MASON CITY – A postponement had no impact on the annual National Night Out event that was held Wednesday evening in Mason City’s East Park.
A threat of thunderstorms and rain caused event organizers to move the event from Tuesday to Wednesday. The move seemed to work out for the best, as temps were relatively cool and the bugs stayed away for the most part. East park was packed with folks enjoying food, prizes, displays from community organizations and while they mingled with law enforcement officers and other emergency responders.
Mason City police, Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs, State Patrol and Mason City ambulance and fire fighters were on hand with their equipment to meet and greet the public and enjoy hot dogs and soda on a pristine evening. Hundreds of folks showed up and enjoyed the event. Kids had competitions and won prizes while their parents chatted away.
Organizer Jo Ellen Larsen told NIT she was “thrilled” at the turnout and admitted she was a little apprehensive about the postponement.
“We called down to Des Moines at the National Weather Service, and they said rain was headed our way, so we went ahead and made the decision to move the event to Wednesday,” Jo Ellen said. “I think we are just fine tonight.” She was helping to hand out free school supplies to parents and kids. “Everything here is free, no cost.”
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OK folks, here’s the scoop. Read it and weep…
Alcohol is a terrible drug overall, however do to it’s legal status I can certainly understand how your choices are limited. If you consume alcohol at all in MC, you’re best bet is to stay home and never make beer runs at all once you start. Never consume in public or drink and drive with any amount in your system. Be very careful of even buying beer in convenience stores and driving away. Be careful in any restaurant situation.
I’ve lived in other places in the US and overseas.
YOU are living like you’re under house arrest and in many ways you are.
Didn’t see beermeyer in the crowd, what to good to attend?
Kimt showed him there.
I don’t feel sorry for anyone who gets an OWI. To many times the partying leads to a very unhappy ending. For that I am grateful for the protection our police officers give us. The public intox could be a different matter. If it is people just having fun and minding their own business then let it go or give them a warning. If they are causing trouble then ticket them. But bottom line is just because it is held in a city park shouldn’t give you a free pass from driving while impaired.
@?????-For once I agree with you. If you are going to drive, don’t drink, if you are going to drink don’t drive. It is the law and people should know that. However, having a few beers and walking home should not get you a ticket unless you are acting up. I have long disagreed with the public intox wrap where people are being responsible and not driving after having a couple of drinks get arrested and fined. That sucks in my opinion and does nothing but cause bad feelings about the police. Now, if they are causing a disturbance or falling down drunk it is another story.
How many years have you been a cop and dealt with these drunks? Get a clue, normal ppl don’t just get public intox charges dummy!
But it’s ok for the mayor though, right? I’m wondering does he fall into the “Normal” category?
@HUH-you need to wake up and see what is going on around you. I do NOT condone drunk driving but neither do I condone police harassment or targeting. I know way to many decent people who have gotten a public intox. ticket for just walking home after having three or four beers because they were being responsible and not driving. If you are walking down the street after 10:00 PM you will get stopped and checked. That is harassment plain and simple. Even a pious hypocrite should be able to understand that.
LVS, yes it is, get a police scanner. You need to ask why Mason City is no fun? Really?
@Sad but true-I wasn’t asking why Mason City is no fun. I was asking if it was true the police were following people that attended the beer tasting thing in Central Park? I have seen how deserted it is on most days downtown. Most of the time you could shoot a cannon through Central Park and Federal Avenue and never hit a soul and that is in the daytime. The Mall is almost deserted most of the time and there are now more empty stores than there are open ones there. I was hoping that some of the special events might bring a little life back to downtown after we spent all of that money fixing it up. But, if the police are harassing people that go there to have a good time it will be just one more nail in the coffin. I have been and remain very critical of all the money spent down town when everyone knows the problem is the downtown area is blocked off with nothing to draw people. Having a old whore house and a couple of bars is not the answer. That only benefits a few drunks like the mayor.
I just want to say thank you for a great night out with the grandkids. It was nice seeing so many people out having a nice time!
I just be t our cops in mason city buy the booze and pot for these pre teens so when they get about 12 they can start watching them until they catch them coming from an event or drive the hoods looking for smoke signals. You guys that think this are so full of bullshit every thing should be brown in this town and smell like shit.
Well, I don’t think the police are that bad at this point. However we now have what the Globe Gazette called a “nice little twist”. The twist is that we now use seizure money to pay law enforcement salaries. This is something that should never be done. Yes, I know Police are perfect human beings and all and are super trustworthy and would never do anything wrong OK?
Now we have say young 25 year old officers, with perhaps a couple kids and we are going to tell him, sorry we are going to have to lay you off because our seizures are low. You have a brain, you figure it out…
They have certainly ruined many of the fun local events. Ask Rockwell chamber. Basically put them out of business.
You are nothing more than $$$$$$$ to them. Nothing personal, just a way to justify a very large government pay check.
How many people got arrested from the beer tasting event last saturday? I heard it was a poor showing and why did they have it down by the military monuments and not closer to federal ave?
I find it incredulous that any citizen would even drive to such an event and then drive home in Mason City. Why not just sit in the police station parking lot and sip beer? These are simply events that can be turned around in heartbeat to utterly DESTROY your life. STay home and stay afraid! These young super-cops are not playing.
Jodee O’Brien, Executive Director of Main Street Mason City, said that the location was chosen due to its visibility on Washington Ave.
Well, at least the cops did not follow everybody home like they did last week writing OWI and public intox violations. That should take care of any beer tasting events or for that matter, any type party in central park.
Mason City just cant stand the thought of people having a couple of beers and having a good time. As the police scanner said last week, a ticket trap for the cops! Nice.
Please dont let RAGBRI come to Mason city, those people LIKE TO HAVE GOOD CLEAN FUN, they bring a lot of money to town. Other towns know enough to leave them alone, Mason City would not. Please choose one of the other towns that relish the thought of a good time.
Also, i would not attend anymore Friday on main events, just a opportunity to get busted for one thing or another. DO NOT TRY AND HAVE ANY FUN IN MASON CITY, you will PAY for it!!!
Operations like this are meet and greets. The kids get to meet who be arresting them in a few years.
The police lovingly hold children because they care and love all people. It’s why they feel the need to destroy a teens life over pot. It gives them a paycheck. Don’t be fooled be these events. The police are not your friend, they are your governments enforcers, the robots, the decepticons.
@Just plain sad-Is that really true. Not trying to be smart. I really would like to know.