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Wonder why the “longest bridge going over dry land” in Iowa – the Grouse Avenue bridge, NW of Latimer over I-35 – is barracaded and closed?
I haven’t seen anything in the news.
Franklin county has orange “snow fence” going across both ends of the bridge with big ROAD CLOSED signs which can be seen from I-35.
My heart goes out to the Barlas family. I hope George and Kathy are able to carry on and preserve the Barlas recipes. I’ve eaten at the finest places all over the world and without a doubt Tom Barlas Sr was the best all around cook in my view.
As a previous poster stated, Tom and Kathy employed many people over the years and helped many get their start in life. They were very hard and dedicated workers who always worked as a team and wanted you to be your best. Tom Barlas could have made 10 times the money had he been in any major city. He chose to stay here and in doing do enriched all our lives. His facilities were always a lot of fun and well run.
Matt I respect your how you are covering the Barlas situation. This family is grieving in so many ways. This is not your normal crime. Signing off as Kim Bresnahan
Would you respect him if he treats other stories the same way?
Curious what is a normal crime? Also what makes NIT differentiate this crime from any other one? This is supposed to be a news site.
C’on people THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO REPORT, YET. Since I used caps do you understand that.
You surely don’t expect NIT to go knocking on their door do you. C’on
Matt, what’s going on? This site is getting downright boring. I called you this morning about the body found behind Papa’s and there was nothing on NIT about it. I kept watching. Normally, you would have jumped right on it and at the very least you would have posted something about all the police cars and the yellow police tape. You used to be right on top of things. I miss the good ol’ days.
A short time ago KIMT posted the story regarding the situation noted at Papas Cafe. They reported that an employee was found early this morning. No foul play is suspected and his death appeared to be from natural causes.
Anyone hearing any reports of a body being found behind Papa’s American Cafe? Seeing some people on facebook making these reports.
I was driving on Hwy 18 about 10:00 this morning. I saw that the police had the parking lot quarden off with tape behind Papa’s. There was a couple ambulances there and about five police cars. I’m not sure what they were doing, but there sure was quite a bit of activity going on.
found this on KIMT- i too saw it this morning and wondered what was up. I hope it was just natural causes and the autopsy doesn’t reveal something more sinister. I’ve heard tell around town that the family was involved with the mob.
http://www.kimt.com/2013/07/21/21154-autosave/
I think it is funny. That Matt Marquardt the self proclaimed I ask the tough questions. I hit hard is too chicken to try to secure some sort of interview.
The word through the grape vine is that it’s possible Jr could have been going through psychological medication withdrawal compounded by a recent breakup.
The lack of coverage for the Barlas story has completely changed my opinion of NIT and its claim of always asking the tough questions.
Had this story involved those people that NIT dislikes, the coverage would have been over the top and the comments would have been turned on.
Just watch…the next time there is a story that is of such breaking news, Matt will be all over it. You can bet the comments will be flying and he’ll be “asking tough question”.
NIT has lost any credibility I previously had. JMO
My name is Kimberly Bresnahan. I worked for Tom and Kathy on and off for 26 years. Kathy and Tom treated me like family when I was very alone. Tom’s sister Mryna did as well. Please leave these wonderful people alone . The Barlas family has helped so many. How would you feel. By the way back whan I worked for Kathy and Tom my last name was Rubalcava.
I’m in the club as well. Worked for Tom and Cathy from 1975 to 1979 at Pheasant Run and easily made twice what the kids today make. They were good bosses and hard workers and if you gave to them, they’d give back. Tom Barlas was the best cook ever in my opinion. I never ate so good in my entire life.
Peter, you are pathetic, give it up. This is obviously a much different situation that others that you are reffering to. This is a family that was involved, it is within the family, show some sensitivity. You left this site before because of your constant complaints about Matt and everyone else here. You said you were going to start your own site. Well sure as hell, nobody followed you to your special web site and you failed. Now you are back here complaining every day again. Just leave and don’t come back and things won’t bother you any longer.
your wrong John. you may not like Peter, but he is correct.
What I don’t understand is that sure it is news, someone died and someone was arrested. Why do we need to know every single detail about the crime?
It’s a darn sight more interesting than how much City Hall spent on kleenexes and stamps!
correct sicka. this is what the news media does. If you have to make that kind of comment maybe, then you must not watch or read any news. Or simply want to bitch.
I am not bitching at all, I just don’t understand how people need to gossip and want things to talk about. I do watch the news some but I don’t sit around talking about every bodys business.
Looking forward to a great meal tonight at the Landing in Clear Lake. Wow, disappointment. super greasy not edible onion rings, fish tacos that stunk because fish was rancid. I don’t know why the waitress didn’t ask about my meal, it doesn’t matter anyways i wont be back.
So did you tell anybody at The Landing or did you just come onto a public site to complain. If you didn’t give them the opportunity to make it right with you, that really isn’t very fair. And that holds true for every resturant or place of business.
It is the job of the restaurant to serve good food. not always the customers job to tell them what to do. Do you also tell the doctor how to so his job?? I doubt it. now you understand my point.
No,I don’t. Complaining about a resturant and telling a Doctor how to do his job are very different things. Poor comparison. I simply stated that if a person goes to an establishment and isn’t satisfied with what they pay for, they should tell someone at the establishment. That holds true for a Doctor as well, which is why people are often encouraged to get a second opinion. Don’t make an arguement where there is none, I was just asking if they told the resturant that they were not satisfied or not…end of story.
thanks for agreeing Peter. another point I would like to make is when someone complained about a lawn not being mowed to the PROPER channels. Nothing was done till he posted his complaints here on NIT. and for your information it IS the same thing. a complaint is a complaint weather food or auto repair or medical service. Responsibility comes with the business FIRST. thank you
Let’s be honest, the police and prosecutors are either incompetent or out of control. They either charge stack or overcharge to begin with.
It’s entirely more probable that this is a 2nd degree murder case. I’ve seen defendants walk because they were overcharged and the prosecutor could not prove the overcharge.
You must know more facts then the police and county attorney. Where did you get your law degree?
Oh, I think it’s pretty likely this wasn’t pre-planned murder seeing as how Jr lived in the house and knew he wasn’t going to get away with it and collect insurance. It is a 2nd degree murder case sure as I’m sitting here.
You are not Dan Rich…You Are Bill..Last Chance
No coverage of a great event in downtown Mason City last night?
One guy can’t be everywhere all the time. Why don’t you let us know how good it was? Thanks!
supposedly NIT is not a one man band.
I, too, have wondered why there has been basically nothing on the Barlas murder on this site.
It is on the front page of the Globe today. I am kind of disappointed there is no coverage of it on NIT. I just can’t understand why NIT would not be all over a big story like this. I dont like it when I have to turn to the Globe for a story. Is NIT taking the weekend off?
what happened to the building next to the globe gazette where the murder of sarah winters happened? its all boarded up.
Peter L
It would be hard to understand just how a burned out drug addict like yourself could develop cognizant sentence structure. And why are you so interested in the Barlas family? Is it because they ban you from entring?
What happened to your web site? Do you have this tragic story covered on it?
This sad story of the Barlas family and how it is covered will define, to some degree the legitimacy of NIT. The critical element for me is fair and equal coverage of the facts no matter who you are or what you did. I hope that Matt will set the bar high and apply the same standards in this situation for the next guy who is charged with a felony or even lesser crimes. Otherwise NIT will become just a blog fest. North Iowa needs and deserves an alternative source of news and I look for NIT to fill that void responsibly.
Sr was killed, Jr was arrested. How much more do you need to know? KIMT, Globe all have reported the same as NIT.
NIT aggressively covered the Aaron Harris murder story, providing far more information than other news outlets and going way beyond what the MCPD released to the media. The story was followed extensively for days. I’m simply observing that the same degree of persistence in this case, so far has not been forth coming.
What I’m observing about the coverage of this story, is that if you are a friend you get minimal coverage and the comments are turned off.
That is not fair and ethical journalism. There have been lesser newsworthy stories than this story, that have been plastered all over NIT with even a video accompanying them. To me, NIT likes to instigate and embellish stories for its “enemies” and ignores and does not address hard-breaking news like this case, since it’s a friend.
For me, this story has caused me to change my opinion of NIT. I no longer view it as a credible news source, rather it has become a National Enquirer rag.
all news medias are this way. weather you know it or not. So I guess this is just normal for americans.
What exactly do you bunch of Einsteins expect NIT or any other media to report? It happened 2 days ago!!!! He hasn’t even had his initial appearance yet. This is pretty basic stuff. The Harris case was covered as the trial occurred. NIT should add The Idiot Forum for people like you so you can mingle with others with the same sub 15 IQ.
Folks the reason for the double standard on the unfortunate Tom Barlas murder by NIT is because they are advertisers on this site and good friends of Peter Children. Matt doesn’t want to lose their support. Connect the dots. Otherwise this site wouldn’t care.
Billy Billy Billy…calm down..suprised your out so fast…keep it up.
Now you got it! Get in the game.
You thought I wouldn’t get it……??Your post from someone you are not…Everyone I and you know..to delete was a request from me …. You have been gone for a while. keep it up. Sun screen will not keep you from exposier..moron.
Calm down net newbie, it’s da net. So…now you want to claim ownership of both names? I’m laughing so hard I’m crying…lol. Even Miley Cyrus let go of her first name Destiny…hehe.
Haven’t been anywhere D, constitutional rights violated, settlement. I do find it interesting that your nephew “King” lol looks a lot like you did.
Let me get this straight. The government of the people, by the people, for the people violates my rights. Case dismissed and now YOU pass judgement …and I don’t even get a sorry?
Tell me D, does that church you go to and the one your sister owns mean anything to you or do you just say the words and pretend than you mean them?
You are not Rich Rahlf…Last chanch
You know, I wonder. When you and sis pray to God do you…I mean, do even bother to take the time and ask for forgiveness for how you behaved earlier in life, or is it all about the “church of what’s happening now?”
-Amen
…the sound of crickets chirping…lol
When you and Dana pray to God, he can’t help but snicker a little bit.
Danabirds right. God is a right wing Republican…nobama. Because he recognizes you two as the human races moral leaders and I want to be around to witness Gods greatness.
Well, because you and Dana and the good Christian people. The chosen ones if you will. Our moral leaders to be sure.
Wow, I had no idea that when I was being lied to, manipulated and used that I was really witness to God’s chosen ones. How was I supposed to know?
I guess I’m just the inferior moral criminal and you and dady are the good moral Christian people after all. I’m stunned. God works in mysterious ways…
Where would I go to view the current salaries of city employees? I am most interested in seeing how much Mayor Bookmeyer makes.
We have a weak Mayor form of Government. Trout makes the most money, the administrator.
Peter, I appreciate your comments. There was literally nothing more to report until police made more information available. We can’t do the police’s job. On the story comments, we were asked by people close to the family to be sensitive to comments on the matter. As I have made clear since day 1, NIT will delete comments when asked or even keep comments off some stories. We have done this before. We are not asked to do so very often. I did delete about 10 comments two nights ago when a caller said he was bothered by them and indicated the blogger was impersonating someone else. Thanks for noticing and asking about this.
The Globe published the latest update (Tom, Sr. was murdered by Tom, Jr.) at 7:14 this morning. So the news is out.
so much for presumed innocent
The Globe and KIMT reported both the victim’s and alleged killer’s name either late last night or very early this morning. Yet, NIT states they won’t release that info until later.
Since when did NIT care about being courteous to anyone’s family. Had this been any of our local officials, they would have appeared front and center and the ability to comment would not have been turned off.
Must be because you are Facebook friends with the suspect and also didn’t you want to start a FB site with classmates that were criminals??
NIT’s actions seem VERY inconsistent with it’s past publication and news coverage philosophy. Not good journalism.
You seem to be missing the boat somewhat here.
Both names were published once the police released them. That was done early this morning.
Being Facebook friends doesn’t mean a whole lot, fyi. Plenty of people have come and gone from my “friends” list and plenty of them have ended up in the news.
Also, how do you think I would ever have time (or interest) to create and maintain a mugshot Facebook page? I asked a question on my personal Facebook page to gage the interest in such a page, yes. This is related to a story I am working on regarding bullying, a practice some allege another local mugshot Facebook page engages in. Some called both pages examples of bullying yet follow the existing page on Facebook. I never indicated that such a page would be created and I certainly would not have an interest in hurting my old friends.
Come on back and comment once you are caught up on all the facts.
@Matt, You can justify NIT’s lack of coverage of this case any way you choose. The fact remains, is that you are almost ignoring this case. Like other individuals that have posted on here, they too are questioning why you are “not all over” this case like you are all of the other stories that come on NIT.
Plus, you never did address in your response why you blocked comments to the Barlas story????
Maybe you’re the one missing the boat!
I think the recurring theme here is perception of fairness. I am very happy that you have shown respect for the family, in these very dark days.
But, the point people are making is this– in most situations, you will sniff out all the info you can and print it — fact or not– with little regard to how it may affect the people involved. Due to your close relationship with Peter, you know every detail and rumor. That is what people have come to expect from you. And then, you get angry and defensive when people disagree with your point of view. In other words, your reputation is that ” You can dish it out, but you can’t take it !”. You would be more credible if you respected others point of view, just as you expect the same– just some constructive thoughts….
Anger? Never. I enjoy the debate. I suspect you know me, but you know much less than you think you do. I, however, know much, much more than I ever let on. I hear stories about lots of people in town, even stories about some of you with the colorful, fake names, let’s put it that way. Doesn’t mean I’m going to write about it, so don’t fret. You confuse my winning all the debates and successfully defending attacks against me here on NIT with anger. I have no anger whatsoever; I find much of the attacks against me to be entertaining, humorous and futile. I’m sorry I always triumph; winning is in my DNA. I’m just too good at what I do now, and only getting better. Thanks for your thoughts, though.
Your response is exactly what I am talking about. Enjoy the debate or not– you just get defensive if challenged. You cannot deny that– Mr. winning is in my dna…
And the key word about what u know about me or others… STORIES. Fact and fiction are two different things. And, the whole story, rather than Max Weaver’s version of the story are polar opposites…
If u really want this debate– call me…I am not afraid of you…
I appreciate the chuckle this morning, june. We both know that I will always respond to criticism and not hide. So, that possibility is off the table.
I would welcome any debate – I honestly don’t know what we would be debating, you will have to fill me in on that – but I would not conduct such a debate over the phone, in private. We can conduct it right here in public. I’ll say what I heard and you can do the same. I will dig up the facts and evidence and see what is true or not true. This is not to say that I readily believe every shred of data that comes my way, but boy, some of it definitely raises eyebrows.
You are right, Peter, I do own this Cadillac of a website. By the way, very, very few bloggers have ever been banned. NIT uses software to weed out spam and comments with profanity. I have never edited anyone’s comments unless they have asked me to do so.
Again, I’m sorry you are angry that I always win the debates here on NIT, and that you are even angrier that although I did a story on the Barlas incident – which included photos, video and the police statement – that was just not enough for you. I can understand how you would hunger for more coverage from NIT since it is the best media in town, but there’s just nothing else to report on that incident. Once the case is tried in court, I’m sure we would post any adjudication, should there be one.
Sounds like to me you just reported it all, Peter. Not much more for me to say on the matter. By the way, are you still angry with the Barlas family for booting you out of the Hanford Inn Hotel years ago for pestering waitresses and loitering at the lobby pay phone?
OMG, it appears Tom Barlas owner of Prime and Wine and Pappa’s has been stabbed to death by his 42 year old son!
You know it must’ve been inheritance related. My heart goes out to Cathy Barlas, Tom’s wife.
HE was the former owner. Doug Brown has owned Papa’s and The Prime and Wine for many years now. Tom Sr. also was the owner of the Hanford Inn Hotel, and the Pheasant Run.
Looks like he had TWO boys, two years apart in age and the younger one appeared to do it. The Barlas family were such good cooks and restaurateurs who gave us a slice of big city life here in Mason City. What a tragic loss. Tom Sr. was the best cook in Iowa.
You don’t inherit if you commit the crime that resulting in death.
fire at curries and no one can get out?
My daughter works there and when I asked her about it she just said it was no big deal.
Matt:
My check for $24 to North Iowa Today was dated September 4, 2012 and cleared the bank the 10th.
I keep getting the notation that the post is available for purchase. What gives?
My apologies for this software glitch. I have repaired your subscription. You have full access to NIT once again.
Thank you.
Matt……I think it would be interesting for you to do a story on the Ann Butcher trial currently going on. This is just another example of Mason Citys all powerful dictators doing whatever they wanted. I have know Ann for over 20 years and she was a dedicated civil servant for the city for decades and was screwed over by the bosses.
The real issue here is she is represented by Roxanne Conlin who is a former Li. governor of the state and an excellent attorney. How much will this cost us? 100, 200, 300 thousand or more. Yes I know insurance will pay for some of it…but now what happens with the cities insurance?
I could not find this defendant’s name on Iowa Court’s On-line. Is it spelled right. Ms. Conlin is probably not court appointed if the trial is here; she would be privately retained.
Ann is not the defendant. She’s the plaintiff. The City, Mike Lashbrook, and Tom Meyer are the defendants. I hope Ann cleans up on this.
@common Sense man-I believe you will find that the city is self insured. That means it comes out of our tax money.
@lvs….yes I do believe you are right. So whatever amount of money Ann Butcher wins from the city, it eventually will cost the taxpayers. If she does win, and with the best attorney in the state representing her I feel the city should fire whoever was responsible for this situation. If you cost your employer hundreds of thoiusands of dollars what would your employer do to you?
So word on the street is the Beehm famliy pleaded guilty.
Was there a hearing today? Or did the Behms just plea bargain out something? Please elaborate.
Does anyone have a dealership they need managed?
Don’t see anything on-line. Last posting was trial setting order.
First and foremost, I was born and raised on a farm. I believe to be such gave me a great work ethic, appreciation for nature and love for the land.
Some are objecting to the federal farm program – and truthfully, I can see your objections and agree with a few. There does need to be a limit to how much a farmer can get from government programs.
But what many of us take for granted is the wide array of risk farmers take. This spring is one great example. Remember the rains? Travel south on I-35, and you don’t need to go any farther south than Hwy 3 to see probably over a thousand acres that went un-planted. IF a farmer signed up for crop insurance, they may qualify for insurance payments for not planting due to the weather. IF the farmer did not buy crop insurance, they’re out.
A farmer has to meet with a banker, convince that banker that going out to their field, throw onto the dirt tens of thousands of dollars in fertilizer, weed and insect protection as well as the seed with absolutely no way to go out to the field and pick-up the products if the farmer can’t make his repayments. The farmer also has to buy diesel fuel for their equipment, make payment on those tractors, planters and combines, with no guarantee the corn, beans or wheat will grow, or produce a single bushel.
While we pretty much know how much we are going to make each pay check, whether by salary or hourly wage, a farmer must comfort his banker by assuring them the farmer is good at selling their crops at a good price. But there’s no guarantee, unless the grower’s participating in the USDA crop program – which tells the grower how many acres of corn or beans they are allowed to grow, as the government attempts to keep markets stable. Markets can fluctuate over 20 cents a bushel per day… some 30 cents, and if the market’s in a free-fall or high demand, those limits are raised in methods which are difficult to explain easily here. If a grower has 1,000 acres of corn, which typically yields 200 bushels per acre (example figures for easy figuring), the farmer has a potential (no guarantee) of 200,000 bushels to be harvested this fall. A 30 cent swing in one day of market movement means a grower could lose or gain $60,000 in a single day! (Pass the antacid now, please).
To harvest the crops to get their money for the lender, the farmer needs a combine – about $250,000 to get a modest model of red, green or yellow color. Can you convince your banker to let you buy a $250,000 hunk of iron that can only be used maybe six weeks a year?
And this is only the crop farmer – livestock farmers face similar, if not more challenging decisions.
Food for thought – pun intended. Time now for me to finish my bacon and eggs, and thaw out my Angus steaks for supper. Thank you, farmers of America!
first off. I make money from the farmer. However if it is that bad to be a farmer, then why not simply go and get a 9-5 job? I am self employed also like the farmer. I work my ass off like the farmer. But I do not make as much money as the farmer, and do not get Gov subsidies. farmers choose to be in “field” they are in.
As for the farm bill. Why not simply set a break even price for the cost of a bushel of crop. taking in consideration the cost of fuel, seed, fertilizer, maintenance and payments on 10 year old machinery, etc. At the end of the year. the farmer would have the option to sell that bushel for the break even price if prices have fallen below break even. I feel that would only be fair. This way the actual farmer gets the money and not an investor who simply owns land for the subsidies.
PS. there will always be someone else to plant that land if the farmer thinks its too much of a burden.
Sorry for the delayed reply – I’ve been away from computer services for most of the week.
There is a price support level – last I knew, it was called a “Load Deficiency Price” (LDP), which changes daily at market close.
Growers can take a loan on their crops and when the grower chooses to sell, they can either let the crop go to the USDA, or sell to the market. There are marketing tricks that a grower can make extra money with a good-sized market swing during a day.
It does provide the grower with a “market floor” which should be just slightly above break-even.
Is it perfect? No – but it’s what the growers have to work with.
There are a lot of growers who would love to give up the stress and go 9-5. All they have to do is show up, do their job, go home and relax.
For many Americans, there is a drive and desire to succeed – they know they have skills and ability to do better than 9-5. With larger pay, there’s a need for antacids and pepto, no-doze and caffiene. I would love to be a farmer, alas, I personally haven’t the skill-set to be successful. I know my limitations. That’s what makes the world go ’round.
However, hiding FoodStamp funding in the farm bill as has been the practice for decades skews the view of entire bill. And with one in three Americans now on food stamps, this is not a cheap endeavour.
@Trucker Dave and 50 Miles South-Good post both of you. Food for thought on both opinions. I tend to go along with 50 miles on this one. I too grew up working the farms and have a good appreciation for the work that goes into one. However, it is a lot different today. The family farm is pretty well gone in this area and it is all big business now and ALL businesses have risk. Farmers make a lot of money today and yes, they have have a lot of expense. It is hard for me to feel bad for millionairs that cry about everything all the time, especially when a lot of them collecting are just land OWNERS and not farmers. We have a state senator that falls in that category.
Welfare complaining is all about jealousy. Here’s why.
When a farmer with a $50,000 pick-up(upgraded every 3 years) gets free money it doesn’t bug working people because they view the farmer as on a higher economic scale to begin with. However, when they see an ugly, overweight poor person at HyVee with an EBT card it really pisses them off! It’s because they are jealous that someone who they consider beneath them got something for free. These complainers are society’s losers. Often the same people who love to go to war so saving tax money is not what they are concerned about.
thats one way to say it. I agree
Funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time, “he’s 13 wearing spiderman shorts, get it together”.
wow. just went out to the fair grounds for the fair. that was a complete joke. the only thing worth seeing was the animals. dont waste your time.
Can you be more specific… how was the carnival, the other attractions? How big was the crowd?
there was barley any one there about 10 rides at the most and two games where the dirty Carney tried to rip me off for 20 bucks. Complete waste of my kids time she was very disapointed exept for the animal exhibits that was really cool.
LaFrenz’s will be going after Behms too you just watch
Farm welfare, (The new term Cost Sharing)
Farm bill, 20 billion with a B, to farmers that live better then most and have way to much free time. What a waste of taxpayers money, I would support food stamp program over the farm bill.
80% of the farm bill is food stamps!
Nope, that was just changed, they are separate now. Farmers got all their juice, Supplemental nutrition getters got nothing.
Thank you the 20 billion was with out the food stamp program.
I wonder how many of those “farmers” actually work on a farm. Or is it just another way for the bankers lawyers and politicians to milk the system? this is on of the real problems with this country.
Wages in this town, people patting themselves on the back for $9.50 hour jobs, (taxes payer support these low wage jobs; food stamps, high medical bill because some not able to have insurance) they should try to live on that. We need good paying jobs in this town. What is good paying, 16 to 25 dollars an hour, with benefits.
On the call center jobs – we are glad to have them, they are better than nothing – but it is not 135 jobs as Eric, Brent and the other cronies want you to believe. We will know in 5 years if that comes to fruition. We are only promised 29 jobs in one year after the operation is set up. Then, 29 more the second year, and so on. IC Systems made promises similar to this and never got halfway there.
Matt, there is another side of this coin that you need to remember about IC System.They are a family owned business and have been since 1938. They are doing well and have operations based in Eagan, MN, with locations in Fargo, Wisconson and Florida. They are finacially strong, with the downturn of the economy, naturally, it made growth harder. (You can’t suck blood out of a turnup plant, even though it is red. They met their obligation to the City of Mason City and paid the fine for not meeting the job growth goal. The way I see it, the only thing that ticked them off is that the City wouldn’t even talk with them about this and would not work with them. When their lease was done, they were out of here, they didn’t need Mason City to stay a strong Company. Why put up with this City if they wouldn’t even talk? Again, they paid the money back and we lost them. That should have set a precident to any other agreements in place.
Our City Councel then took up the deal with Aeron about their agreement that fell short, a deal was worked out to keep them here. So what are other business’s to expect when they cut a development deal with this bunch of cronies? Are they going to define things and stick to it or not? If I were IC System, I would file a law case against the City for picking and chosing.
It would have nice to have both of them here.
People in jail get to have access to facebook??
Suggest all married couples read the comments on “Op-ed: the race for mayor”. Especially the one by Peter dated July 13, 2013 @8:35am. Make a copy, put it on the fridge. Read it. Could save a marriage, maybe yours.
You mean this one?
Peter Children Reply
July 13, 2013 at 8:35 am
Hacker; ever wonder why married women stray? 1) the husband doesn’t shower 2) he’s drunk every night 3) he hasn’t grown intellectually 4) got fat fast . 5) takes is wife for granted 6) stopped telling her she is beautiful…..shall I go on? There are a million reasons….one of the biggest is when he he finishes he gets off….but she still has a way to go. Any of that sound familiar to you Hacker?
@Luther – Yes, that is the post I was referring to.
Who else is running for Mayor except for Symonds?
@Mayor-that is the problem. There is no one that has declared they are running that will win against our current mayor. Bill Schickle might win but has not decided as yet.
Matt I’ve been having the same problem with access, please advise.
Liberty Boy, your subscription is repaired. I apologize for the issue.
Matt, so am I …
Your subscription is repaired. I apologize for the issue.
I have been a paid member of NIT for some time, but
I keep being asked to purchase articles through paypal. Has my mebership expired without me knowing?
Good morning. I have repaired your subscription and you should now have full access to NIT once again. I apologize for the issue.
good song. reminds me of taking a, Slow Ride, in my Hemi charger. miss those days. 🙂
I would have said fool and left it at that!
Great song! Might find that one on youtube later.
When did people in this country start believing the BS that employees cause business’s to fail. The more logical opinion would be bad management or maybe the company just has a crap product and nobody wants to buy it.
The national Cancer Institute explains how Marijuana can shrink tumors.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4
It kept my best friend alive for several years after what they had predicted. They said it would be two years at the most. She lived for SEVEN years. Don’t get me wrong — you absolutely need to be treated at the cancer center with chemotherapy/radiation (or whatever they recommend). But marijuana made my friend’s chemo treatments so much easier to take, and that kept her from stopping them. The most important thing is, she was able to EAT. It gave her so many more years. Why isn’t anyone listening?
And LVS, I really get tired of you calling everyone “potheads”, “dopers” & “druggies”. And then in the next breath you say you’re okay with medical marijuana. Please explain your position. It sounds like you have medical problems that could be helped by medically prescribed cannabis.
As my Dad used to say ” Everything in moderation” while he drank himself into a stupor. I think pot is not much different than alcohol. Actually I think it is less dangerous but it just happens to be illegal. Personally pot made me introverted and lazy but I knew of others that it made extroverted and hyper.Drugs alters a persons perception of things. This can be good AND it can be bad. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine are LEGAL drugs. Cocaine used to be legal but was abused just like alcohol. Both were prohibited but alcohol somehow found it’s way back to being legal. Stealing to support a habit, whether it is gambling or drugs, is wrong. I say we make all drugs legal and tax the P**S out of them.It would free up a lot of prison space for the real criminals ie rapists, murders etc. What say you all?
I Have nothing at all against LEGAL “Prescription” drugs. The pot heads and druggers are not legal. To the best of my knowledge pot is still “ILLEGAL” in Iowa. Also, I really don’t care if you like me calling them pot heads and druggers. If the truth hurts that is to damn bad.
@Reggie (Red) Now that is something I would support. Make it legal and tax the hell out of it. Do these dummy’s really think it is so great and safe after all of the study’s that say just the opposite? It is still a drug and all drugs are dangerous to some degree.
LVS, I hope you’re smarter than that. Cannabis is NOT a drug. No processing involved. You pick a bud off a plant and use it just as it is. It might even mellow YOU enough that you stop attacking everyone. I won’t hold my breath on that one, however. You would need to open your mind. Not going to happen.
@My Opinion-you need to check your facts. I attack no one who doesn’t attack me first. I think you need to get another fact straight. Pot is classed as a controlled drug. I thought you were smarter than that, at least I hoped you were.
JMO pot IS a drug .Just a naturally formed drug. And give LVS credit , he is trying to be nice so don’t attack him first. LVS you handled that abuse about as well as anyone could expect. THANK YOU
Nice post! Informative.
I just heard that the nation’s number two employer is now Kelly temp services. It will soon be number one as more and more businesses decide they don’t want to deal with ObamaCare.
They mostly offer crap jobs. Soon City Hall will be using them. No private employer who can get away with it wants to pay a good wage with benefits. What has this country come to?
“No private employer who can get away with it wants to pay a good wage with benefits.”
The problem is overhead has gone up way higher than private employers can raise their prices. At least that is what I see as happening. You’re wrong if you think every small businessman is making more money these days.
and why is it that the overhead is going up? think about it hard. its because SOME businesses or CEOs are taking more profits than they should. IF every business only paid its ceos, and employees a certain percentage of the profits. and not exploded values. we wouldnt be in this mess. 30-40 years ago I dont think we heard as many people retiring at 40. did we?
@50 Miles-profits are not part of the overhead. They are what is left after paying all expenses. Wages go up, utilities go up, gasoline and other expenses go up, travel expense goes up. They are all part of the expense of running a business. Of course wages and benefits (insurance and comp) goes up as well. All of the fees Obama is so happy to put on businesses go up. Profit taking would affect business investments but not overhead. You just wait until Obamacare is fully implemented and watch the overhead go up.
Republican F.U.D.
maybe I should have said proceeds rather than profits. Either way. why are expenses going up? it cost more for transportation because the oil companies are fixing the prices as we have discussed before, to pad their pockets. Remember that in the last few years the oil companies have been in the top 5 money earning businesses. Because of this one situation everyone has to pay for the extra overhead costs. Insurance rates are going up, because the insurance companies want to build new high rise buildings in Des Moines and that means WE have to pay for it. Goodwill prices are high because some supervisors (as in California) are making over a million dollars in wages per year. It goes on and on. SOME, not all, industry pays way to much in salaries and benefits for their CEOs. remember the banking bullshit a few years ago. the President (all of us) bailed them out. yet they all gave themselves large bonuses. talk about insulting. didnt the IRS just get large bonuses even after the sequester was to take effect??? I totally believe that if wages and salaries for all companies were at a rate compared to the profits of the company. things would be better. nobody deserves millions of dollars in wages and bonuses when the company is loosing money.
@ 50 Miles: LVS is right. I wasn’t talking about wages. I was talking about expenses like waste disposal, utilities, snow removal, yard care, equipment maintenance, insurance, credit card fees, items over which you have little control. My boss gives his employees raises every spring and takes it in the pants himself if it’s a poor year. And it’s enough that it hurts.
And we just got an ObamaCare brochure the other day that says that small businesses with 1-50 employees are required to provide dental care for employees and their children ages 0-19 but large businesses are exempt. Go figure. How do they figure small businesses can afford dental care for all their employees if they don’t have to provide medical care? I haven’t figured this one out yet. I haven’t had time to talk to our agent about it. This is the stupidest law I have ever heard of. No rhyme or reason. No wonder they didn’t want anyone to read it before they passed it.
Yet another big fat lie, Katie. If you have 1 – 50 employees you don’t have to do anything. And even more interesting, if you have 25 employees or less, you get a 35-50% tax break on any premiums YOU pay for their healthcare. It’s not a mess, it’s not complicated. You’re just butt hurt because the country’s turning against the right wing greedy insanity that has gripped this country since the greediest of all, the ol gipper, started the MINE MINE MINE era.
@50 Miles South-OK, I can’t disagree with what you said here. Although, where does it start and where does it stop. I think it is built into our way of life and I doubt anyone could change it. I don’t know how other company’s figure out their wage increases but the ones I have been involved with use a percentage of sale which makes sense as the additional money must come from somewhere. Some base it on a sales forecast so they can hold the sales guys feet to the fire but I don’t like that as you can’t depend on it and there are to many factors you can’t control It works OK in good times but not so well when they are bad.
“You’re just butt hurt because the country’s turning against the right wing greedy insanity that has gripped this country since the greediest of all, the ol gipper, started the MINE MINE MINE era.”
as opposed to the “left wing greedy insanity” that has gripped this country since the greeiest of all. the ‘messiah’, started the MINE MINE MINE era.
@sika, if Katie said she has the paperwork and is telling us what it says, how is that a lie? Maybe it is the truth and you just can’t handle being wrong.
@ Sicka: I read what I read. I said I had to talk to the agent because it was so ridiculous and vague, but it absolutely said that small employers had to provide pediatric dental and large employers did not. Period. Now, what I don’t know for sure is if you just have to have pediatric dental care available if you have a group plan, or if you have to pay for it as well. Right now we have a family plan with braces available, but no one elects to buy it as it’s quite expensive. The information they send out is vague and certainly falls short of answering my many questions. It says nothing about not being required to provide dental benefits at all if you are a small employer. Here is a quote from the newsletter I got:
“Small group employers, under the ACA market reforms, are required to provide pediatric oral care which is one of the 10 Essential Health Benefits (EHBs). The law defines coverage for children up to 19 years of age, but carriers may extend coverage for the pediatric dental EHB beyond age 19. Some medical carriers may include the pediatric dental EHB in their plans. Employers do not have to purchase embedded dental coverage from a medical carrier if there are stand-alone dental plans available like Delta Dental.
Large group employers are not required to provide pediatric oral care with their benefits.”
Has you checked the wages and extra pay CEO’s in this country are receiving. No one has a problem with top execs making money but they get theirs even when the company is failing and then people like you try to blame the workers for it. Give me a break they are just greedy.
Then say that, Katie! Your post stated that ALL small businesses must provide dental care and that is a LIE. That’s not what the law says at all! It’s exactly what I said – if you, as an employer, already pay for your employees’ health insurance, you must include dental. Now tell me how many small businesses still pay full benefits……
are those crickets I hear?
Stop trying to demonize this bill, Katie. It’s the ONLY positive thing that has come out of this Congress. And just think, it took a Dem House and Senate to do it. Thank god we’re going to clean house in 2014. This country couldn’t handle much more of this obstructive/destructive tea party nonsense.
Or, maybe I’m right and YOU can’t handle that, Maybe.
Katie: I wasnt talking about wages either. What I meant is that if CEOs didnt get such a high bonus, or such a high salary, with perks, and built in vacation/workshops. then maybe the cost of their product would stay low. such as fuel cost. or any of those expenses you mentioned. If everyone could keep the cost of their product low. then the rest of us wont have to raise prices. As for me, its the gas prices that are killing me. I travel alot. and at $100 a tankfull at 18 mpg. with at least 2 tankfulls a week. IT really sucks. LVS asked where do we start. ID say keep those gas prices down and the economy could rebound by itself. every company wouldnt need to raise prices simply to cover fuel costs. which believe it or not EVERY BUSINESS USES. except for prostitutes. but then again they are used to getting fked
kelly services is complete crap. was in between jobs and worked for them for a while. was the worst job experience ive ever had, the office people are also clueless.
@ds-Company’s use temp services because it is a lot cheaper. You don’t pay comp insurance or any other benefits on a temp. If business goes down you just tell them to go home.
This has nothing to do with ObamaCare. The temp agency trend has been increasing for many years and has nothing to do with the health care law. This is just another way companies can keep wages low for workers.
Kelly Temp Services in Mason City sucks. They never get back to you or keep you informed of jobs. They don’t return calls either.
True. I pity anyone who has to go to work for them. They keep much of your wage so the employer doesn’t have to give you any benefits. What a joke.
just heard that the 14 year old kid from Nora Springs that has been driving the community nuts has been arrested for stealing a car and wrecking it. Maybe the probation officers who are suspose to watch him should get a different occupation cuz there sure not doing there job !
Did anyone hear about someone dying at Farmers Beach on the 4th of July? Heard someone dove and hit their head, but I haven’t seen anything about it. Could just be a rumor, I hope!
On the scanner I heard them call out an ambulance to farmers beach and when they arrived there was nobody there, then they were told that they were supposed to be at the boat dock at Mckentosh state park.
Sorry I didn’t finish, I never heard anything about someone dying though.
Matt, I still can’t read any of the articles after logging in. I’m a paid subscriber.
Try it now, you should be good. Sorry for the problem.
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July.
Let’s be frank about that !!!
It’s not the 4th without some beans and Franks.
Grilling buttah’d chicken thighs and garlic potatoes. Life is good.
what ever happen to the Third Pivot Man@ the YMCA,did he plead, start a musical group or they dancing some were else?????
Here’s another example of a politician’s hubris.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130702/NEWS/130702018/Records-Agent-who-was-removed-from-duty-sought-to-pull-over-Branstad-s-vehicle?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage&sf14584257=1
Big blue is a great place 2 go its ALOT cleaner and healthier than c.l. but I wish they would get more sand put down. All they need is couple loads, my kids would rather build castles and rivers but I hate c.l.
I am going to the park board meeting this month. I will bring it up at the meeting to see if they can put some more sand out there. It can’t hurt to ask.
I hate driving around mason anymore, always have cone out for painting. I think if they want to hire these people from out of town (instead of city workers) they need to do this at night. Y do the city employees have to haul snow in the middle of the night?
Matt: its really not fair to be advertising those revolving pics of food on the right of the page. Its late at night, I do not live in Mason City, nothing open, and Im hungry. just not fair
Sorry … I know it looks good. Get up to MC and try the Suzie Q, you will not be disappointed. 🙂
I used to cook with levenhagen back in the 80’s. He’s a wild man.