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I and now others have noted quite a few articles that complete comment threads have been deleted. These threads had many statements in which a group was making accusational threats. Only to be silenced by the facts or by another party maybe telling them to quit commenting.
Matt, would you be kind enough to clarify, are you being pressured by the advertisers, or certain people to do this? You have seemed to sensor or not even write about issues involving the continued accusations. What has set you aside from other media is the open forum in which people are allowed to express. I hope it remains that way.
Watcher, thanks for the question. I believe there have been a grand total of 3 articles all-time where I have wiped the comments. One story I turned comments off completely. Each time is a judgement call. The last story there were personal attacks on three regular citizens in the community; all three wanted the comments out. I obliged and wiped all the comments, but allowed people to start over, keeping them on-topic. I try to allow most anything here within reason, especially if people use their real name. 99.9% of bloggers refuse to post under their real name. To me that diminishes the credibility of their remarks. There have been tens of thousands of stories posted to NIT since it was launched… I don’t feel too bad about the ratio.
Matt: i am aware of two of the three stories you deleted. I believe the second story had accusations about an insurance company owner that advertises on here. those comments were off topic.. yes…. but “you dont throw the baby out with the bath water” there were still alot of good..well deserved comments in that story. (all three stories I would assume) I think i speak for everyone when i say pick and choose only those comments that are obviuosly a threat,way off topic, ect. Maybe people should be sure to post those comments in the rants and raves section. that way they cant be deleted for off topic. Or mention in the story that you moved a comment to rants and raves to prevent deletion.
Matt: you never answered my question about why you recently deleted all the posts from the community motors story from over a month ago. this story hadnt had a comment for weeks. why delete it now???? or why not just delete the last post if it were the KILLER comment? why so late? makes a few of us wonder, as I see Im not the only one to comment.
finally, i live south 50 miles and even if i gave my real name, trust me, nobody would know me. As i wouldnt know any of you if i were to see you in MC. I have my own reasons for not giving my name. I have my own problems with city herassment in the town I live in. I ONLY WISH I HAD THIS VENUE TO TELL “MY” STORY, instead of the local paper changing my words around, ect to make me look bad. Dont get me wrong, its a good town to live in, but as you know a few people with power can fk things up.
I concure with “50” why the baby with the bath? There were many “valid” comments on those threads. And be it only 3 stories as you say, those 3 stories were the largest commented on stories recently on your site.
Matt is that “little Anny Fanny” as the mascot for rants and raves? looks suspicious.
hey everyone. post “WTF” if you dont know what im talking about
no… it is clipart i bought! haha
anyone else have the problem with accidentlly clicking on the clasified ads link instead of the rants and raves link when pulling it down?? I have to time it just right on my computer. also Matt… any way of putting seperate pages on this page (rants and raves). this page is getting v e r y…l o n g.
I broke the comments up into pages now, so each page will be much shorter. Also… try clicking the icon in the upper right hand corner of any page in order to get here to the Whiner’s Den… forget the drop-down.
Could the stop light in this town be anymore screwed up. Only car at the intersection and a green turn arrow for on comming traffic lights up.
Emanresu you are not kidding look what some of them do both the farmer & there wifes both get checks, looks like they split there land so both can collect, check out CG county looks like almost a million for each for the top dogs shit you could build a nice new house with that
Have you noticed how many Dentist’s, Doctor’s, Lawyer’s & Banker’s names are on the farm subsidy list? Just owning farm land gives you a welfare (farm subsidy) payment ! You don’t have to be a “farmer”. Damn right one can build a very nice home with those big payments…… compliments of the taxpayer once again! I’d like to own about 1000 acres 🙂
YES: and it only pisses me off more when the IRS, DNR other gov organizations pick on the little people just tryng to survive. just one suit that a polititions owns costs more than my whole wardrobe. 10 years worth of my vehicles equals 1 of theirs. but then i live within my means and havnt filed bankruptcy. we just heard about the grandma that was charged with building a campground in a wetland. it sounds like they talked her into pleading guilty and they’d give her a light sentence. also looks like someone experienced with the law convinced her into changing her plea. guess what…they dropped the charges the next day. IF SHE WASNT GUILTY,THEN WHY CHARGE HER IN THE FIRST PLACE? because its government pushing around the little guy that doeant have the money to prove them wrong. And these are some of the people getting this glorified welfare
I just checked out the Globe Gazette website… looks like the generic brand of NIToday. When they start charging to read articles on there it’ll be really funny.
Went to Burger King in Mason City the other day and they got my order wrong for like the 4th time in a row….is it really that hard for the minimum wage ppl at Burger King to get the order right? idk if i will ever go back there again.
no big shock there! did you see the NIT story where wendys has passed BK in popularity? now i see why!
Won’t ever eat at the Burger King in Mason City again. Every single time we’ve been there we all get sick. Been to other BK’s in other towns and have been fine. Not sure what they are doing to the food, but not worth it!
Who is this Peter Children that writes all the opinionated articles for NIT…I heard he owns Universal Products in mason city? Does he also work for NIT? He seems like kind of a jesus freak.
a world without war. PEACE!
AGREE!!! It’s to bad it’s this way.
I’m not a jesus freak but most wars are fought over land NOT religion…yes its true we’d have had less wars without religion but history shows over 50% of wars were over land and the human need/greed for more of it…and controlling more of it.
I would have to disagree with you Anonymous. I feel that in some way most all wars/police actions are fought because of religious beliefs. I am not saying that they were solely about religion, but a group of people that do not like or believe in others.
wish i could get a city job……….. talk about doing nothing getting paid big $$$$ for sitting in a truck all day……. in the union, yet most of them vote republicant,,,,,, STUPID!!!!!!!!!! they wont hire anybody with a brain!!!!!
that many blue collar hillbillies are right wingers who need govt assistance? Is that not ironic?
Your an idiot–you couldn’t get a job with the city because you couldn’t handle it. Probably couldn’t pass the civil service test for starters. You have NO idea what the workers do if you think”they sit in a truck all day” I know a person who works for the city and he deals with people like you all the time.. With your crappy attitude I don’t think I would want my tax dollars to pay your wages either..
look at all their waistbands!!!!!!! that will tell u if they work or not! most are big fat pigs!!!
Msgordy: I dont know how many city maintanence workers Mason city has. nor do I know any of them. I do know that it was stated at the recent council meeting by someone representing the city, that their workers were not capable of painting. I also understand one of the street sweepers somehow was laid on its side??? are you kidding me?? could someone please confirm this. If all this is so…then changes need to be made. I also would love to have a job like that. I have been self employed for about 25 years now. have done all my auto and house repairs myself. I live cheap because I dont have to pay for someone else to do my work. maybe I simply dont realize all the slackers out there. NOT TO SAY EVERYONE IS A SLACKER
They vote Republican because they have brains. 😉
Farmers that complain about people who collect welfare. A farm subsidy is the same thing as welfare only a softer name. The amount a single farmer collects would equal 10 welfare recipients or more, yet farmer live a much better life at tax payer’s expense.
Professional basketball player scottie pippen gets millions in farm subsidies, i believe in alabama, for farmland he owns. Millions for the millionaires.
Lots of welfare payments are handed over to farmers! website: http://farm.ewg.org
You can check any farmer – any where in the US on this site. Makes me sick… all those millionaires getting farm subsidy {welfare} checks….Pippen, Letterman, etc. and lots of local folks as well. Check it out and be sure to clean the steam residue from your ears when you have finished viewing the farmers names ! You will be amazed.
I think NIT needs to add approve/disapprove or agree/disagree buttons on the articles and on the comments.
agreed
I agree. could that be set up to only accept one responce from each computer?
what do you mean by “could that be set up to only accept one responce from each computer?”
darkside: to prevent a false rating from someone repeatedly voting. computers and high tech is definately something i am not familiar with.
Watcher: We are looking at improvements across the site, as well as the commenting feature. Thanks for the ideas… I see newyorktimes.com has a really nice comment feature I would like to adopt. Readers can give athumbs up, and the publisher can flag a comment as “recommended” if they deem it truthful and on-topic.
Matt, take a look at the Daily Mail of the UK. They have just such a system, where readers can vote a comment, and if too many negatives crop up, the comment will be hidden. YouTube also has a similar kind of script for it’s video comments.
When someone passes away I understand putting the surviving relatives in the obit, but what gets me is putting someone like a fiancee who isn’t family yet in there. The other day I was reading an obit of a gentleman and they listed the daughter and her husband and one of her sons and his wife then they put her other son and his fiancees name. to me the fiancee should not of been listed in the obit. what happens if the relationship doesn’t last? i was with a guy for almost 2 years engaged to him. if a family member of his passed away and there were filling out an obit for the member of the family i would not of wanted to be listed in there. due to the fact i’m not family yet. that would like if my fiancee’s grandmother or grandfather or mother passed i would not want to be in there now adding our son to the obit is one thing but not me.
I think that’s the family’s wishes. It’s usually the family that writes the obits. But what I hate is when someone passes away, some friend seems to think it’s okay to put it all over facebook. And sometimes the entire family doesn’t even know yet. I swear if I die and someone puts my death on facebook, I’m coming back to haunt them!!!!!
US cellular has now decided that all of their in store, non management employees are now required to work every weekend. This is coming from a company that brags about how customer focused they are; apparently they don’t care about the home and family lives of their employees and that they need to put their jobs first. This all comes after huge changes in the commission scale last year, cutting some employees wages by more than $10,000 a year. However those at the top continue to give themselves raises. They also restrict the times that the employees are allowed to take vacation often resulting in them losing the time because vacation are only allowed when it is convenient for the store. I think it may be time to switch service to a company that cares about their employees.
Thank you!!! Good point uscellular is treating there people like crap !!!!!!!they should be ashamed i know i will be pulling all my familey to verizon
I was in the cedar rapids store and that must be why the people working there seemed so pissed And the short time i was in there they kept trying to make me buy a modem or a tablet i got upset and left!what is going on uscellular and what are you doing to your employees? I think everyone who is working there should walk out i and let the big dogs talk a walk in there shoes see how it feels it’s just wrong to take people away from there famileys and sad
I like verizon… not a us cell fan.
I wonder how a company plans to focus on customers when they piss off the associates. There is only so much that can be faked before it starts to afffect their daily interactions with the people they have to serve. “Have pride and passion” kinda hard to have that when a company takes away any sort of work / life balance. Keep filling the floor with sales people.. weed out the week ones. Wash, rinse, repeat.
OMFG mr. jacobson i came in trying to pay my water bill and he said i have to pay a turn on charge…
Karma is coming to u
Was your water shut off for some reason? That’s the only reason they would charge you to get it turned on I think?
i actually have that long tool to turn the valve on if someone were interested…. LOL
To the scumbag who flicked his cigarette out of his car window as he drove down the street and hit me in the knee while I was jogging: Karma has a plan for you. It involves plenty of chemotherapy, surgeries and pain. I truly hope as you cruise down Federal one-handed next time that you launch into coughing convulsions and crash your rusty 1985 pontiac 6000 into a lightpole and it is you that is flicked through the window, landing 20-30 feet away.
Lolz!! He sounds like a litterbug on top of it!
So recently again we have seen the accusing rantings of “sheep” or possibly even the “shepherd” of a group in MC. These people continually blast the MCPD, the media that won’t bend to them, and now accusations of business people that don’t see things their way. I have seen slanderous postings by them about people including what seemed to be accusations about past members. There has been post on various websites making these accusations, claiming they had the websites blessings and consent to post what they did, to be then shot down and claimed false by the administrators of those sites. These are the same people that claim they are victims of slander and discrimination, yet they continue to attack those who they are commanded to show love to. To me it is sickening, it doesn’t make anyone want to attend their organization and even puts a bitter taste in people mouths when looking at others like it. If you supposedly know so much about what the “Good Book” says, well maybe you should actually follow it.
watcher: with your kindly worded comments arnt you doing the same thing by bashing NIT? not every town has a problem or talks badly about their police dept. there are even some towns that dont have a problem with city hall. that only tells me that there IS a problem somewhere. and if people want to discuss the problem, then they have the right to as voting,taxpaying,citizens. dont you think our politicians have discussions like this from time to time. its on the national news all the time. are you calling them “sheep” too?? discussions, rants, bitching, debating, whatever has been going on forever. its how things get worked out. face it, everyone has an opinion and they want to get their opinion across. Not everyone wants to cower in the corner, and think if we dont talk about it,the problem will go away.
50 – It is not NIT I am refering to, sorry for the confussion.
I can see however how it could have been seen that way though. Frankly I see NIT as a necessary voice to bring some facts out in North Iowa. I have commended this site many times in my past postings.
Job 11:3,5, “Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;”
sorry for my mistake. i only a s s u m e d it was NIT as many people on here do. my bad
50 – No worries, I have come to enjoy your posts. Seems to be a very educated outlook on things. keep it up.
I know what church you are talking about…quit going there years ago, because they wouldn’t believe that $12 WAS 10% of my income for tithing and refused to let me participate in the church workings. They even recently told a friend of mine with medical issues that he had to sit where their camera’s wouldn’t see him, as it looked bad if he turned around. These people are nothing but money hungry power trippers with little to no regard as to what their higher power actually wants from them.
I would like to start a new thread: what are your thoughts about changing liability insurance for your car to cover “you the driver”. in other words, in order for someone to get and keep a valid drivers license in the whole nation. someone would need liability insurance for their own drivers license. the insurance goes with you the driver on whatever vehicle you drive. also as now, if you want comp or collision then that is seperate and your option. you can only drive one car at a time. Why should we have to pay liability insurance for a car we may drive only on the holidays. remember, we can only drive one car at a time…RIGHT??? If you let someone else drive your car and “they” hurt someone. then the driver is at fault, and not the owner. why should the owner be punnished because some other dumbsht is careless. like some states already have, the license can be swiped for current insurance information accessed from laptops in the car. No insurance… no drivers license. with todays computer techs it shouldnt be hard to work out. and if you think a scammer will corrupt the system. whats to stop them from doing it now on other situations. yes it cuts down on paper policies, profits for the insurance companies. ect but then who cares if the insurance company wants to build another tall building in Des Moines. think about it…. wouldnt that be much simpler??? easier??? better??? the Insurance companies may not loose that much profit anyway as they will make even more policies for those who still want a drivers license but dont currently have insurance. swiping the card will give an officer instant information vs waiting for a driver to look for an outdated or non existing card. you think it wont work because a person will get insurance for a month just to get the license and then drop it. whats to say they arnt doing that now. whats the difference??? I know for a fact that the officers check the drivers license WAY more than they ask for proof of insurance. with computers its instant information. no excuse that i paid it last week and dont have my card yet… whatever. and by rights the rates should not go up at all. remember that one person can only drive one car at a time. Does a car at home in the garage really need liability??? and nobody will be driving more miles because of this new policy. think about it a while and then give me your comments good or bad.
Why don’t city employees have to live in the city? Good enough to work here but not good enough to live here.
Mike Peckham
Anything goes in the quest to get more free money. It will have zero impact on anybody other than to finance an office and give a couple vegans jobs. Just where did the Blue Zone Committee come from and how much of our tax dollars are being wasted here? Or is it a private enterprise scam?
Did you see that the Mason City Blue Zone page advocates drinking beer?
https://www.facebook.com/mcbzp
Do they have a solution for the meth epidemic in Mason City? This would be a much better place to live if this problem was brought under control and eleminated.
Maybe the blue zone will cure the meth addictions…
My biggest peeve with the whole food stamp program…..junk food. It should be like WIC where there’s only certain things they can buy. Not chips, cookies, pop, and candy. I saw a gal once at Target using her food stamp card to buy a cart full of halloween candy. But had money to buy cigarettes, and had a ton of tattoos. Both of which those items are very expensive. Hmmmm, what’s wrong here?
i think they should be able to buy cig’s too… then they will be dead sooner
U.S. Gov’t is finally pulling their heads out of their butts and will limit the treat items that can be purchased with food stamps. Wait until you hear the cry of the Liberal Machine demanding treats should be allowed 🙁 YIKES
Food stamps should not be used to purchase candy, pop, chips or any type of junk food at all!!! There are too many folks abusing the food stamp program in this country Need more regulations/limitations !!
Once I was behind a guy in the checkout line when he was told he could not use food stamps to buy dog food. He said, “Wait a minute”, left and came back with a package of hamburger, then said, “The dog likes hamburger, too.”
WELL SAID!!!!!
Easy way to weed em out “DRUG TEST” need I say more
anonymous: this time I agree with you.
The freebies continue with all our tax money and our money we pay for extra fees tacked on to our phone bills (both cell and landlines) until we vote out the govt reps who like to give out our money so freely.
“Some day I hope to be able to afford a new iPhone…like the girl in front of me with the food stamps”
It seems like the people that get government assistant live a whole lot better than I will ever be able to do, and I’ve worked my whole life. And the last thing I could ever afford is an I-phone.
Anyone know why there are so many dead carp along Ventura Marsh?
farm checmical runoff???
If you mean by the shoulder of the road…people catch them and leave them there.
Whose problem is it you bought a house without a driveway? Sounds like you think it should be your neighbor’s problem. Good neighborhoods exist when courteous people don’t try and hog other people’s property that they did not pay for.
Last time i checked it was 100% legal for anyone to park anywhere on a public street as long as they don’t have outstanding tickets and their vehicle is legal as long as you don’t block a driveway or mail box.
I have heard from good sources that a man died of a heart attack while playing golf Thursday in Forest City.
I think the NRA missed the boat years ago. They should have started something like scuba divers did where they require a PADI card to fill a tank. A card that shows you passed a basic gun safety class should have been required to purchase a gun. A totally private and self- regulated system. But when I mention this to many gun owners they fly off the handle, especially those that have never taken a class.
Were you parking in front of his property all the time and if so why?
Slightly in front of his house…going from north to south we have our mailbox, then my wife usually parks her vehicle then i usually park mine in front of hers which overlaps the neighbors property by a foot or two(he has a driveway we do not) and the neighbor across the street parks in front of his house so we can’t park across the street.
Lol my neighbor moved his mailbox to the other side of his driveway today(next to my usual parking spot)….presumably so i can’t park in that location any more because its apparently against the law to park in front of a mail box which disrupts mail delivery.
Theres nothing in the city ordinanace, or in the USPS rules thats says its illegal to park in front of a mailbox. Your neighbor just wasted a bunch of time is all he did. I live across the street from a public school and my mail box is on the curb. Theres always someone parking in front of it, thats got business in the school. I also have one on my house as do both my neighbors. I have a pretty cool mailperson now, but before them, if someone was parked in front of my mailbox (even tho it wasnt me) they would walk to the neighbors, drive past mine, get out 10 feet away from my mailbox and walk to the other neighbors. I would get mail the following day with B/B (box blocked) marked on it. Previous home owner went rounds with the post office and police department and got no where. SOOOOO, like a previous post, if your car has no outstanding tickets…..your all good.
That’s interesting because we got a note in our mailbox that looked all official when we moved into our house over a year ago that said we can’t park within 10 feet of the mail box-USPS
Anonymous…that is interesting. Ive never gotten a note saying that. Course, my mail person knows what kind of car I drive, and knows its not mine parked in front of it. It would be nice if they would put a “copy” of that on the windshields of the people that do park there though. I wonder if it just depends on your mail carrier. I have gotten one saying that the snow needed to be cleared in front of it, even tho the plow had done just that, or it would delay my mail delivery. So I chopped and shoveled all the snow so cement was visible. But around the corner from me, I watched another carrier deliver to every mailbox along the road with way more snow then was in front of mine.
I’m just wondering where the Op Ed on Stay at Home Dads went to. Just curious…..
Probably got shuffled down the queue as new stories got posted. Did you check the water cooler?
Appreciate you asking about Mr. Children’s op-ed.
The story is still in the Watercooler, we have just published more stories afterward, so it moved down the list. You can do a search and find it quickly.
On the story comments, I had several persons contact me about the comments being off-topic. I felt that since the comment thread had been hijacked and was very far off-topic, that all comments would be removed and a fresh start was in order.
Thanks for reading.
I come from a hunting background and have owned guns since I was 13. It absolutely amazes me when I see how ignorant some gun owners are. They don’t even have some very basic knowledge about gun safety. I read on this site how a careless man let his boy shoot his leg off. Gun safety classes should be required!
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/most-optimistic-u-s-metro-area/
I just read that Des Moines is the 7th most optimistic place to live in the United States. I was shocked, just shocked to see that Mason City was NOT in the bottom 10. It must not be the worst place in the U.S. to live.
Love Mason City! Raising my children here. Great schools, people, close to Des Moines and Twin Cities. Has all we need.
I agree with you. I love it here in Mason City. I have lived here almost all my life. I guess the few years I did NOT live here, is where I find that other places are much much worse. Only those lucky people that read this site realize they live in such a terrible place. If you find somewhere else that is to your liking, well then be my guest.
I do not live in MC. as my handle states I live 50 miles south. I like my town too as it is fairly cheap living and safe with basicly no crime. like most towns, I think problems comes from only a few people that have their own agenda. weather it being a profit from a sale or services provided, ect. In my town i think the police are doing what the mayor or council tells them. maybe in MC too?? keep working to eliminate your problems (mayor/councilman,ect) someone posted on here once. “if you dont like it, then you run for office” it is my experience that people wont vote for someone that will speak the truth. they are like sheep and vote for a smile and lies. id rather do buisness with someone that tells me the truth to my face. good or bad you know where they stand
Police chiefs come and go. Citizens always stay.
Great question Heidi.Why are we expanding when enrollment is dropping.
Ask Anita Micich. She and her board do as they please. They even passed up Ed W. who had more votes than Bobby. She makes an obscene salary and needs to justify that.
I agree we are paying Micich to much. I would rather see that money being spent on good teachers rather then a administrator who’s job does not help our kids education. Yes someone has to run the day to day operation of the school system but we should not pay this person more then the people teaching our children. I would like to know how many administrators does the school system have on staff. I think we should cut some of these positions and keep the people educating our children.
It is quite sad that your spelling proves your point.
Micich hates mason city and wants to destroy its history. That’s why she rents here. Won’t buy. She hates the Indian logo mc used for 102 years and renamed Roosevelt. Lets dump this woman first chance we get.
I completely agree Micich needs to go. I’ve been saying that since she got here. But until the community goes to the school board meetings, calls the school board representatives, nothing is going to get her to leave. I don’t think she would even respond to a public demonastration on her rented lawn. Even if you don’t have children in the school system, and you reside in Mason City it is your taxes that are paying her salary. So everyone has a say as far as I’m concerned. Speak up, heck shout if you need to, but let’s get the school board to listen to the residents in Mason City and let them know we don’t want her here. As far as the middle and high schools, they did need updating, but the grade changes certainly could have waited until all these renovations are done. And changing Roosevelt, that was completely unacceptable. And that needs to be changed back!!!
Driving by the new construction on the mason city high school/john adams building lately got me wondering… what is that and why are they building it? Dont we have fewer students than ever? I’m confused as to why more rooms are needed when theres less students. Does anyone know?
Well as I understand it…after looking it up…construction to john adams and the high school consists of remodeling to the cafeteria which is shared by both schools, and updating of the heating & cooling systems, updating to energy efficient buildings, building a tornado safe room and lastly adding more learning space…more info can be found at: http://www.masoncityschools.org/construction/index.html
I graduated from MCHS over 30 years ago, the brick walls were cracking back then! It’s funny as it was only a few years old then. Rumor has it the land it sets on is flled in swamp.
There needed to be some improvements done to the two schools. They needed to be done long ago. Even though enrollment is declining in Mason City, there have been schools closed and with the grade changes, they do need more room at the high school and John Adams. John Adams was too small and out of date. Before renovations, there weren’t enough bathrooms, handicapped accessibility, etc. And sorry, but the older outdated elementary schools aren’t really a good fit for the middle and high school age. I’m not a fan of Anita Micich, but these are things that really needed to be done for the kids now and the kids in the future.
The high school and the junior high (now called middle school) are built on an old pasture and swamp. The closer you get to the river the worse it was. I know about this because I helped build the damn thing. They knew it back then but when it was brought up they just hushed it up. The land as I recall was donated so they had very little in it and the previous owner got a hell of a tax break. Politics was about the same back then. Also, Eastbrook is built on a swamp with quicksand under it. Someday all of those expensive houses are going to come apart.
Any idea why the heavy police presence on north side of mc last night?
So they are close when the trash at Alley Katz starts shooting their guns off.
My Vent for the day:
We are no longer going to the Mason City Public Library because they have seen fit to charge my 14 year old son $20 for a book he DID NOT damage. I was there when he checked it out, I read the book also AND i returned it in the same damaged condition we checked it out in…but because they didn’t catch it sooner…WE have to pay for it…gotta screw the honest ppl of Mason City over to pay for that library renovation huh?? WTF
I got a book from the library and the person that had it before me obviously had a cat or cats which I am extremely allergic to. My hands were full of welts when I tried to hold onto it to read, and it reeks like cigarette smoke. Won’t be using the library books anymore.
Heck twith the library, they are rapidly becoming obsolete since almost everything is available on-line. If you want books, look for USED ones on Amazon.com, I find almost every book I want, including rare, hard to find, collector, and contemporary in every price from one penny up plus usually $3.99 for shipping.
And yes, I HAVE purchased a few antique, hardcover books for one cent- not cheap paperback throw-away junk.
Hey Matt, I’m sure the redemption center would appreciate it if you could spell redemption right in there ad.
Hey idiot, you may want to use the correct spelling of “their” when correcting others.
Bwwwhahahah… (<- I think that is how you spell that)
Exactly! If you are going to proof everyone’s spelling, you better get it right yourself. Yes, it should be their.
Bloggers rarely have good spelling. If I was paying for an ad I would be a little upset if they spelled my business name wrong. I see it is fixed now.
If you see an on Duty Cop at the place he works offduty please call the City Aministrator and let him know, this Cop is there. They can have offduty jobs but should not conflict with their main work. You do not have to give your name when you call.
Just go up to the Police Department at shift change when it gets warm and you will know why the motorcycles are so loud in Mason City. You would think the Chief could do something about it.
Loud pipes save lives!!
Loud pipes save delicate egos.
Clear Lake has hired their new Chamber Director & he’s planning to buy a house in MASON CITY! He’s 62 years old with a whoppin’ 3 years experience. He’s currently the Chamber Director in Washington, IA.
This info doesn’t mean anything to me personally, but the city of Clear Lake is buzzing.
“No one has been officially hired for this position. If and when someone is hired, they will reside in Clear Lake.”
I AM SO TIRED OF THE GARBAGE CREW THROWING MY CAN OR BINS ALL OVER. WHEN IT’S BROKE IN PIECES WHO HAS TO PAY FOR IT? ME NOT CITY HALL. TODAY I FOUND MY BIN IN THE STREET. PURE LAZINESS IF YOU ASK ME.
i hear ya!!!! i see the crew so lazy, they wont even bend over to pick up a bottle that fell outta the bin,when tossing the bin into the truck!!!!!!!!! fire those lazy bastards!!!!
Why dont you climb your fat ass on the truck and see just how lazy they are?
i gave up on the city trash collectors. they wont take my trash so i hired holt.
I’ve had the same recurring problem with them about my garbage cans.
Also,
I live on a very busy highway so when those plows have plowed 5ft of snow in front of my mailbox and driveway not to mention knocking over my mailbox numerous times in the process. I emailed the mayor about it because I was concerned about what if I had a medical issue or an emergency there would be noway a ambulance could get in my driveway or me getting out. The mayor basically told me there’s nothing he can do and literally blew me off and saying its my responsibility to keep it clear.Which I agree BUT Its hard to snow blow 5ft of snow off your drive. I think it’s easier for the plows to lift there blade. I finally stopped complaining about it because the plow drivers would then purposely drive by my house and honk at me while there piling more snow on my driveway. One of the drivers about hit me with there blade.
annoyed What is the city to do when it snows. They are required to plow the streets. They fill my drive way when they plow too. Here is what i do, WAIT TILL THEY PLOW BEFORE SHOVELING. Its NOT that hard to figure out. Also if you live on a hiway it is not the city plowing your street.
Since 1999, no broken recycle bins, no broken plastic trash can. Cover was rolled over once because of wind.
#1 cause of trash being strewn in the streets? Residents placing trash out in plastic bags (as opposed to covered containers). Crows and other critters chew right through them. And normally, those who practice that, are the last to clean up after their foolishness.
I WATCHED THE RECYCLE CREW TODAY, WHILE EMPTYING A BIN, A PLASTIC JUG FELL OUT. HE THREW THE BIN, HIT THE CURB LANDED IN THE STREET. DID HE PICK UP THE JUG??? HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!111 LAZY ASSES!!!! I CALLED UP THE CITY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE LAZY ASSES TOO!!!
When you call up and complain make sure you tell them the vehicle number all city trucks are suppose to have them. This way they know who the bad apples are.
Yea I’ve never been happy with the sanitation service in mason city. I once went to Menards and bought the largest trash can they sold so it wouldn’t blow all over 50gal i think…they wouldn’t touch it…i called them that’s to large we won;t empty anything that size…went to a smaller one…a few weeks later they had run it over…so i don’t use them anymore…tired of wasting money. But if you don’t use the service you get charged for it anyway. If your not happy with the service you get charged for it anyway. I discovered the other day after they wouldn’t take my trash AGAIN oh we don’t dispose of cat litter it’s against the law…its these reasons our ditches are full of trash ppl…trash disposal should not be that difficult seriously.
When I moved here in 1999, I learned all those rules from the City. Never once had a can hurt or destroyed.
And the reason there is trash in the ditches, is because of people too lazy to comply with simple rules of civility, or too cheap to purchase the stickers required.
And if putting out the trash is so hard, it makes me wonder how the heck you survive anything else in Society? Who dresses you in the morning?
I’m GLAD you were smart enough to look up ALL the trash/recycling rules…as most citizens with half a brain do…but you obviously missed the ENTIRE point…i wasn’t talking about trash stickers or the “listed” rules what i was referring to is all the 150 items they won’t touch or that you can’t recycle…no where on the mason city rules list does it tell you where your suppose to dispose of tires, cat litter, washers, dryers, fridges, computers, tv, vcrs…and about a 140 other things they won’t touch…I’ve even called and asked what we are suppose to do with cat letter…they said they didn’t know but they didn’t take it…THE reason we have so much crap in the ditches is because IF we can find some place that will take this stuff they CHARGE for it if ppl have to pay extra and track down places to take all this stuff to it makes “recycling” a pain…if it was much easier and say included in what we have to pay we wouldn’t have so much crap in the ditches. So if your going to comment at least get the meaning correct first.
Chris how do you know it was a garbage truck that ran it over? Is it possible that the can blew into the street and was run over by a car?
Yes it is possible and yes i thought of that…i have lived here over 15 years i have had soooo much difficulty JUST getting my trash picked up..i do not condone disposing of it in ditches nor have i ever done that…i have tried many things to work with the city and be “civilized” as Observer put it but when i have spent lots of money on trash cans, and driving all over town to recycle everything and making phone calls to figure out how i can dispose of this or that…it just seems like it should be a lot easier SO ppl don’t dispose of things illegally. I’ve replaced 5 cans in 15 years, I’ve even had the can lid wired to the can so it wouldn’t blow away…that didn’t last long either…I’ve had neighbors run over my trash can and spreed my trash all the way down the alley so I had to clean it up….I’m beginning to think it would be easier to call HOLT services as someone suggested. less time and aggravation then dealing with the city.
In June or there abouts, they have a day where all large objects are picked up. Appliances, furniture, other large objects; contact Scott Brattrud with the City.
For electronics, batteries, and the like, you must make an appointment with the landfill and dispose of them there (Waste Management used to accept them on 3rd street, but that has ended). Hazmat materials also go to the landfill, call them for details.
Construction debris must also go to the landfill, at a cost.
I highly suggest that if one goes with Holt, get everything in writing first.
“I’ve even called and asked what we are suppose to do with cat letter…they said they didn’t know but they didn’t take it”
LOL, I never heard of a law against cat litter disposal, just dump it in a paper bag or something inside a plastic bag tied up, and placed inside the regular trash bag and what they don’t know is in there they can’t scream about, they aren’t going to open up every single garbage bag in the truck!
Just make sure nothing in the bag has your name, address or anything identifying on it like envelopes, magazines with mailing labels and don’t worry about it.
Cat litter itself is dry, cleaned CLAY.
I pay at the pump I always have.Unless I really need to go in. But recently the ‘pay at the pump’ option doesn’t go through so you need to go in and pay. If I wanted to go in I would press pay inside. This happened to me AGAIN this morning and I wasn’t very happy. I asked the attendant why this happens he really gave no reason but when I jokingly said’ Yeah you guys just want people to come inside to pay so they end up buying more things and he actually admitted it. It really ANNOYS me to do this especially when I’m in a hurry!!
I am so tired of being told I should stop smoking or telling me where or when I can smoke. These holier than thou people who have vises or do no wrong think they have a right to tell us smokers that they can’t breath because I have a cigarette. At the same time, they’re sucking down can after can of beer or glasses of liquor, then driving home (or wherever). Probably going over to someone’s house to cheat on their spouse.
Ignoring their children, beating them, gambling or not paying their bills. And they have the nerve to say my cigarette is disgusting.
Democracy? Right?! A person can carry a gun, but not smoke a cigarette in a restaurant??? A smoking gun in someone’s hand is a lot more dangerous than a smoking cigarette.
I can’t be around cigarette smoke because I now have asthma and my lungs wheeze closed. If you have asthma, you can’t breathe when you’re in a smoky environment. I’ve had to leave places where someone is smoking. I used to smoke, quit 26 years ago, still crave nicotine every day, and dream about smoking every night. I finally quit because I realized I was damaging my family’s health and I couldn’t live with that. It’s called growing up and taking responsibility for your actions and that the world doesn’t revolve around oneself.
And I forgot to say that you are so wrong to assume that people who can’t breathe in a fog of cigarette smoke must be cheaters, boozers, deadbeats, gun nuts, or whatever else you suspect. Those things aren’t the issue. The danger of inhaling 2nd hand smoke is. Carrying a gun if you have a permit is legal. Driving under the influence is illegal. Not paying your bills is civil tort. Cheating on your spouse is immoral. Domestic abuse is a crime. Smoking when it bothers someone else is rude.
When people start labeling others as “holier than thou”, they label themselves as “lowlier than thou”.
I agree Katie, how dare you “smoker” assume that just because we don’t smoke and dislike it we are drunks, losers, and beat our children and sleep around. I am none of those things. I don’t drink, I take very good care of my kids, and I pay my bills. But here’s one thing I will not do, pay your medical bills when you get sick with cancer from smoking and then have a benefit for others to help you with your medical bills…
I dont smoke but I agree if the government is going to allow them to be sold and collect money in taxes on them then a person should be allowed to smoke anywhere a bus. owner permits.
you can always go to the casino and smoke. for some reason those places still permit smoking. I wonder if it has anything to do with the government making money off them. HHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM____________the government wouldnt do that to us, would they?????????
What you are attempting to do is deflection. It is not working and is the best argument of a teenager can come up with. Please continue to smoke where and whenever you can so you can speed up you own demise.
You should be able to light up wherever you want, it is ridiculous that smokers are treated like lepers anymore. If you’re that offended, go live in a bubble so nothing bothers you. I’d rather sit next to someone with a lit cigarette than sit next to a sex offender or drug dealer. Or for that matter I’d rather sit with a cigarette smoker than someone with a screaming child throwing a tantrum. lol!
Smokers are lepers. They spread disease. CANCER, EMPHYSEMA, ASTHMA, CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, and on and on.
Too true, oh so true. Completely nasty habit. Ban smoking!
SMOKER…. you are an idiot ! Your smoking has obviously affected your brain
Gone are the times one can enjoy tobacco. On trains, planes, and even certain automobiles. I recall a neighbor who got all upset with my smoking in my own back yard. Most uneducated thing I had ever heard of (calculate the dissipation per square foot, no wind, based on less than 5 ccm³ per ‘puff’ – concentration of the smoke is reduced by at least 50% per cubic meter).
That said, there is no reason “smoking only establishments” cannot be allowed. Those who do not like smoke, do not have to enter. It is after all, a legal product to use.
I loathe cigarette smoking…and I used to smoke! I quit 15 years ago and still have to use an inhaler. Go ahead and smoke, then when you get lung cancer and have to go thru chemo and radiation to try and stay alive, then get buried in medical bills, don’t whine and cry about it and want others to help pay your medical bills. Have fun later in life carrying that oxygen tank around with you.
How come nobody wants to ban grilling and backyard campfires? A business owner should decide if smoking is allowed and don’t give me that were protecting the employees. I worked in a smokey factory for 20 years that is why we have OSHA! If the smoke exposure is over the set limits they will make changes to protect the workers. I gave up cigarettes in 1985 they are useless and expensive but I believe in the freedom to do stupid things.
Dear Smoker,
I understand that you would like the ability to smoke wherever you want… as for complaining about the people telling you to quit smoking. You should thank them for even caring about you. You have obviously NEVER lost someone to lung cancer, emphysema, asthma, etc…. I HAVE……. and guess what? IT WAS FROM SMOKING… Those people actually LOVE you and want you around. Maybe you should think about that.
I am so sick of standing in line behind some dumb*** who is purchasing scratch cards and then keeps turning them in for more – first of all it takes five minutes for the person to request which tickets he/she wants and then for the cashier to rip them off,etc. and then after all that the person requests cigarettes – grrrr.
Wow, sounds like you need to use pay at the pump with that attitude. Bet if they won on their tickets & shared it with you, you’d shut your mouth. No one cares how long you have to wait in line or what the person ahead of you is buying. Oh my goodness. Whaaaah Whaaaah! They were there 1st & have the right to do purchase whatever they please.
They are generally loser types – probably like you “Em” – the type that suck off the social security system with their false disabilities. How do you like that? This is called the “whiners den” idiot, so I wouldn’t take things so personally and yeah, “whaa”. Geez, I like this site – that felt good.
One of the first lessons I learned in Kindergarden, how to wait in line for your turn.
What it really says to me is, you are far more important than anyone else, and thus, you must not be made to wait. You are also the gutless types that throws your money AT the clerk and walk away. (I know of several cases where person(s) were arrested for driving off without paying for gas – Judge ruled customer(s) failed to complete the transaction because they threw money on the counter or at the clerk)
Next time you are in line, make mention of that fact you are more important than anyone else there, and see what happens.
The good ones are taken and all that are left are the handicapped ones!
Your birth certificate is an apology from the condom factory..ahhahahahahhaha
Insurance companies ( even Medicare ) pay for VIAGRA, so why the Hell not cover birth control pills ? An insurance participant could opt in/out for BC coverage. If birth control were the man’s responsiblity you could damn well be sure BC would be covered by Insurance. And since insurance pays for VIAGRA, look at how STD cases have risen among the Senior population. YIKES! God help all the women ! It’s a sexist thing again. Birth control should be covered by Insurance.
Ins. companies and Medicare should NOT be paying for Viagra. Period. No wonder our costs have hit the sky. This is helping. Cut Viagra out of what they pay for. Absolutely nonsense.
Only one warm day and the crazy man with the loud motorcycle roared down my street. I get to look forward to that all spring and summer until a deer jumps out in front of him.
If you don’t like my motorcycle, wear earplugs, get used to it, i’m not going away. Been riding my Harley Sportster for years, no one ever said a thing. Yes it’s a little louder due to some mod’s but I love it, no going to change.
You will pardon me Easy Rider, you are only one out of many. It shows a great deal of disrespect to everyone else when you make as much, if not more noise than a small jet. How dare you disrupt the community? Are you and your desires more important than the rest of us?
Yesterday, beautiful March day, yet I could not sit outside and talk on the phone. Why? Because selfish people like you made so much noise, we could not carry on a conversation without shouting. That sir, is not right at all.
And we supplied taxpayers money to the company that sells these insults to our senses and intelligence, so they could expand their business. I cannot see how giving money to someone who could afford it on their own, so his products can disturb and disrupt an entire community even more? How on earth does that better our community?
They need lots of noise to make everyone think they have a hot rod. They are upset because of the REALLY fast, more powerful and quieter Jap bikes.
Easy rider is easily an idiot… watch out for the deer, karma is a bizitch.
How dare you disrupt the community? Are you and your desires more important than the rest of us?
Yesterday, beautiful March day, yet I could not sit outside and talk on the phone. Why? Because selfish people like you made so much noise, we could not carry on a conversation without shouting. ”
As “Oscar Madison” said on “the odd couple” once- if you want peace and quiet MOVE TO UTAH!
Seriously, you live in a CITY and then complain about noise??? you are as bad as those living in an apartment building complaining the upstairs tenant’s feet make too much noise on your ceiling and that you can hear them flush the toilet at 3 AM.
It’s caleld LIFE IN THE CITY, if you want quiet find ahouse on a couple or more acres of land outside the city limits and move there.
It’s called the law and you are breaking it. It is also called mutual respect. I won’t let my dog crap in your lawn a leave it there. Why do you feel the need to crap in peoples ears?
So for the few, the many should suffer? No, that is not how it works. There are laws, it is just a certain few who wish to ignore them.
If you Cage Jockeys paid more attention to the road and your surroundings, I would not need what I consider a Safety Mod so that you can hear me while you are talking on your cell phone. Please provide the link or quote the law that says I can not have loud pipes.
show you where you are breaking the law? are you serious? common criminal mentality. You are not in the wrong because you have not taken the time to look it up? It is in the city code. Please tear yourself away from shopping for your next “costume” to read the laws you are breaking.
Yes, Wow, we should all be glad that the law is not based upon opinion.
“Safety Mod”, that’s a cute term. Did you read that on some propaganda at the dealership? There is city code for the noise ordinance, it is based on opinion then passed into law, then thoroughly ignored until it serves law enforcement to pull someone over only to search their vehicle.
SOUTHSIDER! Do you use an electric lawnmower if not you should. I get to look forward to you mowing all spring and summer until you’re texting while crossing a busy street!
gas and food prices through the ***kin roof, no jobs, enflation up..no hope in sight. how do you you assholes like the hope and change?
Its Rush’s fault!
Obama just fixing bushs mistakes, Thank the republicians.
I remember 4 years ago when gas was this high, there was a HUGE outcry from everyone blaming Bush. Now that gas in at the same level as then, where in the hell is the outcry against obmama? He owns this mess!!
This is totally obmama’s fault and not Bush! Bush is no longer president. As usual, the democraps have ruined everything they touch!!!!
RIGHT ON BRO ! Of course the current $’s/jobs/housing mess the US faces is OBIMBO’s fault and only OBIMBO’s fault. He is the “SAVIOR” in charge – right Democraps ? How ’bout another round of stimulus checks to spend at the Wal Mart, running our deficit even deeper into CHINA !!!!! How’s that “hope & change” thingy working out these days? And just why the Hell is gas so expensive when the price of oil has gone down? What’s OBIMBO doing about that and the Dems in DC? Why not drill for oil on US turf- there again the Dems are against that, thus causing the US to be dependent upon foreign oil ! An now on top of the financial crisis OBIMBO wants every one to have a college education – how’s that for dictatorship/socialism leadership? Where do the handouts end and fiscal responsiblity begin?
why dont you two republinuts go back to the clinton years. gas was cheaper, everyone was making money, and more surplus of money than in the past 12 years. he was a democrat. anyway, Bush was an oil state president and was also in the buisness. he didnt care if his buddies gouged the country. why the hell obama didnt do something when he came to office I DONT KNOW. that one thing would have changed things around all by itself. as for the prices rising now I think its because everyone is looking toward re election and not minding the store as one might say. as for drilling for oil in the united states. they say there is 20 years worth of work, drilling for oil in north dakota. yes I think Obama could have done a better job, but do you think Mit Romney will be any better? he made his money cutting jobs.
Emanresu,
I read your rehtoric about the stimulus checks (distributed by Republicans) and your blaming all economic issues on the democratic party, so I pose this question to you: Did you return or CASH your stimulus check? I bet you cashed it at the local Wal mart didn’t you!
I remember 4 years ago when gas was this high, there was a HUGE outcry from everyone blaming Bush.”
That’s because due to his THREATS to pre-emptive strike any county HE deemed a “threat” and the attacks on the Middle East causing instability, speculation of more attacks and pipeline disruption- the price shot up.
OILMAN Bush threatened and bullied, even almost restarted the cold war with Russia, made derrogatory remarks about China and N Korea being the “axis of evil” which with his statements of pre-emptive strikes on ANY country he deemed a “threat” also caused problems.
Soon as oilman Bush was defeated you forgot the price of gas dropped like a stone from $4 down down down.
Now the price is back up because the oil co’s are raping us because they can, they know were USED TO paying $3.00 a gallon now.
There is NO OIL SHORTAGE! there is no gasoline shortage! we have a glut of both right now and we are even EXPORTING oil.
The price of nat gas went up 8% not because of shortages, but because of the mild winter and about 8% LOWER consumption, the gas co’s claim they cant make money at the price on that consumption level.
So no matter what we do- conserve, burn it like hell, they will raise the price because we arent using enough or we are iusing too much.
Obama has NOTHING to do with the prices privately owned companies sell their products for!
Again, there is NO shortage of gas, gasoline or oil, this is PURE GREED by the oil co’s.
You have a choice- alternate fuel vehicle, motorcycle, skooter, walk, mass transit, carpool.
I bought a 49cc gas scooter to get to/from work a mile away, and come home for lunch, it gets nearly 100 MPG. PERFECT for such use about 8 mo out of the year instead of the 6 cyl car.
When ya’ll are paying $5 a gal this summer I’ll be laughing, and waving at ya as I drive past the gas station.
Go to Europe, France, Germany, Norway etc where the average price of gas is about $8 a gallon and has been for ages. Vietnam just raised theirs even higher.
You’ll find large percentage of people in Taiwan and the like all ride either scooters or motor cycles, go to youtube and watch the videos by a user named M13
as he rides around, you’ll see scooters and motorcycles all over the place- cheap, gas efficient at 70-100 mpg, easy to store.
Emanresu wrote
“right Democraps ? How ’bout another round of stimulus checks to spend at the Wal Mart, running our deficit even deeper into CHINA !!!!!”
You got that backasswards, it was GW Bush who sent out the 2 “stimulated rebate checks” amounting to a lousy $300 each, and you got a rebate even if you paid NO taxes LOL
Every dime of that lousy $300 went to walmart, it wasn’t enough money to do anything with, not even amounting to an average week’s takehome pay check.
” How’s that “hope & change” thingy working out these days? ”
Very well, ask any Detroit Auto worker, people whose mortgages have been re-issued at lower rates, or whose foreclosure was stopped.
We have aDO NOTHING congress that is gridlocked and refuses to work together, the president cant do ANYTHING if the congress is gridlocked like this one has been the last 3 years!
Jezus! they couldnt even agree on extending unemployement benefits, even the super committee couldnt agree and failed
“And just why the Hell is gas so expensive when the price of oil has gone down? What’s OBIMBO doing about that and the Dems in DC?”
Ask the OIL co’s why, they are privately owned corporations, they have the right to set their prices however high they want on their PRODUCTS, you are the one who bought a truck to drive, no one forced you to buy a vehicle that burns gasoline or diesel.
The president cannot set gas prices, nor have anything to do with the prices any more than he can set and regulate the prices in your local hardware store on hammers.
“Why not drill for oil on US turf- there again the Dems are against that”
WHAT oil on us turf? we burned up most of the huge deposits we once had in TEXAS, Alaskan crude has been declining for years and that huge pipeline has more leaks in it now than a spaghetti strainer.
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF OIL OR GAS here, we have an excess GLUT, all storage capacity is filled.
The prices are going up because of 2 reasons- threats to Iran and another WAR over there that will disrupt GLOBAL oil supplies if the strait of hormuz is blocked.
The other is because of the AMerican way by us corporations- draw them in with cheap prices, then rape the consumers when they are stuck with $30,000 vehicles that can only burn gasoline.
We had ample notice of all this back in 1973 with the gasoline crisis, what did we do after that went away and people forgot about the gas lines and the gas rations? we kept building V8 luxury cars that got at best 20 mpg, then built 2 TON trucks called SUV’s that everyone and their brother wanted, and finally capped that off with the ever-so-popular 2 ton *tank* called the HUMVEE that probably got 15 mpg.
Meanwhile, demand since 1950 all but doubled due to population increases, from 150 million in 1950 to 308 million now.
Explain how my 1982 honda CVCC 5 door wagon got 38 mpg highway, and here we are THIRTY YEARS later and even new cars today barely get that!
We burn through over 20 MILLION BARRELS of oil a day in this country, you have no idea how enormous that is, per day EVERY day, the stuff isn’t going to last indefinitely! We barely have the refinery capacity as it is to keep up with the current demand.
You seem to forget who sets oil prices. It’s not in the Boardroom of an oil company, but on the trading floors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (and places like it).
Government can try to influence that price, up or down. Telling an industry that for example, a pipeline cannot be built, raises speculation, and price. Government saying, you cannot build a new refinery, sends much the same message to traders (I did not forget, that NIMBY’s have much more leverage in this particular instance than Government, and when they flex their muscle, everyone ends up paying).
If you have information about dog fighting in your area please contact Norred & Associates by completing the form below. You can also reach us at 877-215-2250. You may remain anonymous.
A reward of up to $5,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest or conviction of a dogfighter.
Don’t go to Scotty’s Auto Repair. He is very Unprofessional!
I have always had very good luck with him. And his prices are low.
who’s ready for sixty degree temps?!?!
I have my scanner turned up today and I just heard a report about a complaint about some rental house in town with 25 cats and strong urine smell. The lady for anmimal control the dispathcer called was rude and and said she would get to it when she could. Thenshe said the call should go to neighborhood services. WTH????
I heard the same thing about the 25 cats and I agree! This so called “animal control officer” needs to ‘step down’ I dont think laziness was in the job description.
Actually, there is. No limit on the number of cats you can own in Mason City, but it is a public nuisance if the cats cause cause an impact to the neighbors. The code enforcement guys in Neighborhood Services handle nuisance calls. Dispatch has been told this repeatedly, I’ve been told, but still call animal control. If Code Enforcement find a problem, they call Animal Control.
She’s still lazy any way you look at it, Most everyone knows this and the scanner doesn’t lie!
Sounds like a protocol issue, and not laziness. In talking to the ACO, many times her calls do not come from Dispatch, but directly by telephone. I usually talk to her, and not bother Dispatch (they have enough on their plate). The only exception is in cases where a problem with an animal becomes urgent.
This is probably a case of animal hoarding. If it smells that bad from the outside, can you imagine the inside? Not a pretty sight. The landlord needs to be notified. I feel sorry for the poor animals having to live in that mess.
I agree that she is lazy & very rude most of the time. I don’t blame her, she’s seen it all, all of the bad things & all of the lies people tell when they get turned in. However, if that’s the job you CHOOSE to do, then you better make animal welfare your FIRST priority! I’ve called dispatch & they call her & guess who comes to check out what I’ve reported? A bum police officer. Tells me that all the pets need is food & water, so nothing gets done. If that’s all pets need I’d have 50 of them. They need shelter, love & attention! Isn’t it neglect?? They need more than 1 AC officer & “business hours” shouldn’t be part of their work. Most instances happen in the evening/night or on the weekends & they don’t even work those hours. Ridiculous! Animal advocates cannot have bankers hours & choices as to what they follow up on.
Man has sex with dog. How sick is that. A bunch of us at lunch were talking about it. the question came up .what is worse. a man and a dog or a man and a man. the vote was 9 to 0 that man on man was worse.In there effort to make it seem normal they have gay “marriage” To most it is still a peverted act. sick. Whats next…man and 5 year old boy marriage? where do you draw the line?
What a thoughtless and idiotic comment to make about gay men. The exact reason I stay in the closet! Biggots like you! Why can’t you people accept my lifestyle and get over it!
They want marriage to prove what thet to is normal. not sick..
to start off i am straight. your comment was obvious a stab at gay bashing. I am a male and prefer women. i have had anal sex with a woman. there is no way in hell you 9 people would all rather have sex with a dog, rather than a man.
reason they voted like they did,,, none of them were gay.
You might look up zoophilia on wikipedia, because you would be incorrect to make an assumption about another man being more desirable.
“most it is still a peverted act. sick. Whats next…man and 5 year old boy marriage? where do you draw the line?”
You draw the line at; MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! and if you dont want to have sx with an animal or another man then DONT!
Chris,
“where do you draw the line” Really? How about at the legal age of consent…..idiot.
if you have sex with a small boy…then you must also be a fag.
“chris
March 5, 2012 at 11:52 am
Man has sex with dog. How sick is that.”
Aledged… and he pled not guilty, but I digress.
The DSM IV manual states that is only a paraphilia and not a mental sickness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoophilia
Once again the leftist nuts are half cracked about words. In this case that word is slut. Rush correctly described the law student testifying before Congress.
The marxist wackjobs have their pink panties in bunch, again.
He cannot SAY such a thing. He MUST apologize. He SHOULD be fired.
Well, no one has said Rush used the incorrect word to describe this moral paragon’s behavior. They are not defending the lady.
They are, again, merely trying to silence someone they do not agree with.
Rush apologized for using the word. He did not say she is not a slut!
Oppie…You are WAY out of line here. Rush once again was WRONG! The debate was health insurance paying for birth control, the pill. Heard of it? It is very expensive! A woman is NOT a slut or a whore because she wants to use birth control. She is just “responsible” and doesnt want an unwanted pregnancy. Better than an abortion, huh? If men had to take the pill, you bet insurance would cover it, like Viagra. This is the type of nut that listens to and agrees with Limbaugh.
Using sex and politics to beg for contraception is a slut-tee way to beg for money. Only a floozie would do that.
Going before congress to brag about your sex life and then claim that government and your insurance company should pay for sex pills is way over the line.
This woman has no shame and the term slut is a fair description of anyone who is promiscuous.
No body should be forced to pay for anyone’s personal pleasures.
As usual, people are ignoring the most BASIC of the birth control facts. MANY women use it not JUST for birth control, but for regulation of irregular periods or moderation of symptoms. These are HEALTH ISSUES. A NUN can need birth control pills. Are you calling a NUN a slut?
Well what would you call a woman who says she should be paid then to have sex? A nun??
Rush is a hate spouting drug addict. People who enjoy his show should be spoken to in small words very slowly.
In 2012, I would like to think that we have moved past the idea that women can be controlled. Rush’s statements were meant to shame and humiliate Sandra Fluke. Fortunately for American women, she was not afraid and stood up to him and his filthy words. Spreading hate like you and Rush Limbaugh have is what is truly shameful.
Controlling women? You have the force on the wrong foot.
The issue, is not of control, but should a company, who provides or underwrites insurance, be forced to cover the cost of birth control (in most cases, an option). And should a religion such as Catholics, who’s canons do not allow it’s use, be forced to provide the same. The latter most concerns me.
That has nothing what so ever to do with “controlling” women (an absurd concept to me), but government’s obvious personal and religious interference.
I respectfully disagree, Observer. The language was changed so that the insurer, rather than the employer, now covers the cost. People or institutions who feel, morally, that women should not have birth control available to them do not have to provide it. A woman and her doctor should make those decisions, when others try to legislate morality it is a form of control.
That’s’ ok, you and your doctor can get insurance someplace else, or you can pay for it out of pocket. Either way, a place for example, a Catholic hospital, should not be forced to provide it.
No more than you could force the Mennonites to pay into Social Security, or Amish to school their children past 8th Grade, or Jews to work past sundown Friday. Something called our Constitution guarantees religious freedom. And it trumps your case of “control”.
Outside of religious entities, anything is fair game. And unless there is medical need, I cannot see where it would be a hardship. There are alternatives. Many alternatives.
Anonymous
March 5, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Well what would you call a woman who says she should be paid then to have sex? A nun??”
A very smart woman who figured out how to use her body to make alot of money for something many men will PAY for, sometimes hundreds of dollars each.
She already sells her body going to work for a 9-5 boss, so this is no different and earns more for the smart ones.
Rushs insurance paid for his pill addiction. So I guess Rush is a pill poppin whore!
WHY did the city snow plows go down my street at 3pm and at 3:45pm today when we had a dusting of snow and it melted as it hit. There was NOTHING TO PLOW and being Sunday, I’m sure they were paid overtime. What a waste of money!
Because the drivers in Mason City don’t know how to drive according to the conditions. The “plows” were sanding all the intersections so morons don’t slide through them and kill someone. Knowledge is the key my friend.
Well said!!!
WRONG! I KNOW the difference between a snow plow and a sander. They plowed my street twice and a few hours later they sanded the corner intersection. YOU have no “Knowledge” of what they did on MY street. Plowing yesterday was a waste of money!
That would be the fault of a member of management. The employees are doing what they are told to do. Maybe we should think about replacing a supervisor who would allow this waste of resources.
On the 10 PM news they spoke of the slippery condtions today after the snow started falling. That is why the sanders and plows were out. They were trying to safeguard the public because they drive too fast. Bit*h Bit*h Bit*h.
Why is this so hard to understand???? When you get a small amount of snow like this it’s a SAFETY ISSUE at intersections. People don’t slow down, they slide, this creates icy patches, then the next driver does the same, pretty soon every intersection is solid ice. The SANDERS are out for the safety of the citizens. Think you could get up Carolina hill off of East State today without sand on it? How about coming down it, think you could stop?? Please THINK before you type people, especially when you have no idea what you are talking about!! Geez
My scanner said that people could not get up the 19th street overpass.
This (Plowing) was between 3pm & 4pm in the afternoon, melted as it hit the road. NO ice then…
Mercy Women’s Health Center – My last visit there for my annual check-up was more of a “sales pitch” than a medical check-up! Come on now, try to run up the bill unnecessarily higher – what a rip-off! Pushing so many unnecesary tests is one reason health care is so high. I’m tired of being treated like a $$$$$, rather than a health patient. People need to be shoppers for health care services, rather than being told you have to do this ( stay within the Mercy system )…UGH… I hope I do not have to start drving to Rochester for my annual check-up.
You don’t have to go to Rochester to have a Mayo affiliate. Austin and Albert Lea clinics are Mayo. I’ve heard it’s worth the trip to go the clinics there.
You’ll get screened for a lot more at a Mayo-affiliated clinic. Which tests did you decline? Colonoscopy? Osteoporosis screening? Diabetes screening? Blood panels? Treadmill stress test? EKG? It’s your life. And death.
So I was down in the area helping my mother. Ended up in the ER with back pain as I already knew and have been being treated by the same doctor back home for almost 2 years for that I had a bulged L4 and L5, but was not sure if I redamaged or irritated it. So walking in I give them my history and what medications I am used to taking told them what happened and what my concerns were…but never the less the lady who was my “doctor” was so rude and absurd to the point I am not even sure how she was ever given a license to practice to begin with. No wonder why there are so many people who die of sickness and disease in that state. As you damn near have to be dying to be even be considered an emergency when going into their ER. I can honestly say they definately showed they cared about no one other than themselves and money and more so about money then human life.
Unfortunately, the ER is the number one place drug seekers go for more drugs. That was likely the reason for the rudeness. It’s unfortunate that the druggies make the rest of us suffer.
I will say that our local ER misses problems. You just have to trot up to Mayo or down to Iowa City if you don’t get any help here.
I was recently told by Mercy through the ER that I needed to go home and continue to take the prescribed narcotic pain pills I was given until they were able to treat me. This was not my first visit there my condition was diagnosed and the pain was continuous so much so it was difficult to function normally and I do not like to take pain pills because first of all I am a MOM I enjoy my children and NEED to be coherent for them secondly I have a JOB that I need to function for. I know that some people may go in for pain pills and have addictions I for one am NOT one of those people but that is how they made me feel. All I wanted was the care to make me feel better so that I could go back to my regular everyday life.
No use commenting on loud motorcycle exhaust pipes because minerts one dollar bike deal to the cops keeps the ticket books put away.I think loud pipes saves lives really means loud pipes equals little dxxxs.
I dated guys with harlees all of them had anger problems. Secondley the guys with the biggest bike had the smallest package. I’d rather date a guy with a caddy!!
Insert stereotypical race joke here when referring to guys who drive caddy’s
Ya tried ’em all, huh, Hildy?
That’s Mr. Minert to you! How many people make a living working for you?
Who is behind this newspaper? I love it, but don’t know who I’m dealing with. Can someone give a little history to how this site got started and by whom?
Thanks.
Matt Marquardt you can find him on facebook https://www.facebook.com/matt.marquardt
Apple, are you for real?
My cable for my iPod classic isn’t compatible with my iPad? And HOW much do you charge for cables?!?
Jeez!
The cable for your classic is likely over 5 years old, and your ipad came with a cable. Life’s hard
This is for the rude female off duty employee that shut the door in our face today not once but twice! We just wanna say thank you! I feel that someone needs to make you aware that even though your not on the clock you still represent your place of employment if your on the property and you should conduct your actions accordingly. Speaking from experience and being a current restuarant manager that is definitely not how one goes about achieving 100% guest satisfaction. In fact after experiencing this and witnessing other clocked in employees in disgustingly dirty uniforms yelling across the restuarant for the manager to change the paper towels in the bathroom and not having any sauces on the condiment bar, no toilet paper in the rest room and the quality of our sandwiches being less then average we will not be returning to this establishment. We will be letting all of our friends and family know of our experience today in the hopes that they do not visit your restuarant either. Now go ask your boss what the affects are of one bad guest experience. That one guest tells their one friend and that one friend tells another and before you know it 30 people know about it. The final result is a decline in sales which in turn means a decline in your hours because the business isnt there!! The time of this occurence was not during a busy time infact there were only 4 guests in the entire restuarant and was well after 1pm. Have a nice day!
Both McDonalds are owned by the same ownership, but yet you can clearly see the difference in service between the South store and the West store..Cant tell you how many times their shake machine is “down” on the south store…just crabby people that look like they are being bothered that you are there to eat there. Something is always gone or out of stock, which is hilarious because Martin Brower is less than 3 miles away…just sad.
I believe the lady who owns both is married to a cop.
Nancy Carroll is the owner and her husband is Larry Carroll, he is the school police officer.
Been to both but quit going south a long time ago. West MCD’s to me is only one in town. Been screwed by the southside restraunt multiple occassions. Pitiful service down there.
Haven’t been to that mc d’s for years…wrong orders, wrong change, and the kids come home sick from playland. The new West mc d’s opened, and I heard it was dirty. I went in to check it out. The soda fountain and condiments were a mess! Visited once, and never returned.
If by chance they read this, a few suggestions. First, and most aggravating, when your employees are making food, please, keep it neat. I don’t want condiments on the outside of burgers, or strange things inside (plastic, paper, hair, or what ever was just scrapped off the grill from different entree). This is really is not an unreasonable request, I did the same job at age 15.
Second, you put too much salt on french fries. I could melt most of the snow on my front porch with what you use. I cannot believe that people like that much salt on anything.
What I hate is McDonald’s puts way too many of those little onion bits on everything! They’re gross.
Gotta love them freeze dried onions!
That’s funny. If you’re going to complain about a business, why don’t you get your facts straight. I have never seen paper towels in the bathrooms at McDonald’s. Don’t they only have hand dryers? I used to be in the restaurant business and we always wanted that feedback from the customers so we could make it right for them.
I don’t think that Martin Brower is like a “grocery store” for McDonald’s so they can go there any time of day, just a distribution center.
Just because some cops might take advantage of their authority by scaring people they’re just doing their job. I doubt any cops want to become one just so they can be assholes. I’m 19 and I’m smart enough to realize it’s just a job to most of them. But I’ve seen the MCPD screem and intimidate people and I’m sick of it.
I cant wait to see some of these “BAD” cops get put behind bars where they belong. Now that will be justice for this community!
So, what is it you are saying they did to deserve jail time?
I am man enough to say I wouldn’t trade places with law enforcement. But hey, if you think you could do it better… step right up tiger!
Just because some cops might take advantage of their authority by scaring people they’re just doing their job. I doubt any cops want to become one just so they can be assholes. I’m 19 and I’m smart enough to realize it’s just a job to most of them. Someone has to do it…
Mr Wernet is just trying to learn a new trade for when he retires from MCPD. Nothing wrong with this or maybe hes working undercover any way hes a nice guy so leave it alone
Word has it that is an active duty policeman working as a car salesman along side another salesman who was recently arrersted for felonly theft. How does that work? If he needed permission from someone in the departmen it was a bad decision. Looks bad, not good
Could that have been possibly called being undercover?
before I even think about getting any medical attention at Mercy. The place is a mess. The nurses are on their cell phones, they don’t know how to use a lot of their equipment. I really think these people are not trained professionally. I want to live, so I will drive!
The nurses should not even have their cell phones with them, it violates Hippa laws!
I’ve seen them texting or playing a game or whatever they do with those things. Could have been on break?
Break or no break, they should not have them on the floor or in the office. If they are playing games, then play them in the car. It is a violation and should be reported to Mercy administration.
Administration should not need it reported, they should be in touch with their employees activities. The again we are talking about a hospital that hired a sex offender to be a doctor, UNTIL THE PUBLIC found out.
Well where to start? I would guess that was the total Officer shift, I would also take a wild guess and think there were two Supervisors on duty even if it means overtime so what could they both possible be doing that one of them can not respond lend a hand as well as supervise. Oh and by the way I am retired from the job and have been at many many sites where the Police were far outnumbered by more than the ratio you listed.
Geez, I’d really like to smoke a joint while riding my electric scooter down the street, but apparently someone named Buzz Crumcutter has something to say about that.
Sorry, I didn’t take into consideration that some of you burnouts would be in an electric scooter. But, look at the bright side, even though you might be a burnout, your Hoveround should be quiet. Party on!
Whether you smoke up or not, you’ll still end up in the nursing home needing your diaper changed by some apathetic nurse. I don’t see what your big deal is. I guess some people think that playing by Anheuser Bush’s rules will somehow win them a golden ticket when they die.
Life sucks, then you go to Alley Katz and get a 9 stuck in your ribs. Happy Hovering!
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF KELLY & JODY KINDS OF STORIES, INSTEAD OF PETER CHILDRENS ARTITLES EVERYDAY.
But Peter hates the Globe and needs to tell you about it daily.
Yes Peter won the golden pen from the globe then thy got jealous due to him being better writer than skippur. So they fired him. Now Peter points out all the globe mistakes everyday and does it well. I check this site for his stories every day.
Being one of the people still working in this town just trying to get around with all the retired folks drifting around the roads well under the speed limit. Also why when you have all day to eat do you have to plug up the resturants at lunch time drinking coffee when the working have only a short time for their break.
Never rent anything from the Rent A Center (RAC)they will say one thing but they turn around an do the opposite what they say.
Its not really RAC as a company. Its the store manager. Glen does not give a crap about anyone but himself and his paycheck. You are very right when you say one thing is said, and another is done. He’s to busy “pretending” to be busy, brown nosing his boss, or kissing customers butts to do anything that he may tell you he will handle. Even if the boys tell him that something needs his attention, it goes in one ear and out the other. He’s got better things to do. He is a poor excuse for a manager.
I hope this section won’t get overloaded with comments from some burnout whiners who want to continually complain about loud motorcycle pipes and wanting to legalize marijuana.
For those of you that constantly piss and moan about NIT not being this or that…..why do you keep coming back? If you think this site is so bad, start your own news site or better yet, leave.
And if you don’t like reading other people’s comments, why do you? Why don’t you leave?
right said Fred. dont let the door hit you in the ass crumcutter
Im pissed off at the MC police as I see them everyday go by the high school on illinios ave driving by young kids smoking at the 3 main corners there and not a damn thing is done, are you guys to frickin lazy to get out and fine then? Stop these kids while they are young and maybe they will get the hint.
The kids call that street Smokers Alley. The cops know these kids aren’t old enough to smoke, but do you think they are actually going to take the time to do any enforcing??? Hell no. They have time for stings at the convenience stores, but when the kids have the cigarettes right there in their hands puffing up, they do nothing. That’s our local tax dollars hard at work.
Why hasn’t NIT mentioned Andrew Breitbart, without him leading and paving a path there would be no such thing as NIT.
I read of his passing in major media outlets in IL and London. That he and others were pioneers in on-line news sites, is an understatement.
Since I got to three news sites daily (Chicago Tribune, BBC, and NIT). I usually do not look for that kind of subject matter here on NIT, as the other two cover it well.
Oh, and neither INRA in Iran nor KCNA of Pyongang made mention of Andrew’s passing. Guess there was more important news that day. ☺
Andrew who?
Once again city of MC not supporting its own. Read city council agenda for this tuesday, the city is buying cars from everywhere but right here in river city… They are buying from clear lake and des moines. Brent willert bought his new sled out of town too, so did mayor. More examples of the hypocrites downtown.
I think they take bids on cars so whoever has the lowest bid gets it. If they didn’t take the low bid someone else would be bitchin about spending too much money.
Right, aren’t they saving us pilgrims money in the long run ?? anony is in the right place at least, the bitchin column.
yes you should ALWAYS take the lowest bid. just like the city of waterloo did a few years ago. they purchased catapillars (made in peoria) rather than john deere (made in waterloo) big stink over that one.
I want to complain about kaydn’s law anonymously approved by the senate today – – my thoughts have nothing to do with how horrible that tragedy was – it has to do with a histrionic response – what one would consider a politically correct response and now we have a law passed to increase fines and all that for someone illegally passing a bus. That’s all well and good, however, in this case, the guy was legally blind and wasn’t supposed to be driving at all and couldn’t even see it was a stopped bus!
I had an experience in which a bus driver pulled into the middle of a four-way stop, and then stopped with the front nose of the bus to pick up kids at the corner of the sidewalk with the bus still midway in the intersection; this was in downtown mason city; I was confused, and didn’t see that she had any lights on or stop-sign out. After stopping, I went through the intersection wondering what the heck that bus driver was doing. Next thing I knew I recieved a ticket in the mail. It was dismissed by the school district.
My point is, how do they know if a bus driver puts the lights on???? They do not always do so. They should have lights like the cop cars have that one cannot miss! and the stop signs on the side should be larger and a flourescent color. There should be some way to check the buses to see if they actually put the lights on and the stop-sign out when giving tickets.
That’s my rant.
I meant, “unanimously” approved.
Good luck on this forum Matt, I’m sure you have given birth to a can of worms here. I will be reading it daily…
NIT sux. It was much better before they changed the website. Now it’s more national news and very little about North Iowa.
Never saw one mention of the Franklin County official whose OWI charges were never filed by the county attorney until it was too late.
I have seen 10+ articles about how Peter Children hates the Globe, though.
Hey Freddie for thinking NIT sux you sure are on here alot. Is there a better option for you?
Feddie, love ya buddy! I know you can’t resist NIT. You will be here 2-3 times a day like everyone else. Have a great weekend and see you in couple hours.
Right Said Fred, NIT (North Iowa Today) less about North Iowa, mostly dedicated to bashing the Globe and City of Mason City Officials, no local stories of any significance. Great work Matt j/k
ya know guys ive only been reading here for a month or so. I dont see anything wrong about the mixture of local and state news. I DO LIKE the fact that this venue will post the full story and not what the city council wants you to hear. unlike my town. the actual council meetings are nothing as they appear in the local paper.
Ya know Fred, for someone who hates this site so much you sure are on here alot!
I noticed with great concern that on 3/1/12 at 1520 hours six (6) MCPD Officers without an Supervisor being listed all responded to one location. I think I remember a short time ago where a bank robbery occurred when all the Officers were at one location. If you need this many Officers at one location I would be interested in knowing why there was no Supervisor on the scene.
That ideo could have worked if they were smarter after the fact! MCPD can’t catch them unless it falls in their laps!
Lets see the call says 20-30 kids possibly fighting I don’t think 6 Officers is out of line. There still way out numbered and I would hope they wouldn’t need a supervisor holding there hand. Get a clue I bet you wouldn’t go into a situation like that being out numbered. It ‘s pretty easy to second guess everything from behind a computer screen. I know I wouldn’t want there job, no matter what you do you get criticized.
The question you have to ask, did the Supervisor stay on the street while monitoring the situation? Was off-shit or OT called in to answer other calls? Was the Sheriff or State Police called to assist? Were investigators on the street?
They have a lot of flexibility in handling the calls in-town. So I do not believe that having six officers tied up on a situation, is out of line, it has happened many times before.