MASON CITY – A mailbox in front of a house on the 1500 block of North Madison was blown up sometime Friday evening.
The residents of the home acknowledged the incident Saturday evening, but said “it wasn’t really a big deal.”
According to nearby residents who contacted NIT, “last night a mail box was blown up. The police were called and to no surprise nobody cares because its the north end!! The officer said what do you want me to do?”
Sources say at least 5 neighbors heard a device explode in the mailbox, which they say was so damaged from the incident that a new mailbox was installed Saturday. There were no details on what caused the explosion. The people at the house would not answer any questions about the incident.
This is not the first time the 1500 block of North Madison has seen trouble.
On August 11, 2011, a man barricaded himself in his house on that street after a domestic situation with his wife. A SWAT team showed up and drew high-powered weapons and pointed them at a house there. One man said of that incident, “I told my wife to come check it out, the sniper sneaking up the alley.” A man was eventually taken into custody after that standoff.
“SO IF YOU DON’T LIVE UP HERE ..SHUT {deleted expletive} UP”
It’s about our community as a whole. Such activity is not exclusive to the North End of town. I see it on the South End, and out East. And you need not curse to get your point across either.
Mason City should do some checking as what happen to Columbus N.M. And the problems there dealing with. Might sound a lot familiar.
All of the mailbox issue is getting completely blown out of proportion. I know who lives there, they are not that concerned about the mailbox, they are not moving because they have had any problems. Actually they like it there, just want to move to an acerage. I was there when the policeman came, he was very nice about the whole thing and did not ever say “what do you want me to do about it”. Whoever is giving all of the information is just trying to start more drama and worry about someone else’s business. So, instead of everyone jumping to conclusions about what happened and making it sound like was a bomb or something, let it go. If they wanted a story on it, they would have stepped up and said something. The northend has issues, just like the south end or the westside or the eastside. It is just that right now, anything that happens in the northend makes everyone freak out because of the issues near Kum and Go. If you want to pick apart each part of town, let’s get the police records and do that. I don’t feel any more afraid to go to their house or to be going to my brother’s house on the southeast side. I am just as cautious in any part of town. Come on people…don’t read more into it than what it is!!
amsn…..!!!!!!!!!!!
i must say the “slum lords” are a big problem . I know of one …he doesnt care as long as the money gets paid …and it really doesnt surprise me on the PD …they know where the problem is and I really do believe they are afraid …they need to get more on the force or make this force answer to the public …the town will soon be over taken by the crime …
I do agree with the landlords not caring as much for the properties that are not located right near their homes. A lot of these houses are HUD houses and they get their money each month no matter who they put in there. Why would you not rent to the people on HUD, you know you will always get your money. Yes, there are guidelines they have to follow, but a lot of that is covered up. There is only supposed to be the tenant living there, so when the inspection comes up the boyfriend gets his things out of there. I would bet if these houses were next door to the landlord’s house, things would be different.
I thought bombing a mailbox was considered a federal offense since a mailbox is technically federal property.
You’re right. I would think the USPS would get involved with this. Maybe it has become so common that they don’t bother any more unless someone steals mail. If so, that’s a shame.
The problem is…is that it was probably a bunch of kids doing something stupid. I don’t think it was a terrorist act, just something dumb. The post office can’t really do anything if they don’t know who did it and at this point would it be worth an expensive investigation? If is was happening over and over, I would say yes, but an isolated incident isn’t really worth anything other than a new mailbox.
Who bombed the mailbox? How would the police know?
they were told… who! you are right it’s to bad the couple who live there already wants to move,really sad… however people who nake comments sure as hell don’t live on the north end!!!!! come and spend time here and see …….there are two homes ina 3 block aera dealing drugs ( mcpd know about) that have been doing this for at least 2yrs, people come n go all hours…took down plate, a few out of state cars at least twice a mth. # gave to mcpd officer and yet nothing… just walk by each home and the stench from weed will knock u down.SO IF YOU DON’T LIVE UP HERE ..SHUT THE F%#K UP………………….
The officer said what do you want me to do?
Officers Involved (Primary) Officer Stiles, Jason
Jason Stiles is one of the few GOOD cops this city has…for your information.
So you are admitting the majority are not good?
MC police dept. “copping” out AGAIN!!!! We know who bombed the mailbow….and so should “they”. We are armed and stay indoors with our heads down because we have NO protection!!!! As far as the owners to that house…they are new to the neighborhood and had no comments because they really don’t know!! Very nice couple, who already have their house up for sale!! Soooo sad. So step up to the plate and do the job you were hired to do!!!!
“We know who bombed the mailbow….and so should “they”.” [sic]
How should “they” know? Osmosis? ESP? Mental Telepathy? Perhaps they have concluded who did this, yet have insufficient, credible evidence to charge them. That’s how arrests are made. They are not made by speculation based upon what “everyone knows”.
If it’s your neighborhood, you owe it to your neighbors to call the PD, talk to the officer investigating, and give them information about the crime.
Or, you can sit here and make unsubstantiated comments and watch as things get worse, as they will. It’s up to you!
From what I see the neighbors are outside enjoying the weather, grilling out, talking with each other and they are not keeping the heads down and hiding out inside. If they are…they are the ones who have a problem because it certainly is NOT that bad. They lock their cars and houses at night and when they leave, just like they would do if they lived in other parts of town. If they are protected with weapons it is not because it is the northend it is because it may be what they feel they need to do wherever they live. I would bet the same people who are protected by guns would also be if they lived in Rockwell, Manly, Greene, Chicago, etc.
if you want some excitement in your life come to the north end of m/c , we have lived up here for 10yrs and it has done nothing but get worse..gun shots every night can be heard,fireworks,cars racing,drug deals,drug houses,almost like being at a fair. after dark the police don’t come up pass 12th st. unless there are 3 cars,if you call them it’s an hour before they show up, if at all. it don’t matter if it’s a rental or not..everyone i know living up here is armed and willing to protect there property at ANY COST! m/c needs to get it together before this turns into a little beruit…
Mason City, we have a problem.
I have to take umbrage with your slumlord comment. There are very few slumlords in the home rental business.
I have rented houses for 30 years and keep my rentals up. With that said you are right about the increase in rentals in all areas of town and the affect they are having on the neighborhoods.
I believe if we had a decent City Government they would be studying and looking at ways to make tenants more responsible for the property they rent.
Rents have went up because of all the destruction this new type of tenet has caused. It is hard to make a profit with the destruction they cause and have started requiring much higher deposits because of it which takes a lot of people out of the market for decent rentals.
That, depends upon your point of view. When City inspectors ignore problems, which are not based upon the actions of a tenant, there is a problem.
Yes, both sides have a commitment to live up to the contract. And yes, there are cases where a tenant acts destructively.
But when one drives around, and sees rentals that are not maintained at all, with weeds instead of lawns, with trash strewn everywhere, with garages ready to fall down, you begin to wonder where the City enforcement is.
I use the history of the Dodge House in the last five or six years of a glaring example of the lack of the City departments protecting neighbors, and citizens in general. It includes Safety of children, safety of workers, and safety of anyone useing the sidewalk during that period. It was all ignored.
Yes, the process is broken. And if we want to prosper, we must fix it.
I should have properly said in my last line; ” If we want to prosper as a community, we must fix it.
That area north of 15th street has some issues. There are a lot of people who are not from here that live up there. It is a shame because there are also a lot of decent people with decent houses that live there. Those folks just stay inside and keep their head down. It is part of the growing problem not just in the north end but everywhere in this town.
I meant to also say there are a lot of rentals up there. When the slum loards start taking over a area it goes down hill fast. We need to pressure these slum loards to clean up their act.
Maybe the sewer is backing up in that area.
trolling trolling!