MASON CITY – Shortly before 9:45pm Friday night Mason City police responded to a report of an intoxicated subject in the area. Police found John Adams Middle School teacher, Thomas William Whalen, age 56, at Burke’s Bar and Grille at 1221 North Federal Avenue.
Following an investigation at the scene law enforcement placed Whalen under arrest and transported him to the Cerro Gordo County Jail. Whalen was booked in at 10:41pm charged with an aggravated misdemeanor count of 2nd Offense OWI.
Whalen was released after an initial appearance Saturday with the promise to appear at a preliminary hearing.
Whalen was arrested in 2002 and charged with assault on an Iowa State Patrol trooper, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, and 1st Offense OWI. As part of a plea bargain deal Whelen pled guilty to the OWI charge and the other charges of assault and interference related to the traffic stop were dismissed.
Representatives of Mason City could not be reached on the weekend for reaction to the latest arrest of one of their staff. In 2011 Mason City Alternative High School teacher Janell Drumheller was arrested and convicted of her 2nd Offense OWI. Both teachers are currently listed in the Mason City School Districts Staff Directory.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
He has the summer off – Staff should require him to go to De Tox – but of course no members of our law enforcement par take in spirits – this group of people judges and lawyers included more than often go out of town to drink – and and and if they are stopped usually they get a courtesy from fellow offices who take care of them – besides that look in the mirror before judging others – you know Comey-Brennon- Mc Cabe – Hillery – Obama and the Demoninc Party of traitors.
2012 is the year this occurred. Whalen is no longer employed by the Mason City School District. Why are you doing this?
He’s drunk.
Donkey girl, why shouldn’t he do it?
Some of you people commenting on him drinking act like you’ve never took a sip. And congrats if you haven’t. He was my photography teacher. He may be an alcoholic but it’s on his time. So he works at the school who cares pretty sure there’s judges and Lawyers smoking meth an nobody says anything about that 95% of this town does drugs or drinks alcohol. Clean your own door step before you barge in on someone else. At least he didn’t drive drunk again. Come on people, you must be so perfect and don’t have problems or addictions. Stfu.
Most are smart enough not to do it in public.
If I had to work with these kids in this generation, I’d be drunk too! These kids are horrible in some areas. Not all but some.
whalen was my art teacher at madison school 15yrs ago about and i like his art work he also painted the mural on the wall at the mason city YMCA when it was first built sad to see him battle ing his own struggles of addiction
Big business now days – DUI – police are creaming their jeans knowing some poor sap will have to cough up thousands to the fat cat fund. I know what your saying – but this offense usually destroys peoples lives – oh well if it were drugs obuma would pardon him anyway. Just saying – don’t get your shorts up tight we have a muzzie invasion to worry about.
I heard the incumming muzzys could care less about grammer/gframmar/shaka shaka shaka bo danna !
Yes, he is over 21 and I don’t really think anyone cares if he is in a bar drinking. The fact he is a teacher does not bother me as long as his behavior in school and in front of his students is acceptable. What “matters” is this, every 90 seconds there is an alcohol related accident. Every 30 minutes someone is killed by a drunk driver. The person driving a vehicle after drinking is making a choice. NOT a mistake. They choose to drink, they choose to drive. Some may think it is no big deal for him, or anyone, to get an OWI. Just wait until it is you laying in the hospital because someone else chose to drink and drive. Wait until it is you receiving a call that your mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, or your child was just killed by a drunk driver. You will never again ask “why does it matter?” It does not matter what someone does for a living or what they do in their free time, but the lives they take from us while drinking and driving do matter. Set an alarm for yourself to go off every 30 minutes, when it does think to yourself that someone else just died because someone had one too many drinks and chose to drive.
Great post KAB
I know Tom….He is a great artist but does have a problem with drinking a bit too much…..I can even say that about myself on occasion but glady let someone else drive. I even carry a breathalizer to monitor just where I am.
This has been a real problem for Mr Whalen for many years. It does set a bad example and surely affects his job performance, Not to mention the money we pay him. Also, I have seen his art… not impressed.
Xylon, as far as people go, they’re just not going to use ‘their’ correctly, even when there is a call for it. It’s saddening.
It’s not very good that the teacher got an OWI. That’s not being a role model or a good influence on our children. The children r bad enough these days we don’t need there teachers getting arrested too!! This guy has always been a little different. I use to take care of his daughter and he was strange then. That’s been 13 yrs ago. I think he use to teach at NIACC.
Learn how to write before criticizing teachers.
@anonymous-get a life. This is not a english paper and they have a right to express their opinion. Who made you the GOD of spelling?
@LVS why do you feel the need to be an advocate for the illiterate and/or lazy?
@anonymous-why do you feel the constant need to belittle and humiliate people all ofthe time over their spelling. Not everyone is at the same level of expertise that you are. There is no reason to embarass them just because they are making a statement. Are you just trying to drive them off the site? And if so, for what reason?
@LVS people should be effective communicators as they were taught in high school (by our tax dollars) or they should remain silent. This problem gets worse not better. y u no c that?
@Anonymous-have you talked to any of our High School students lately. Half of them can’t even write their own names. I have a niece that is an extremely smart girl and she can’t even tell time on a standard clock. She does just fine on a digital but not on an old fashion clock with hands. They can’t do simple things like count back change or read a tape measure so what makes you think they can spell. Then you have the kids that go to alternative school and are taught just what they need to get through. And you expect all of these “students” to spell correctly. Won’t happen, and there are more of them then there is of you. So, quit embarrassing them over something they can’t change.
I was never impressed with this guy. Had him years ago.
If I was a teacher teaching 8th grade, I would drink too. That’s the worst age, some of the kids are disrespectful, rude and misbehaved. My child had Mr. Whalen when he taught at Roosevelt, and we really liked him as an instructor.
This guy is an art teacher right? I believe I had him in 5th grade…and I really enjoyed his teaching. Obviously he is old enough to drink so what does it matter? He is a good teacher, he just needed some destress time…unfortunately he could not handle himself.
sorry to get off subject but did anyone hear anything about a body found in a burning car in east park yesterday or maybe the day before?
Yes, there is an article on NIT about it.
Thanks. Just found it in NIT archives. Don’t bother looking for it on globeonline.
I’ve seen this guy several times out in public (restaurants that also serve alcohol) and he was super sloppy drunk. My daughter had him as a teacher and said she was pretty sure he’d had alcohol on his breath on several occasions at school.
Facts please. The rest is just gossip.
Most recent was in July of this year. My daughter and I were in Chop for an early supper (it was about 5:30 on a Friday). We walked out through Eleven and he was at the bar. As we walked past he fell off his bar stool and had extreme difficulty getting up. The bartender told him to leave. I asked my daughter if he wasn’t a teacher and she told me that she thought he’d been fired or taken early retirement. That’s also when she told me that she thought he’d had alcohol on his breath back when he was her teacher. Now I suppose you want my credit card statement to prove I was at Chop, right? Listen, this guy appears to be an alcoholic and he needs treatment. Regardless of what his profession is he needs to be accountable for his action and he needs to get help.
What the f$$k, he went out for a few drinks to get rid of some stress, just had 1 too many and that pushed him over the edge. Try teaching in this era and you’ll have a drinking problem too. Maybe something else to go with the beer.
Xylon you say student athletes are not legal to drink. He is. Was he charged with drinking or OWI? I believe OWI is also illegal.
“He, unfortunately chose to go beyond responsible drinking.” I think that pretty much covered it.
Rereading brings much more clarity, don’t You think?
What a person does on his/her time off the job has no reflection on their place of employment. Just sayin….
I take it their is no code of conduct for teachers?
Why do they have the athletes sign papers promising not to drink when teachers are out driking and driving?
J B Student athletes are not legal to drink. He is. Code of conduct for teachers is in place when on school grounds during working hours and/or if at a school sponsored event. He, unfortunately chose to go beyond responsible drinking. I will wager John, that you have done this too. Most adults who imbibe have been guilty of this, probably more than they want to admit. The MCCSD will probably mete out some form of disciplinary action, but not until it has run it’s due process through the courts.
Oh… bye the bye… Try using “there” instead of their. There is a fun word.
I guess I will give him a pass as he did not beat the arresting officer this time.