LAWTON, Iowa (AP) – A former city clerk in northwest Iowa has pleaded not guilty to a Nebraska charge filed in a child sex case. The Sioux City Journal reports 61-year-old Douglas Furlich, of Lawton, entered the plea Wednesday in Dakota County District Court in Dakota City. The felony charge is child enticement by use of an electronic communications device. The Lawton City Council in Iowa fired Furlich after his arrest.

The Nebraska State Patrol says Furlich posted an ad online saying he was “looking for a younger guy.” Officials say an undercover officer responded, pretending to be a 15-year-old boy. Court documents say Furlich went to a South Sioux City, Nebraska, park in June to meet the boy. Furlich was arrested there.

The Harlan Police Department reports two recent arrests and one incident of theft. Officials say 20-year old Austin VanAernam, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday for Disorderly Conduct, after officers were called to assist Medivac with a person injured in an altercation. Authorities say assault charges may be pending.

On Friday, Harlan Police arrested 51-year old Amy Jo Ross, of Harlan, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, after she allegedly broke into a woman’s residence in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue.

And, the H-PD is investigating the theft of a small garden trailer. The trailer was reported missing from a home in the 800 block of Tarkington, on Monday. The loss was estimated at $100.

(8-a.m. News)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Two Union County men were arrested Wednesday evening on drug charges. Creston Police said 39-year old Steven Knowles and 18-year old Kane Farlow, both of Creston, were arrested at around 6:30-p.m. near Highway 34/Industrial Parkway.

Farlow was being held in the Union County Jail on charges that include Felony Eluding Causing Bodily Injury, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,000.

Knowles was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana,
Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,000.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – An infant dropped off at the Mason City fire station has been turned over to state authorities. Police officers were sent to the station around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. The little boy, who appeared to be about a year old, was taken to a hospital to be checked out. It’s unclear whether the person or people who dropped him off explained the action.

Iowa law allows parents or their representatives to leave babies up to 14 days old at health care facilities, without fear of prosecution. Mason City Police Sgt. Steve Klemas says authorities are looking into the case.

A man who is suspected of leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit the night of July 11^th in Taylor County, was arrested Wednesday, in Lenox. 31-year old Mark Allen Achterberg, of Clarinda, was taken into custody under the authority of warrants issued out of Montgomery and Page Counties, for probation violation and failure to appear. Achterberg is suspected of leading deputies in the pursuit of a stolen motorcycle that began in Bedford July 11th.

The cycle, which was stolen from a residence in Atchison County, Missouri, was later found abandoned in Hopkins, Missouri. Charges are pending in Taylor County on Achterberg for theft and eluding.

During this extreme heat wave, Iowans are being reminded to take particular care of their pets, especially those that are considered “outdoor” animals. Josh Colvin, spokesman for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says if your dog is in a fenced area or chained up in the back yard, there are a few requirements when the temperatures get this hot.

“It’s really important to have cool, fresh water out there,” Colvin says. “That does help them cool themselves and they will not drink hot water. They’ve got to be in shade, so make sure there’s shade out there. With these really extreme temperatures, we do just recommend getting them in the house, somewhere where there are fans and cooler temperature for them.”

Some Iowans like to take their pets for a ride and will leave them in the car with the windows cracked while they run errands. Colvin says that’s not a good idea. “In extreme temperatures like this, we recommend keeping them at home,” Colvin says. “Really, a cracked window is not going to do much for them, even in the shade. The way animals cool themselves is by panting and if all they’re doing is bringing in that hot air, it’s not cooling them down. It takes very little time for a dog in a hot car to have a heat stroke.”

Forecasters say much of Iowa will be seeing high temperatures in the 90s this week, with triple-digit heat indices. “There’s a lot of things that can happen in a short period of time, even taking dogs for walks,” Colvin says. “That can be dangerous. We’ve got concrete out there that is going to get hot. Imagine with your bare feet. Dogs can actually burn their feet on that hot concrete as well.”

If there are feral cats or wildlife in your neighborhood, he suggests you set out a bowl of fresh, cool water for them as well, and limit your dog’s outside time to bathroom breaks only. Colvin urges people to act immediately if they see a distressed animal outside or in an unattended car. In the city of Des Moines, residents can call A-R-L Animal Care & Control at (515) 283-4811. Elsewhere, call your local law enforcement’s non-emergency phone number.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) agency has announced Iowans who file continuing unemployment claims should no longer do so by phone after October 1st. Instead, they should file online. IWD spokesperson Courtney Greene says filing online will ensure more timely and accurate payouts to individuals. There are benefits to employers and business as well.

“This change will also ensure the integrity of the unemployment insurance trust fund by reducing incidents of fraud, by eliminating improper payments, thus lowering employers’ taxes,” Greene said. Most Iowans who file continuing unemployment claims already do so online. “I think we’re currently at about 80-percent of people filing online…we really want to get that number into the 90s and even 100-percent if possible,” Greene said.

Despite the IWD’s notice of “online filing only,” people who do not have access to a computer will still be able file over the phone. “We will still have a handful of customer service representatives who will be able to assist people over the phone, but really the trend is to get more and more, as many Iowans as we can get filing their continued claims online,” Greene said. Iowans receiving unemployment benefits are receiving a letter about the change.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak arrested a motorcyclist for driving while revoked, Wednesday evening. 41-year old Jason Neal Beacham, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 5:30-p.m., after he was observed driving a motorcycle. Officers who knew Beacham didn’t hold a valid driver’s license, pulled him over.  He was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $1,000 bond.