FAYETTE COUNTY — Two Northern Iowa motorists were injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday morning at a rural Fayette County intersection.
Author: Matt Marquardt
Janice “Jan” Conway, 84, of Manly, honored for lifetime of teaching, faith and caring for children
MANLY — Janice “Jan” Elaine Conway, 84, of Manly, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Manly Specialty Care under the care of St. Croix Hospice.
No public visitation or funeral services have been announced. The family plans to hold private services.
James “Jim” Turner, 86, of Rockwell, honored as respected teacher, coach and mentor
ROCKWELL — James Donald “Jim” Turner, 86, of Rockwell, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2026, at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.
A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2026, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 502 Second Street South in Rockwell.
Mary Irene Stanton, 89, of Mason City, leaves legacy of faith, education and service to others
MASON CITY — Mary Irene Stanton, 89, of Mason City, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Epiphany Parish — Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 North Adams Avenue in Mason City. The Rev. Ben Valentine served as celebrant.
Charles “Doug” Murphy, 83, of Osage, leaves legacy of farming, family and love of the outdoors
OSAGE — Charles Douglas “Doug” Murphy Jr., 83, of Osage, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.
A private burial will be held at a later date at Pulaski Cemetery in Pulaski, Iowa.
Anne (Setka) Metzler, 67, formerly of Riceville and Decorah, honored for decades of emergency service
RICEVILLE — Anne (Setka) Metzler, 67, of Riverton, Wyoming, and formerly of Riceville and Decorah, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly following a sudden illness at her home on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
A private family burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Riceville.
Bonnie Lou Nichols, 76, of St. Ansgar, remembered for her caring heart and devotion to family
ST. ANSGAR — Bonnie Lou Nichols, 76, of St. Ansgar, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital – Saint Marys Campus in Rochester, Minnesota.
A graveside service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at St. Ansgar Cemetery in St. Ansgar.
Winnebago County supervisors back Bear Creek clubhouse project, approve $23.6 million spending plan
FOREST CITY — The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors pledged $5,000 toward a proposed new clubhouse at Bear Creek Golf Course, adopted a $23.6 million county spending plan and scheduled a public hearing on changes to the county’s nuisance ordinance during its Tuesday, June 30, 2026, meeting.
Brian Dean Bushbaum, 70, of Mason City, honored for nursing career and devotion to family
MASON CITY — Brian Dean Bushbaum, 70, of Mason City, passed away at his home on Monday, June 29, 2026.
In keeping with Brian’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
The family will hold a private graveside service at a later date.
Brad Allen Taylor, 51, of Spencer, remembered for his devotion to family and love of the outdoors
SPENCER — Brad Allen Taylor, 51, of Spencer, formerly of California, passed away Monday, June 29, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society in Estherville.
A private family burial will take place at a later date at Gridley-Biggs Cemetery District in Gridley, California.
Anthony “Tony” Galindo, 78, of Mason City, mourned by family, friends and racing community
MASON CITY — Anthony “Tony” James Galindo, 78, of Mason City, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2026.
A visitation was held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2026, at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second Street SE in Mason City.
Ruth Joyce Holdeman, 81, of Elma, leaves legacy of faith, family and service to others
ELMA — Ruth Joyce Holdeman, 81, of Elma, passed away Monday, June 29, 2026, at Colonial Manor in Elma.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite.
Franklin County supervisors approve battery storage road agreement, claims and elected official pay correction at June 16 & 23 meetings
HAMPTON — The Franklin County Board of Supervisors handled road agreements, courthouse electrical upgrade payments, county claims, battery storage discussions and an elected official salary correction during regular meetings on June 16 and June 23, 2026.
Protected: Juvenile escape triggers multi-agency manhunt in Eldora
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Roger Lee Myhre Sr., 78, of Mason City, honored as Navy veteran, devoted family man and loyal sports fan
MASON CITY — Roger Lee Myhre Sr., 78, of Mason City, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third Street NE in Mason City.
Hancock County supervisors tackle nuisance properties, bridge restrictions, election business and $596,428 in claims
GARNER — Hancock County supervisors dealt with nuisance properties, bridge weight restrictions, county maintenance purchases, election business, fireworks permits and nearly $600,000 in claims during a series of meetings from May 26 through June 15.
The meetings picked up where supervisors left off May 18, when the board approved a county budget amendment, opioid-fund spending for sharps containers, maintenance garage purchases and more than $686,000 in claims.
Debra Renee Leibrand, 73, of Mason City, honored for devotion to family, pharmacy career and Hawkeye spirit
MASON CITY — Debra Renee Leibrand, 73, of Mason City, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026, at Good Shepherd Health Care Center while under hospice care.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd Street NE in Mason City.
Robert L. “Chip” Fischer, 88, of Meservey, formerly of Clear Lake, passes away
MESERVEY — Robert L. “Chip” Fischer, 88, of Meservey and formerly of Clear Lake, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026, at Homestead Assisted Living in Mason City.
A visitation will be held Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 1st Avenue North in Clear Lake. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM at the funeral chapel.
Northern Iowa man wins $500,000 Iowa Lottery prize days after father’s passing
A local electrician is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions after a half-million-dollar lottery win followed a period of deep personal loss.
Rep. Christian Hermanson of Mason City calls newly-passed property tax bill a “historic win for Iowa taxpayers”
“This is a comprehensive property tax overhaul designed to provide roughly $4.2 billion in relief over the next six years,” Rep. Christian Hermanson of Mason City said. “We focused on delivering real, tangible relief for residential property owners by making the following changes…”
Out-of-state couple arrested for catalytic converter theft in Iowa
A swift response from Iowa law enforcement led to the capture of an Illinois pair allegedly caught with a stolen catalytic converter Tuesday afternoon.
Road rage incident on Interstate 80 leads to arrest of Iowa man for assault with a weapon
A road rage incident on one of Iowa’s busiest interstates ended in an arrest Tuesday afternoon after a firearm was reportedly brandished at another driver.
Women’s College Wrestling: Iowa State hires Jake Kadel as assistant coach
AMES – Iowa State head women’s wrestling coach Alli St. John announced her first staff hire Monday, adding Jake Kadel as assistant coach following a successful three-season stint as head women’s wrestling coach at William Penn, where he guided the Statesmen to three consecutive NAIA top five finishes.
Rep. Shannon Latham takes leadership role in passing economic development budget
According to Rep. Shannon Latham, “Week 16 marks the second week of legislative overtime. Although per diem pay ended and our clerks were dismissed on April 21, we cannot adjourn for the final time this legislative session until the budget bills pass. A final agreement was reached last week with the Iowa Senate on the overall state budget target, so work continued this week on the specific details within each budget bill. It was my honor to floor manage the Economic Development budget this week at the Capitol.”
Northern Iowa teen charged with arson after setting fire to local middle school
A Northern Iowa youth is facing a felony charge after an investigation into a recent fire at a local middle school.
NIACC recognizes nearly 850 graduates at commencement
MASON CITY – At the three North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 1, nearly 850 graduates were recognized as earning approximately 1270 Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates during the 2025-2026 academic year. Several honors and awards were also presented. NIACC’S Class of 2026 represents 17 countries, 21 states, and 94 Iowa communities.
Northern Iowa couple arrested for harassment after false domestic report
A Northern Iowa couple is facing charges after authorities determined a report of a domestic dispute was fabricated.
Marble rock veteran and accomplished international salesman Ronald Schriever passes away at 78
MARBLE ROCK, IA – The Marble Rock community is remembering Ronald “Ronnie” E. Schriever, a dedicated family man and award-winning salesman who passed away on April 30, 2026, at the age of 78.
College Softball: Iowa State Cyclones down No. 22 UCF, 13-9
AMES – With its postseason on the line, Iowa State (32-2, 9-14 Big 12) earned its third ranked victory of the season in dramatic fashion, walking off No. 22 UCF in the bottom of the seventh to win, 13-9.
Iowa Supreme Court ruling means a new cancer center to be built at Charles City hospital
CHARLES CITY – A years-long legal battle over a multi-million dollar gift has come to an end following a decisive ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court. The court this week ruled in favor of Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) regarding the estate of Herman Stille, bringing a high-profile dispute with the Mayo Clinic to a final close.
Iowa man arrested on felony grooming and enticement charges in Buchanan County
BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA – A 68-year-old Northern Iowa man is in custody following an investigation into the solicitation of a minor over social media.
Northern Iowa teen faces multiple felonies following investigation into sexual assault and drug crimes
An 18-year-old Northern Iowa man is in custody facing a string of felony charges after a month-long investigation into allegations of sexual assault and the distribution of illegal substances to minors.
Guatemalan illegal attacks child, then set free in sanctuary Illinois… but ICE agents deliver justice
Erik Giovanni-Quiroa (pictured at top), a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, has a criminal history that includes a conviction in 2011 for aggravated battery with a firearm, for which he was sentenced to 16 years in prison, and a conviction in 2025 for aggravated sexual abuse of a 5-year-old child, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. ICE lodged a detainer with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), but Governor J.B. Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians refused to cooperate with ICE and released this pedophile from jail into the community.
On April 22, 2026, ICE conducted a targeted vehicle stop and arrested him at large in the community. Giovanni-Quiroa again endangered the public by refusing to stop when given lawful commands and attempting to flee in his vehicle.
Charles City woman arrested on multiple charges following traffic stop
CHARLES CITY – A local woman is in custody after a Thursday evening traffic stop led to drug-related charges and multiple driving violations.
Clear Lake resident and extensive world traveler Darlene Kuhlers passes away at 92
CLEAR LAKE, IA – The North Iowa community is honoring the memory of Darlene Marcella Kuhlers, a devoted mother and longtime Clear Lake resident who passed away on April 30, 2026, at the age of 92.
Clear Lake veteran and dedicated auto body painter Roger Westover passes away at 87
CLEAR LAKE – The Clear Lake community is remembering Roger Dale Westover, a United States Air Force veteran and skilled tradesman who passed away on April 23, 2026, at the age of 87.
College Basketball: Hawkeyes’ historic NCAA run ends in Elite Eight loss to Illinois, 71-59
HOUSTON — Iowa’s deepest NCAA Tournament run in nearly four decades came to a painful end Saturday night as third-seeded Illinois pulled away late to defeat the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes, 71-59, in the South Regional championship game.
Three-vehicle crash on Northern Iowa highway leaves three injured, two vehicles totaled
FAYETTE COUNTY — Three people suffered minor injuries and a woman had to be mechanically freed from her vehicle following a three-vehicle collision Saturday morning on a Northern Iowa highway.
Deer collision throws 89-year-old Iowa motorcyclist from bike
WINTHROP — An elderly motorcyclist was hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after striking a deer on a rural Buchanan County roadway southeast of Winthrop.
Tractor and anhydrous tank overturn on remote Northern Iowa road, causing $100,000 in damage
WESTGATE — Emergency crews responded to a farm accident south of Westgate after a tractor hauling agricultural equipment and an anhydrous ammonia tank left the roadway and overturned.