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.

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.