MASON CITY – Seniors tell NorthIowaToday.com that complaints about a prayer and flag salute nearly shut down those traditions at the Mason City Senior Center.
A call to the Senior Center Tuesday by NIT, following up on the complaints, was answered by activity director Roxanne Whipple. When asked about the status of the pre-meal prayer and flag salute, Ms. Whipple paused – and then denied that there was an issue.
“Everything’s fine, great!” she said. “No one complained.”
However, seniors who frequent the Senior Center, located at 326 4th St NE, tell NIT that Ms. Whipple last week addressed a lunch crowd on June 5 after pressure from unknown persons.
“There is a lady on staff named Roxanne who leads us in the flag salute and saying a prayer before lunch,” the NIT readers explained. “Today Roxanne got up in front of the group and announced she would no longer be leading the prayer or the salute because they had receive(d) a couple of complaints from people not wanting us to pray or honor the flag. We questioned this and they would not give us an answer as to where the complaints come from.”
NIT looked into the matter at the request of these folks, after they said “Everyday more and more of our rights are being taken away. We, the majority, are helpless to do anything about it.”
Turns out, the hubbub blew over after other seniors came to the defense of the long-standing practice of prayer and a flag salute before a meal.
“After many protests and phone calls the activity director says (she) will allow prayer and flag honoring at the Senior Center. Today everything was back to normal,” the folks reported.
Kudos to what Anonymous said, “it is ok to threaten people as long as you do it in the name of God.” You Jesus-freak Neanderthals give Mason City a bad name. Gary Blodgett is just a rich version of you ignorant rednecks, and his family of pushy Republitards is the worst of your lot. I hope Roxanne files a harassment complaint against Toddy Boy. That violent, arrogant meth fiend should pay a price for his threats.
I was taught that when you have to make threats to get something that is not the way to do it. I do not like people that make threats, reminds me of the bullies I hated back in my school days. Maybe somebody that’s part of the powers that be told Roxanne to stop the pledge and prayer, salutes, ect. All you people that say Blodgett did right should learn the golden rule. Would you like it if somebody threated you?
@ Colleen, let me tell you Roxanne is not anybody’s idea of a pushover. I have a feeling Todd Blodgett said something to her that wasn’t only about money for the center. Mr. Blodgett is a known associate of some very rough people. Our neighbor told us he once got mad at some carnival worker and pulled a gun on him. This was at a bar with lots of people around and when the cops got there they arrested the kid and they let Blodgett just keep on drinking. I think he scared Roxanne.
It sure sounds like he scared you. How does it feel to go through life as a coward?
If a Muslim Senior requested public prayer at the Center the request should be honored…… given the logic expressed by several who have commented on this story.
Good luck. As long as Doc Bigot (Blodgett), keeps polluting north Iowa with his and his son’s crypto-Nazi politics, and uses his influence, considerable contacts and financial leverage to force their way, there will be no Muslim prayers at that center. I have researched this family, and they are used to having their way. Todd Blodgett has long been connected to racist skinheads and other dangerous felons he uses to intimidate his enemies. It’s scary.
@ JD, Toddy boy, he gets a pass from the law around here. Republitard sherriff, Republitard’s are CLPD, alot of MC cops, they let him be to. Even our Democrats like Urdal and Doherity and them, they are his friends. Daddy Gary throw’s them the big bucks, same for the new guy this Callahan, he use to work for old doc. Blodgett Jr. is friends with Bookie to, hangs with a rich bunch that is use to getting away with lot’s of bad stuff.
Just what does any of that have to do with this story? You are a low life hater and deserve everything that is going to happen to you.
Shame on you. A grown man calling names like a spoiled child. Your grandkids know better.
No I bet they don’t. Children learn from the adults around them. And if his grandchildren spend much time with him, they too, unfortunately, will learn to hate.
And, shame on you for being a prissy a## cry baby whiner. Most liberals are but you take it to a new level. No wonder this country is going to hell. By the way, you really do not want to meet my grandchildren. They have been taught respect but also to protect themselves against whiners. I would really love for them to meet your sissy grandchildren.
@ Anonymous. Don’t know if your right on that, I have ate there, never have saw no Muslem’s. There kind of prayers would not go over to good, I don’t think. Now Roxanne, if she would try to stop regular prayers and our pledge allegiance, she just might just go for Muslem prayers. If Blodgett would not of took her on, maybe no prayers. If he did this, good. Good for us veterans to.
Republitards like Gary Blodgett and his drug-addicted, Lee Atwater-trained spawn have no respect for the legal doctrine of separation of Church and State. The Senior Center accepts public money, and, as such, there should be no prayer on its premises. The fascists who defend what Toddy boy did are cheering on a far right wing zealot who illegally threatened an employee who tried to adhere to the law. It is a sad day for Mason City when a spoiled, trigger-happy Republitard dirty trickster…
@ laker, your full of it your a fool. We have rights to, nobody can tell me not salute our flag, no pledge allegiance no prayers. Go away.
Now you have shown your true stripe didn’t you Libraterd? You are a anti-American traitor. If we want to say a prayer and salute our flag that is our right and you don’t have the right to get in our way. Now, go cry to your momma about being called a name just like the rest of the Libraterds do.
God isn’t real people. Only those of weak mind believe in such things
@ anonymous, oh I see, you say you think Dr. Blodgett and his boy have a weak mind do you, since they believe in our Lord and our beloved flag and they stand up against people who will not give proper respect. You I do feel sorry for. There is still time to get right with God you anonymous athiestic fool.
Yes, that’s what I’m saying. People who believe in a “god” or “higher power” are of weak mind. That includes Blodgett and anyone else.
Toddy boy has got a weak mind on count of all the crack he use to smoke. From what he writes in the Globb he still hits the pipe. But Big Daddy Gary is another story. How does somebody that has got a weak mind get to be a rich orthodontist?
@Anonymous-You are a weak minded fool.
No, I don’t believe in a magic man floating around in the clouds. People that believe that are the weak minded ones.
It seems like Todd Blodgett was involved in resolving this stupid idea. He called Roxanne and told her that if they continued with this Un-American mandate that the funding from the Bertha Stevens Charitable Trust in which his father is involved would be withdrawn immediately. She was told that he had the support of two other board members. In addition efforts would start immediately to withdraw additional funding. She immediately sated that things were now as they had always been. Mr…
cont.-Blodgett did a service for of all of the Pro-Usa Majority in Mason City. We can not let this type of Anti-Usa thinking get a foothold in our city.
So your saying Blodgett did his bully boy thing, Toddy boy the bully boy. Your real proud of this huh. Blodgett should of kept his Republitard hands off this, does not concern him.
@ stinks, if I was Miss Whipple I would of hung up on the crack head. Todd has not live in Mason for a long time, years, he had no right to jump in to this one. I dont give a rats if they do the pledge or they dont do it but outside busybody’s should stay our of our business here. And that goes double for Republitard’s that do drugs.
Holy crap, people. I do not agree with Mr. Blodgett’s right winger politics but looks like on this thing anyway he did something good, for once! I checked online, and Dr. Blodgett is on the Board of directors of this Stebens foundation that gives money to the MCSC. From what LVS says, all Blodgett did was appraise Roxanne of some actions he would help make happen, if they don’t let us say the pledge and salute our flag. Good for him, I am glad the Blodgett’s stepped up on this.
If Blodgett did this I am all for it. No I don’t mean I like his politics, he is too much GOP for me. Nothing wrong with telling Roxanne her money can get cut off if she keeps this shit up. Glad it all got worked out. Some times, this is what it takes, I mean about the money.
You dumb “B”. You are so ignorant you can’t even read. You are a real credit to the Democratic Party. He controls the board who controls the money and has influence with the other charity’s. If they are not going to support God and the U.S.A. he is not going to support them. Is that to difficult for someone like you to understand? What a piece of fluff.
@Urdahl-Are you really that stupid and hypocrital you damn traitor. It is people like you that are tearing this country apart. You give new definition to the word liberal. I can’t wait for what is coming when we find each and every one of you and give you exactly what you deserve.
No it’s people like you that are ruining the land of the free. You want everyone to think and act and be like you, rather than everyone being free to do whatever the hell they want. You sir are the hypocrite.
@Anonymous-You are a coward and a traitor to this great country of ours.
And people like you are ruining this great country of ours.
LVS, you are a real embarrassment to those of us that are Senior citizens.
You can disagree with someone without all the name calling.
To the rest of you out there, most of us that have been around a long time, have garnered some wisdom, knowledge, tolerance and are quite normal.
But every once & awhile you will encounter one with advanced age never learned & never will.
If you follow NIT at all you will soon learn that LVS is our resident name caller who is regularly and deservedly “called out” by good folks life you. But alas, he continues to embarrass himself.
If it is genuinely offensive as is often the case, flag his comment and report him to the editor. Usually 3 or 4 reports will get his comment deleted.
Sure TROLL-It is alright to call Mr. Blodgett names but when someone calls out the name caller you think that makes you better. You can scare me and your biased opinion means absolutely nothing to me. You were a nothing before you became a senior and you are even less now. Most all of you comments are deleted because you are a insult to anyone with intelligence.
You guys need to go old school, and use I know you are what am I.
LVS, what is your problem with all of your gratuitous verbal abuse?
It is nothing more than argumentum ad hominem.
Equating someone’s character with the basis of their argument is a logical fallacy.
Try using some basic logic & facts to support your ideas instead of the constant childish haranguing.
Use your mind for something other than a repository of negativity.
You people think you are being smart with your comments to me. This article wasn’t about me but you want to turn it into a personal attack. Here is a little something you have missed. I don’t care one bit about your opinion as the opinion of Idiots means squat. And, you are idiots studying hard to be morons. Don’t like that? Tough Sh##.
Did you people know that most Liberals were Democrats until they learned to read, then they became Republicans, then after they learned to write they became Independents.
Bernie 2016!
ISIS also bans Christian prayers – and again if youdo not like the prayer session then do not attend it you moron!
If the Center receives any money or in kind gifts from federal, state or local public funds then prayer should be banned. Just like public schools.
Ok, tell that to the Blodgett’s. Looks like old doc’s kid went head to head with Roxanne W., and maybe the Blodgett kid got some other people to bug her about this, or whatever. How ever it got done, they got there way, I am so glad they did. Nobody has a right to tell people they can not do the prayers and say the pledge allegiance over to our Center. If the Blodgett’s had to make some threats in the name of God and our flag, I say good for them.
Yes, it’s ok to threaten people as long as you do it “in the name of god”. That sounds so very Christian to me!
God Bless you. Point well taken but probably wont be heard or understood.
This comment sums up the problems in America. America kicked God out our schools and everything has since went down the shitter.
@Anonymous-You are correct that kicking God out has created part of the problem. The other part is liberals are systematically destroying the American family and creating a culture of free entitlements. Look at the number of children without a father in the home and a permissive mother who lets them run and then defends them when they get in trouble with the law.
God had nothing to do with it. Unless you want to give him credit for all the whiners in the world. Poor parental guidance, lack of accountability, those would be good reasons for the state of the country. Church’s don’t have nearly the members today is that the schools fault or the parents. The I don’t give a sh!t what you say or think attitude and lack respect for others, is a bigger factor than anything.
@Savage-I hear what you are saying, but I have noticed that the one thing religion does real well is teach rules to live by. Nothing has stepped up to replace that and I really think that is why we see the lack of respect for others as well as themselves. Lack of religion I also believe has contributed to the loss of family. Deny it if you want but it is true and nothing has replaced it so we have a void.
So you have anti-American atheists who are also cowards. I get it.
Mason City Methodist Church Ladies Association votes to ban plastic forks at salad luncheons.
Roxanne also declared she would not hand out the Farmers Market coupons in the mornings this year. She does it afternoons now, which means another trip back to the Center for some of us.
Another trip to the Senior Center for discounted food coupons? How awful! C’mon now, that sounds a bit like welfare takers who think they are entitled. Make the extra trip and enjoy the benfits without complaining.
I knew the board had no clue about this.
Another problem at the Senior Center is the seating arrangements for lunch. Many people save seats for people they like to have sit with them regularly. This means some people walk up and down the aisles looking for a place to sit and are told it is taken. New comers to the Center usually never come back because of this.
There is no one to welcome them and if they come alone it will usually be for one time only. It is embarrassing and is kin to Bullying when you tell people they can’t sit…
Well it just doesn’t happen there, it happens in church too. It’s very rude and should be banned.
Amen….
Roxannes standard answer today is that everything is normal… well it wasn’t normal last week! Seems she has backed down. Interesting that the Board knew nothing about the new rules, seems Roxanne makes them up as she goes along. We have no idea who complained about prayers and honoring the Flag., that affected the majority. Thank goodness people stood together and protested and accomplished something.
No Roxanne did not back down Todd Blodgett backed her down, and I am happy about it. About time somebody did stand up to her, maybe now she will let us have the farmers market coupons in the a.m. when we come in instead of have to come back in the afternoon to get them.
Sounds like it’s time to vote out the communist, Roxanne Whipple.
Say what?
Sounds like Ms. Whipple is full of “politically correct BS”.
She just needs a good bowl movement.
What a bunch of crap. Isn’t it odd that an unknown person or persons can try and dictate what the rest of us can and can not do. Too me, it would be disgraceful to not have the Pledge of Allegiance.
I applaud those people who took the time to get involved and got this issue stopped before it spun out of control.
It also sounds as though Ms. Whipple has a bad memory too.
This is no surprise since the whole united states is in shambles.
I have been told that Roxanne is not very popular with the members. She came in and changed all the rules on her own and pretty much said it was her way or the highway. She also raised all of the rates for membership and even raised the prices for the dances. So, the rumor is there were no complaints and that it was Roxanne’s idea all the way. Just saying what I heard.
Gee LVS, I accidentally reported you. That reply and comment should be further apart. Anyway getting back to what you heard, well you know you can’t believe a thing you hear and only half of what you see. But you know that.
@Anna-Yes, I know. But I was just repeating what I was told. It seem like going by the other comments I might have been told right.