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News Headlines for October 24, 2026
Cerro Gordo County to weigh agreement putting private wells and groundwater protection under local oversight
MASON CITY — Protecting Northern Iowa’s underground water supplies will be on the agenda Monday as Cerro Gordo County supervisors consider an agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources spelling out responsibility for permitting, inspecting and enforcing standards for private water wells.
Supervisors are scheduled to consider the agreement Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Conference Room. The proposed arrangement covers private water well construction, reconstruction and abandonment.
Shelley Kay Bruce, 63, filled her family’s life with laughter, love and home cooking
MASON CITY — Shelley Kay Bruce, 63, of Mason City, died October 15, 2026, at UnityPoint Allen Hospital in Waterloo, leaving a family who cherished her generous heart, unmistakable laugh and straightforward way of speaking.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. NE, Mason City. Visitation will take place at the funeral home that day from 11:00 a.m. until the service. She will be laid to rest at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Swaledale at a later date.
Ronald D. Dahle, 86, of Woden to be honored at St. John’s Lutheran Church
WODEN — Ronald D. Dahle, 86, of Woden, died Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Titonka Care Center.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Woden, with the Rev. John Heille officiating. Burial will follow at Bingham Township Cemetery.
Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday, October 19, at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 310 Main St., Woden. Visitation will continue at the church for one hour before Tuesday’s service.
Janet Kay Schroeder, 74, devoted her life to nursing and caring for those she loved
MASON CITY — Janet Kay Schroeder, 74, of Mason City, died Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Heritage Care Center, leaving a legacy of caring that extended from her nursing career to the family members who depended on her.
A private family graveside service will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Dows. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Cremation has taken place in accordance with her wishes.
Leslie Krause, 82, of Milford to be honored in Spirit Lake and laid to rest in Lu Verne
MILFORD — Leslie Krause, 82, of Milford, died October 15, 2026, at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2300 27th St., Spirit Lake. Burial will take place at 2:00 p.m. that day at Lu Verne Cemetery, 701 N. Maple St., Lu Verne.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 19, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home, 1101 10th St., Milford.
Joan Ruth Kohagen, 83, nurtured a growing family and brought beauty to her Sumner home
SUMNER — Joan Ruth Kohagen, 83, of Sumner, died unexpectedly Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner, leaving a large family who treasured her attention, kindness and love.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, at St. John Lutheran Church, 324 E. First St., Sumner, with the Rev. Tracy Hinkel officiating.
Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 19, at Becker & Son Funeral Home, 111 W. Fifth St., Sumner. Visitation will continue at the church from 9:00 a.m. until Tuesday’s service. Memorial contributions may be made to the family for later designation.
Father Peter Fransco, 97, devoted four decades to guiding Iowa congregations
RUTHVEN — Father Peter J. Fransco, 97, died peacefully October 15, 2026, at Ruthven Community Care Center, closing a long life of faith that included 41 years of active priestly ministry across the Diocese of Sioux City.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1801 Rolling St., Ruthven. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:30 a.m. until Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Ruthven.
The Most Rev. John Keehner, bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, will celebrate the Mass. Father Tim Johnson will deliver the homily, with Fathers Michael Erpelding, John Thomas and Gary Snyder joining other diocesan priests as concelebrants. Deacons Darwin Messerly and John Rudd will participate alongside other deacons. A recording of the Mass will be made available later.
Dennis “Cookie” Ridder, 90, of Mason City, leaves a lifetime of ingenuity, adventure and family memories
MASON CITY — Dennis G. “Cookie” Ridder, 90, of Mason City, died Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Good Shepherd Health Center, leaving loved ones with memories of his sharp mind, knack for fixing things and enthusiasm for travel, cards and basketball.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme.
Juanita Marie Clabaugh, 72, of Estherville, found joy in music, Cubs games and travel
ESTHERVILLE — Juanita Marie Clabaugh, 72, of Estherville, died October 15, 2026, at Estherville Community Care Center, leaving her family with memories of her love for dancing, music, baseball and exploring new places.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 23, 2026, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel, 401 N. Seventh St., Estherville. Visitation will take place at the chapel from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service. Her final resting place will be East Side Cemetery in Estherville.
UNI soccer falls at Evansville as late penalty kick sinks Panthers, 1-0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — UNI kept Evansville off the scoreboard deep into Thursday night’s match, but one penalty kick proved enough to send the Panthers home empty-handed.
Iowa volleyball suffers first sweep of season as No. 13 Purdue pulls away in Coralville
CORALVILLE — Iowa volleyball stayed within striking distance early, but No. 13 Purdue repeatedly took control with decisive scoring runs, handing the Hawkeyes their first straight-set loss of the season October 15 at Xtream Arena.
Texas man nabbed after alleged sex act in Mason City store
MASON CITY — A Texas man with an indecent exposure case already hanging over him was collared again Wednesday after police say he entered a Mason City business and began masturbating in front of a woman.
Jabrone Donte Whitner, 35, was arrested Oct. 14, 2026 — just 16 days after posting cash bond in his earlier case. Now, he faces a second serious misdemeanor indecent exposure charge in Cerro Gordo County.
MacNider’s Artoberfest brings Midwest brews, live music and auctions to Mason City Oct. 23
MASON CITY — Midwest brews, live music and more than 80 silent auction items will fill the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum when its annual Artoberfest fundraiser returns Friday, October 23.
Mason City sex offender at Beje Clark faces trial, fresh parole trouble
MASON CITY — A convicted child sex offender whose registered address is Mason City’s Beje Clark halfway house is facing trouble on two fronts: a criminal charge alleging he violated sex-offender registration requirements and a newly opened parole-violation case.
Northern Iowa housing, child care projects land grants in $385,000 state package
DES MOINES — A $20,000 grant will help Algona identify solutions to local child care needs, while Eldora will receive $50,000 to clear deteriorating houses and prepare sites for new homes under a state funding package aimed at strengthening rural Iowa communities.
The two awards total $70,000 and are part of $385,000 in Empower Rural Iowa grants announced October 13, 2026, by Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Fifteen communities will receive funding for housing, child care planning and community development.
For Northern Iowa, the awards target practical obstacles to growth: finding care for children and making room for housing that working families can afford.
Mason City man nabbed after alleged MercyOne helipad romp, staff assault
MASON CITY — He went to MercyOne for medical care and wound up in jail after an alleged detour to the hospital’s helicopter. Police say a highly intoxicated Mason City man walked out of the emergency department, crawled over a helipad gate and became combative with the workers trying to bring him back inside.
Northern Iowa teen killed in shooting; another teen nabbed on gun charges
Afternoon gunfire left a 16-year-old boy dead in Northern Iowa, and police detained another teenager hours later on felony weapons charges as detectives worked to piece together the deadly encounter.
Grinder sparks ignite attic fire in Mason City building
MASON CITY — Sparks from an angle grinder ignited an attic fire in a Mason City building Tuesday afternoon, forcing firefighters to break into the secured structure and pull down sections of ceiling to reach the flames.
Iowa man killed in overnight crash, found dead hours later in wrecked vehicle
WATERLOO — A deadly crash unfolded in the darkness of an early October morning, but it would be several hours before anyone discovered the wrecked car and its deceased driver along a Waterloo street.
Grassley says Jack Smith swept up 639,000 GOP supporters’ data — including MAGA hat buyers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — First came an Osage donor’s $10 check. Now Chuck Grassley says the federal paper trail reaches into hundreds of thousands of Republicans’ personal records — right down to people ordering a red MAGA hat.
The Iowa Republican and Senate Judiciary Committee chairman released new findings October 14 alleging former special counsel Jack Smith’s office and the Biden Justice Department obtained information covering at least 639,000 Republican donors, voters and supporters through subpoena returns.
Grassley is turning up the heat, arguing the collection went far beyond what Smith needed to investigate…
Mason City man collared on felony stalking charges, accused of defying protective order
MASON CITY — A stalking and harassment investigation out of Pocahontas County brought authorities to a Mason City man with a long history of mischievousness, who now faces six charges alleging he stalked someone in violation of a protective order and twice violated a no-contact order.
Suspect collared after 60-mph Mason City chase; stolen gun recovered
MASON CITY — A late-night traffic stop turned into a chase through Mason City’s north side Wednesday, with speeds topping 60 mph before deputies arrested a Kensett man and recovered a firearm reported stolen from Clear Lake, authorities said.
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