Founded on Oct. 1, 2010
News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region
DES MOINES — Iowa’s corn and soybean crops remained overwhelmingly good to excellent during the week ending July 26, 2026, despite large hail, tornadoes, damaging winds and sharp differences in rainfall across the state.
The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, released Monday, July 27, by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, showed 80 percent of corn and 78 percent of soybeans rated in good-to-excellent condition.
SAC CITY, IOWA — A late-night domestic assault investigation that began June 30, 2026, in Sac City has escalated into a first-degree kidnapping case carrying the most serious felony classification available under Iowa law.
A man accused of domestic abuse allegedly returned to the victim’s residence just hours after leaving jail with a court order directing him to stay away, triggering a second arrest and landing an alleged accomplice behind bars.
GARNER — Sherrie A. Fandel, 61, of Garner, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 27, 2026, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, leaving behind a loving family and many friends who will deeply miss her kind heart, gentle spirit and welcoming nature.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 810 State Street in Garner, with Rev. Joel Lintner officiating.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, immediately before the memorial service. Memorials may be directed to the Garner Volunteer Ambulance.
GARNER — Hancock County supervisors approved a $19 million county spending plan, moved ahead with bridge projects, authorized agreements involving juvenile detention and private water wells, handled Hancock County Fair traffic plans and approved more than $1.35 million in July claims during meetings stretching from June 22 through July 27.
MASON CITY — Jim C. Miller spent a lifetime building relationships, both through his work and the simple pleasures that brought family and friends together. Known for his easygoing nature, dedication to his loved ones and enjoyment of Iowa’s outdoors, Miller died Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. He was 88.
A celebration of Jim’s life was held Saturday, July 25, at Major Erickson Funeral Home in Mason City. Memorials have been directed to his family.
A hair transplant is a significant investment, both emotionally and physically. While the skills of your surgeon and the technique used play a major role in the outcome, what you do after…
Long term investing gets talked about like a math problem, but in real life it behaves more like a lifestyle choice. The biggest advantage is not just that money has more time…
Progress is not always loud. It does not always arrive with a big announcement, a dramatic breakthrough, or a perfectly organized before and after story. A lot of the time, progress looks…
MASON CITY — A violent Iowa felon with a record of arson, burglary, assault, domestic abuse, harassment, theft, fleeing police and repeatedly violating probation allegedly added two more offenses to his criminal résumé during a July 24 encounter with police in Mason City.
Christopher Maurice Kessler, 35, was arrested after Mason City police responded at 7:28 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026, to a trespassing complaint at an apartment building at 819 North Delaware Avenue.
CHARLES CITY — Patricia “Pat” Frascht, 94, of Charles City, died Monday, July 27, 2026, at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.
Visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home in Charles City.
A funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Deacon Michael Ward of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church officiating.
LU VERNE — Family, friends and the Lu Verne community are mourning the loss of Dennis Altman, a successful farmer whose dedication to agriculture, family and faith left a lasting mark on those who knew him. Altman passed away Monday, July 27, 2026, at the age of 53.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at Divine Mercy Catholic Parish – St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. Visitation will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Divine Mercy Catholic Parish Presentation Center prior to the Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Algona. The funeral Mass will also be livestreamed through the funeral home’s website.
MASON CITY — John M. Crowe, 88, of Mason City, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, at his home after receiving compassionate care from MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, leaving behind a loving family and a lifetime of service to the community he called home.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at Epiphany Parish-Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 N. Adams Ave. in Mason City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the church with the Rev. Dave O’Connor officiating. Interment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.
KENSETT — Roger Dale Clagett, 99, of Kensett, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, concluding a life marked by steadfast faith, devotion to family and decades of service to his community.
Funeral service arrangements are pending. Roger will be laid to rest at Kensett Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Roger’s family.
DES MOINES — Artificial intelligence will soon have an officially sanctioned place inside Iowa’s court system, but judges will remain personally responsible for every fact, legal citation and decision produced with its assistance.
The Iowa Supreme Court on July 21, 2026, adopted a new chapter of court rules governing the use of artificial intelligence by judges, magistrates, law clerks, staff attorneys and others who assist with deciding cases.
GARNER — Anton C. Trca, a Korean War veteran, longtime dairy farmer and familiar figure in the Garner and Duncan communities, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 25, 2026, at his home. He was 92.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan, with Father Nicholas Radloff officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military rites conducted by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. Fourth St. in Garner. A Catholic Workman, now FCSLA, rosary will begin at 3:15 p.m., followed by a Scriptural wake service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice.
MASON CITY — Jim Wardlaw, a 21-year Marine Corps veteran, former Cedar Falls business owner and devoted family man, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City. He was 89 and was surrounded by his family.
Cremation has taken place according to Jim’s wishes. No services are planned at this time. Memorials may be directed to his family.
Riding a motorcycle offers an unmatched sense of freedom on the open road, but it also exposes riders to significant vulnerabilities. When a collision occurs, riders frequently face steep medical bills, bike…
Experiencing a car crash is disorienting enough, but realizing the other driver has sped away into the night leaves a unique sting of shock, anger, and helplessness. When you are the victim…
Most people picture an accident as a single bad moment. The truth is messier. A car crash, or a fall on a staircase nobody bothered to fix, can keep costing someone for…
OSAGE — An Osage man faces four criminal charges after police arrested him early Saturday morning in connection with an alleged domestic assault involving a weapon.
A promising introduction means little if seeing each other requires a trip neither person can sustain. That problem is easy to miss when dating advice assumes a dense city and a short…
MASON CITY — A 21-year-old Mason City woman allegedly drove intoxicated with a young relative inside her vehicle before wandering off the roadway and striking a mailbox – and now faces serious charges.
OSAGE — Michael Edwin Loden, 57, of Osage, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 24, 2026, leaving family and friends with memories of his gentle nature, warm humor and willingness to help others.
A private family graveside service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery in Mitchell, Iowa.
MASON CITY — A 61-year-old Mason City man was arrested after police say he was allegedly caught masturbating inside a truck parked at Georgia Hanford Park while children were playing nearby.
Most new businesses don’t fail because the coffee is bad or the haircuts are sloppy. They fail because nobody nearby knows they’re open yet. The doors unlock, the advertising budget sits somewhere…
LIME SPRINGS — Anita Goodman, 91, of Lime Springs, entered eternal rest on Sunday, July 26, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, hard work and unconditional love for her family. A devoted farm wife, gifted homemaker and lifelong servant of her church, Anita spent decades quietly enriching the lives of those around her through her generosity, kindness and steadfast Christian faith.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Saratoga Community Church. Visitation will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, one hour before the service. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs. Memorials may be directed to Saratoga Community Church or Howard County Community Hospice.
RUTHVEN — Troy Ellsworth Olson, 61, of Ruthven, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Spencer Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, loyalty and a love for family that will be cherished by all who knew him.
A celebration of life visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at Geelan Funeral Home in Spencer.
Los Angeles sits at the intersection of some of the most heavily regulated industries in the country — defense contracting, healthcare, entertainment, real estate development — which makes it fertile ground for…
Septic systems fail on a schedule, and in northern Iowa that schedule has a pronounced spring peak. Backups, surfacing effluent, and drainfields that suddenly stop accepting water cluster in the weeks after…
CLEAR LAKE — Nearly nine months after a Clear Lake couple was hauled to jail on felony accusations involving sexually explicit images of children, neither suspect has gone to trial—and their cases have now been postponed yet again.
Vicki Sue Colombo, then 65, and John Joseph Colombo, then 68, were arrested by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office on October 23, 2025, after Clear Lake police investigated alleged offenses dating to November 2024.
FLOYD COUNTY — Two Northern Iowa drivers suffered serious injuries when a pickup traveling the wrong way on U.S. Highway 18 slammed head-on into an SUV late Saturday night.
The crash happened at approximately 11:01 p.m. on July 25, 2026, near mile marker 206 in Floyd County.
OSAGE — A Charles City woman previously convicted of drunk driving was nabbed by police in Osage earlier this month and now faces an aggravated-misdemeanor charge for allegedly operating while intoxicated for the second time.
WASHINGTON — All four of Iowa’s Republican congressmen voted Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to prohibit members of Congress and their immediate families from purchasing individual stocks, delivering unanimous Iowa support for a long-awaited crackdown on a practice widely viewed as a glaring conflict of interest.
An Iowa man who admitted neglecting 11 emaciated dogs and puppies found trapped inside a filthy pickup truck earlier this year is back behind bars, now accused of felony drug possession and driving while barred.
Officers found two dogs and nine puppies living amid feces and urine throughout the truck’s cab. Every animal was emaciated, according to police.
Officers and Animal Control workers removed the animals and rushed them to an animal refuge for evaluation and treatment.
Veterinary personnel rated the animals a 2 on a body-condition scale ranging from 0 to 9, confirming they were severely underweight, malnourished and had not received proper care.
A 16-year-old Northern Iowa suspect has been charged as an adult after he allegedly shot and killed another teenager with a shotgun inside a mobile home, according to police and court records.
Under Iowa law, certain serious felony cases involving defendants age 16 or older begin in adult district court, although the defendant may ask a judge to transfer the case back to juvenile court.
An Iowa law enforcement officer was stabbed in the face by a knife-wielding driver moments after the officer shot the man during a confrontation that followed an early-morning pursuit, state investigators said.
The deadly encounter unfolded at approximately 1:25 a.m. Sunday, July 26, 2026, after a Jefferson Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle for an undisclosed reason.
CHARLES CITY — Donna Maxine Hulion, a lifelong Charles City native who spent more than 20 years helping children through the Foster Grandparent Program, died Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Ninth Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City. She was 96.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, 1205 South Main Street in Charles City.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City.
ANAMOSA — An Iowa inmate serving a 50-year prison sentence for shooting and killing his roommate died at 11:36 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2026, inside the Anamosa State Penitentiary.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has issued more than 103,000 civil fines totaling approximately $84 billion against illegal aliens who have refused to leave the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced.
The massive financial penalties are part of the administration’s escalating effort to enforce final removal orders and compel illegal aliens to leave the country voluntarily.
The fines can reach $998 for every day an illegal alien remains in the country after receiving a final order of removal.