelberg was belted-in.

Officials say Ayers was westbound on 310th Street in a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The SUV entered the northwest ditch and overturned before coming to rest on its wheels. The accident remains under investigation.

(2/23/15 updated to show 2 released from the hospital )

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a one-vehicle rollover accident on southbound 1-29 at Exit 24.  Time of the accident was not released.

After investigation it was determined that 27-year-old Trenton Murry of Omaha was driving a 2011 Chevy Malibu southbound on Interstate 29 approaching exit 24 when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the median. The vehicle then rolled and struck the cable barrier and cam to rest neat the center support for the exit 24 overpass.

Murry was transported to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha by Lifenet with serious injuries.  Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Tabor Fire and Rescue, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Mills County Sheriff’s Office.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police department reports the arrest Friday evening of 52-year-old Kenneth Dale Jipsen of Emerson for possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  The arrest occurred at approximately 9:30pm in the 1600 block of Summit Street in Red Oak.  Jipsen was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.