Effective at 4:00 p.m. today, February 28, 2011, the Alternate Side Parking ordinance and Emergency Snow Route are suspended until further notice. Citizens should stay tuned to local media outlets to receive…
Month: February 2011
Open House at Fullerton Funeral Home
Fullerton Funeral Home will be celebrating the grand re-opening of the Fullerton Funeral Chapel in Rockwell. Following a complete remodeling and redecorating of the Rockwell Chapel, from the burst water pipes in…
Response to John Skipper (by Peter Children)
At the onset of the first paragraph it was a forgone conclusion that Skipper’s slant was pro-Bookmeyer.. Denial isn’t a river in Egypt, it’s a compulsion that effects many who cling to…
Sinister Plots (by Peter Children)
How can you….in all good conscious criticize those who bear the brunt of the flack hurled against them while working tirelessly to uncover corruption in the administration of this city? The recently…
Federal Avenue streetscape project behind schedule
Mason City’s Federal Avenue streetscape project is well behind schedule and may need to file an extension with Vision Iowa in order to stay in good standing. Estimated project completion has been…
Teen arrested for 2nd offense OWI
Cerro Gordo County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 19 year-old driver at 1:05 AM Saturday morning near Quail Avenue and 160th Street for operating while intoxicated 2nd offense, possession of marijuana, possession of…
Running on empty (cans and bottles)
MASON CITY ñ Rich Chenoweth’s purchase of a new pair of running shoes roughly 30 years ago put him on track for a great way to pay for fitness expenses. Story by…
From the Desk of Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer
This week, several groups of North Iowans visited me at the Capitol! It was great to see the friendly faces of members of our local Farm Bureau, AARP, realtors, Mercy Medical advocates,…
Local Munchkins eager for ìOzî
They have been rehearsing and practicing their songs, including “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” for the past couple weeks. “It’s been a lot of fun,”…
Alternate Side Parking ordinance in effect starting at 7 PM Friday night
The Alternate Side Parking Ordinance will be in effect beginning at 7:00 p.m. tonight, February 25, 2010, and will remain in effect until further notice. The Emergency Snow Route, which includes 1st…
Documentary Maker Draws Comparisons Between Film & Mayo Clinic
ROCHESTER, MN—If acclaimed documentary maker Ken Burns is pondering the Mayo Clinic as a possible future subject he may have dropped at least one subtle hint at a Thursday night appearance in…
Democrats: Workforce Centers Should Stay Open
After Governor Branstad announced a plan to close 39 workforce centers across Iowa, Democrats in the Legislature vowed to work to keep the offices open.|(From Rep. Sharon Steckman) After Governor Branstad announced…
Big crowd rallies at Capitol this week for state workers’ rights
Over a Thousand Rally to Keep Rights for State Troopers, Teachers & Fire Fighters| (From Rep. Sharon Steckman) Over a Thousand Rally to Keep Rights for State Troopers, Teachers & Fire Fighters…
MacNider Art Museum’s Films in February, Movies in March Continues with 3-Iron
The MacNider Art Museum’s 2011 Winter Film Series, Films in February, Movies in March, continues Saturday, March 5th, at 2:00 p.m. with 3-Iron. This is the fifth installment in the 2011 Film…
NIACC Announces Fall 2010 Dean’s List
Over 727 individuals have been named to the North Iowa Area Community College Dean’s List for the 2011 Fall Semester. That includes 447 full-time students and 280 part-time students who together represent…
Governor Branstad proclaims March Flood Awareness Month
(DES MOINES) ñ On March 1 several state agencies will kick off a month-long Flood Awareness Month campaign to assist Iowans in preparing for and remaining safe during flood events.|(DES MOINES) ñ…
Fake food inspectors reappear throughout Iowa
DES MOINES, IOWA (February 18, 2011) ñ Phony health inspectors have reappeared in many parts of the state, including Central (and North) Iowa, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) Director Rod…
Spring flood outlook discussed at briefing
DES MOINES ñ Today (Feb. 18, 2011), the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) brought together local, state and federal partners to assess and prepare for potential spring flooding.During a…
Simple Changes Can Improve Heart Health
(From Iowa Department of Public Health) It beats an average of 103,680 times a day. It weighs less than a pound and is about the size of a fist. The human heart…
Employee rights get support in Washington from Harkin
WASHINGTON ñ Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA) sent a letter yesterday to the National Labor…
Help for low income students in Iowa on the way
Harkin Announces More Than $60,000 to Help Low-Income Students Pay For Advance Placement Testing|(Press release from Iowa Senator Tom Harkin) Harkin Announces More Than $60,000 to Help Low-Income Students Pay For Advance…
Gun-carry permits surpass 2010 total
MASON CITY ñ As of Friday a total of 488 permits to carry a gun have been issued this year in Cerro Gordo County, passing last year’s total of 482. The pace…
From the Capitol to You (from Sharon Steckman)
This week the Senate sent House Bill 45 (known as the Deappropriations Bill) back to the House after they had made major changes in it.|
Entrepreneurs’ Exchange to be held March 15 at NIACC
(From NIACC) Buy Fresh, Buy Local Iowa has some of the best soils in the world and a good climate for growing crops. Yet, as a state, we import more than 80…
Splendid view from Denison Room
The view was splendid Tuesday from the Denison Room at the Mason City Public Library.|The view was splendid Tuesday from the Denison Room at the Mason City Public Library. The flocking apparently…
Closing workforce offices: Bad for Iowans, bad for business
(Sen. Amanda Ragan press release) This session a proposal seeks to close 39 workforce offices around the state, including the Floyd Charles City office. This would make the process of searching for…
A balanced budget focused on jobs, educational opportunity
As we lay the groundwork for all Iowans to recover from the national recession, we are working to put together a fiscally responsible state budget.|(Sen. Amanda Ragan press release) As we lay…
Iowa Supreme Court Welcomes New Justices, Commends Governor and Nominating Commission
IOWA ó Chief Justice Mark Cady, Iowa Supreme Court, has issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s appointment of three new justices.|IOWA ó Chief Justice Mark Cady, Iowa Supreme Court,…
Single car accident on I-35 leaves vehicle severely damaged
A Minnesota man escaped injury Tuesday morning in a single vehicle accident on I-35. Brad Latour, 31, of Maple Lake, was southbound on I-35 near mile marker 211.15 when he entered an…
ServiceMaster making good of Vibrations
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY – ServiceMaster of Mason City is cleaning up a logistics challenge by consolidating operations at a new site near the north edge of town. The company…
Man arrested for theft at Hy-Vee
Mason City police officers responded to a theft call at Hy-Vee, 2400 4th Street SW, on Friday, February 18th at 4:22 PM. Officers took a theft report with the subject still on…
The Ruse: The Pot and the Kettle exposed (by Max Weaver)
I was ready to let the human rights issue go (you know, who said what, who wanted to shut it down) but Mr. Bookmeyer (the Pot) and Mr. Tornquist (the Kettle) had…
Running on empty (cans and bottles)
MASON CITY ñ Rich Chenoweth’s purchase of a new pair of running shoes roughly 30 years ago put him on track for a great way to pay for fitness expenses. Story by…
Latest from President Obama
President Obama joins Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Austan Goolsbee to answer your questions from WhiteHouse.gov as he participates in the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business in Cleveland,…
Harkin explains how his office can help you
When Cliff, a veteran from the Vietnam War, sought assistance from my office, his claim had been pending with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for more than three years.|In Iowa’s Interest:…
Camping Kickoff Weekend May 6, 7 and 8
The calendar says February, but spring is just around the corner. Camping kickoff weekend is a little over two months away. Camping kickoff weekend is May 6, 7 and 8, in Iowa…
Memorial Day Weekend State Parks Camping Reservations Begin Feb. 27
IOWA – Campers looking to reserve state park sites for a Friday arrival Memorial Day weekend can do so Sunday, Feb. 27, when the three month reservation window opens. The Memorial Day…
Council discusses mailboxes, food vendors, lawsuit, rules and more
Four City Council members, Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, and City Administrator Brent Trout met at City Hall Tuesday afternoon and discussed a variety of subjects.|Four City Council members, Mayor Eric Bookmeyer, and City…
The Ruse: The Pot and the Kettle exposed (by Max Weaver)
I was ready to let the human rights issue go (you know, who said what, who wanted to shut it down) but Mr. Bookmeyer (the Pot) and Mr. Tornquist (the Kettle) had…
Andrews Sisters returns to Stebens
MASON CITY — A public performance of “The Andrews Sisters: A Loving Tribute,” will be at 2 p.m. March 6 at Stebens Children’s Theatre, 616 N. Delaware Ave. The cast includes Alexandra…