- Protected: Klemme, Iowa man caught with eight baggies of meth and a handgun sentenced to federal prison
- Protected: Mason City man sent to jail for theft after domestic incident
- Protected: Illegal alien sent to prison for using fake doc’s to get job in Northwood
News Headlines for February 2, 2026
OBIT: Anthony D. Babcock
Anthony Duane Babcock, lifelong adventurer, professional ruck-packer, Irish-music enthusiast, Scotch appreciator, and proud U.S. Marine, reported for his final formation on January 29, 2026—exactly 45 years after he first arrived and immediately began doing things his own way. Services are pending. Burial will be held in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.
Elderly Northern Iowa man tragically found deceased in rural ditch
KOSSUTH COUNTY – Family of an elderly Northern Iowa man were concerned when he could not be reached, and after police were notified and a search conducted, he was sadly found deceased in a ditch.
OBIT: Marvin E Bollinger
Marvin E. Bollinger was born on the family farm near Fenton on March 15, 1934 to Allan and Clarinda (Hengel) Bollinger. He passed away in rural Fenton on January 29, 2026 at the age of 91.
OBIT: Kent Joel Shultz
Kent Joel Shultz, 61, of Osage, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026. A visitation is planned for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, Iowa.
OBIT: Steven “Steve” Head
Steven “Steve” Head, 58, of Charles City, passed away Thursday, January 29, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home.
OBIT: Gary Lowell Smith
Gary Lowell Smith, 92, of Manly, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.
OBIT: Jeannette Kay Snyder
Jeannette Snyder, 66, of Bristow, passed away Friday, January 30, 2026, at her home. Woodley Funeral Home of Dumont is caring for Jeannette and her family.
OBIT: Dennis Dale Alden
Dennis Dale Alden, age 78, passed away this month of natural causes in his home in Lebanon, Illinois. Born to Dale and Maxine Alden in 1947, he was raised on the farm near Dougherty, Iowa, where he learned to farm, shoot, and fish. He attended Sheffield-Chapin schools, graduating in 1965.
OBIT: Shirley E. Smith
Shirley E. Smith, 90, of Mason City passed away on January 26, 2026. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date this spring.
Unlicensed, reckless Northern Iowa man leads cops on wild chase
KOSSUTH COUNTY – This Northern Iowa man illegally got behind the wheel on a recent icy morning and discovered cops weren’t tolerating lawlessness, and when a chase ensued, the suspect pulled out all the stops to maintain his freedom.
Big performance set for Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom
CLEAR LAKE – The 2026 Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom will wrap up with an electric performance by John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party, the official tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Also making a special appearance is Johnny Farina, of the duo Santo & Johnny.
Rep. Shannon Latham discusses “tough on crime” bill in Iowa Legislature
“Work during Week 3 of the 2026 Iowa legislative session focused on public safety, conservation, and community partnerships. House Republicans introduced a tough-on-crime legislative package aimed at holding repeat offenders accountable,” Rep. Latham said. “The first bill implements a ‘Three-and-Done’ Strike System.”
Gov. Reynolds introduces bill supporting public charter schools as demand increases
DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds introduced legislation this week to the Iowa House and Senate to align per pupil funding and educational opportunities available for public charter school students with those who attend traditional public schools.
Republican caucuses to be held Monday, February 2
MASON CITY – The 2026 Cerro Gordo County Republican Precinct Caucuses will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 7 P.M. All Cerro Gordo County precincts will report to Mason City High School, 1700 4th St SE, Mason City, Iowa.
OBIT: Steven Wayne Higbee
Steven Wayne Higbee, age 70, of Lake Mills, IA, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Lake Mills Care Center.
UNI wrestling falls at Oklahoma, 23-18
Panthers come up short against Sooners in Norman. UNI visits South Dakota State next weekend.
Pedestrian struck and killed at Mason City Fareway parking lot
MASON CITY – A pedestrian was struck and killed by the driver of an SUV Saturday afternoon at the Fareway grocery store in downtown Mason City.
Feds announce arrests of “Murderers, Pedophiles, Rapists, and Child Abusers” in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week more “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens arrested in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge, including those convicted of murder, rape, child sex crimes, and cruelty toward a child, but meanwhile, Democrats battle police to keep their heroes roaming the streets.
Even as Homeland Security and other law enforcement remain in Minnesota enforcing federal immigration law, Democrats from across the nation have followed their every move, interfering and committing crimes nearly everywhere they go, all in the hopes of keeping heinous criminals in their communities. Democrats, while engorging themselves with billions from fraudulent programs, have resorted to the lowest of tactics, including physical violence, doxing, harassing and injuring officers and citizens they believe support ICE, disturbing the peace, property damage, trespassing and vile language, and even stooping to terrorizing church-goers as they seemingly abandon their jobs, families and what little sanity they maintain all in blind service to those who would likely never lift a finger if their roles were reversed. This has landed numerous of these troubled individuals behind bars, charged with serious crimes.
Iowa to award $78.6M in federal funds for rural healthcare projects
Iowa was awarded a total of $209 million for the first year of the federal program and is the first state in the nation to award funding for its project initiatives.
College Wrestling: No. 4 Iowa pinned at home by No. 9 Minnesota, 23-16
IOWA CITY — The fourth ranked University of Iowa wrestling team fell to No. 9 Minnesota, 23–16, on Friday night at Carver Hawkeye Arena on Mediacom Mat.
College Wrestling: UNI Panthers pinned at No. 5 Oklahoma State, 34-3
STILLWATER, Okla. – Nick Fox got the Panthers on the scoreboard with a sudden victory win at 184 pounds, but the 13th ranked UNI wrestling team could not find success at other weight classes as the Panther Train fell to No. 5 and reigning Big 12 champion Oklahoma State on Friday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
OBIT: Janele Harriet Valasek
Janele Harriet Valasek, age 85, died on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Janele was born in Belmond, IA, on January 10, 1941, to Jack and Henrietta (Fekkers) Bayliss. She attended and graduated from Belmond School in 1959.
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