DES MOINES – A report released by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) concludes that while Iowa’s percentage of pathological gambling remains low (about one percent), the percentage of Iowans who…
Category: Watercooler
Breaking news. News of interest. Bulletins. Editorials. The word on the street.
Cerro Gordo supervisors award land lease
MASON CITY – The Cerro Gordo County Supervisors awarded a land lease after opening sealed bids at Tuesday’s meeting. Brad Oeltjenbrun was awarded the three year lease of 286 acres of county…
Fire Training Center ribbon cutting ceremony held (photos)
MASON CITY – A ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-completed Fire Training Center on NIACC’s campus was held on Monday afternoon. The Mason City Chamber of Commerce was on hand, as well…
Iowa State Patrol confirms arrest of trooper
DES MOINES – Colonel Patrick J. Hoye, Chief of the Iowa State Patrol today confirms the arrest of Trooper Mikel Yauk from Oelwein, Iowa. Mikel Yauk is a 12 year veteran of…
City Council candidate Alex Kuhn to hold downtown forum
MASON CITY – Alex Kuhn, at-large candidate for City Council, announced he will hold a public forum with downtown business owners, employees and patrons. The forum will be held at Ralph’s Garden…
Irish eyes are smiling
Story by Carl Grover It can be very traumatic when the family pet goes missing. Anyone who has ever had a pet can probably relate to the anxiety someone feels. If there…
Suicide prevention walk held
MASON CITY – United Way of North Central Iowa and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention held the fifth annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Saturday, October 8 at Southbridge…
Small fires put out Friday evening in Burchinal area (photos and video)
BURCHINAL, IOWA – Friday evening, there were multiple reports of small fires breaking out in the Swaledale and Burchinal area. The Swaledale Fire Department had many water trucks in use and on…
Big difference between Tea Party and Occupy Whatever!
(Op-ed by Otis Lewis) It is time to draw the distinction between the Tea Party and Occupy Whatever protests. The only commonality is they are both opposed to bailouts of Wall Street,…
What I write is what I believe (by Peter Children)
(Op-ed by Peter Children) What I write is what I believe; if it was not I wouldn’t write it. Whether you believe it or agree with it is entirely up to you….
Cerro Gordo County Jail inmate charged with assaulting another inmate
MASON CITY – Shortly after 8pm on Saturday, October 8th, two inmates at the Cerro Gordo County Jail were engaged in a fight in the housing unit after one inmate struck the…
All In The Family (by Peter Children)
If you can see well enough to qualify for a drivers license, then it should be easy for you to see the link between the following candidates. This is not some thread…
Possible dog breed ban causes worry
(Editor’s note: A letter received by NorthIowaToday.com that our readers might find interesting.) To the People of Mason City, Iowa. My name is Crystalann, and I am emailing you in response to…
Suicide Prevention Walk to be held October 8th in Mason City
MASON CITY – United Way of North Central Iowa and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will be holding the fifth annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Saturday, October 8…
NIACC for first time offers students chance to sign up late for classes
MASON CITY – For the first time, North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) is giving students an opportunity to sign up half-way through the first semester and still get a great start…
Iowa Supreme Court to visit six high schools in Mason City area
DES MOINES — On Friday, October 14, members of the Iowa Supreme Court will visit six high schools in north central Iowa to talk with students about the role of the courts….
North Iowa Man sentenced to prison following 4th probation violation
MASON CITY – On Tuesday, October 4th, Joshua Henry Joyce, age 21, had a two year suspended sentence imposed on his 4th probation violation in Hancock County District Court by Judge James…
Emergency 911 system not working for cell phones in Cerro Gordo county
MASON CITY – Cerro Gordo County authorities have confirmed that the emergency 911 number is not operational for cell phones in Cerro Gordo county at this time. “We are not sure when…
Facing My Eagle: A Small Town Mystery (by Gary Anderson)
Story by Gary Anderson – This is a mystery story, and like every well-crafted mystery story, it follows a carefully laid-out trail of clues and then features an unexpected plot twist at…
Clear Lake’s annual Harvest Festival drew many to downtown (photos)
Photos by Joe Buttweiler CLEAR LAKE, IOWA – Clear Lake’s annual Harvest Festival drew shoppers, pumpkin-lovers, wine-tasters and other good-time-seekers to downtown Clear Lake on Saturday. Gorgeous weather made for an excellent…
Mason City resident, who had murder-related charge dropped, sentenced for driving while barred
MASON CITY – Wednesday in Cerro Gordo County District Court, Donya Marie Lee, age 46, of 809 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, was sentenced to 45 days in jail following a guilty…
“Smoke School” testing for air pollutants in Mason City
Story by Greg Osborne – You’re wondering what that rig is sitting in Mason City’s East Park. Or you may have seen the signs “SMOKE SCHOOL”. It’s not about quitting smoking or…
Tugs Daycare on fire Tuesday afternoon (photos)
MASON CITY – The Mason City Fire Department responded to a fire at Tugs Daycare and Preschool located at 950 N. Illinois Avenue around 3:30 pm Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to a caller,…
Charges filed after trumpeter swan shot in Worth county
MANLY – Joshua Ray Sheckleton, 29, of rural Manly, was charged with unlawful take of a protected non-game species after shooting a trumpeter swan on Saturday, Sept. 24th. Sheckleton was arrested after…
New Ulm brewery offers great tastes for less money
By Joe Buttweiler – NEW ULM, Minn. — Thirsty for a fun and economical weekend getaway? Then head for New Ulm, Minn., home of Schell’s Brewing Co. and more German heritage than…
City council listening post, October 4, 2011
MASON CITY – Citizens have an opportunity to address the mayor and city council after every city council meeting in Mason City on any subject they want, for 5 minutes. Watch the…
Mason City City Council to meet Tuesday night
MASON CITY – The Mason City City Council will hear a special presentation tonight from Creative Energy Solutions (CES), a “Colorado Green Energy” company about a proposed waste to gas plant that…
Don Nelson to be write-in candidate for Parks Board
MASON CITY – Mason City City Council member Don Nelson will be a write-in candidate for the Mason City Parks and Recreation Board. Nelson, who currently serves on the City Council as…
Request for proposals no accepted for Mason City attorney position
MASON CITY – The City of Mason City invites qualified individuals or firms to submit a proposal to provide City Attorney Services based upon the scope of work contained in the City’s…
Buck burger nights pack ‘em in at MC taverns
By Joe Buttweiler MASON CITY — Quick: Who serves the best $1 burger in Mason City? If you’re thinking fast-food, you better think again. No less than three River City taverns offer…
Lower unemployment taxes for Iowa employers in 2012
From Rep. Sharon Steckman – State officials announced this week that employers will see approximately $96 million dollars in tax savings next year when unemployment tax rates are reduced from 2.8% to…
Prisoner John Doe identified as wanted sex offender from Arizona
MASON CITY – Shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 29th, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s deputies received a suspicious persons report around Ulmus Ave. & 275th Street. Deputies arrested a man who…
Editorial: Proposed waste to energy plant has considerable risk
To the editor: Our City Administrator is reported as saying that the proposed waste to energy gasification plant has zero risk to taxpayers. I think there is considerable risk. And I have…
Branstad-Reynolds administration’s blueprint unveils vision for Iowa’s education remodel
DES MOINES- Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today unveiled their blueprint for transforming Iowa’s education system. The blueprint states that Iowa must become more selective and supportive of teachers…
Don’t let the Globe choose for you (by Peter Children)
(Op-ed by Peter Children) It seems the massaging of the public has lessened somewhat since the inception of this site, NorthIowaToday.com. It appears some of the punch has disappeared from the rhetoric…
Mohawk Spirit on display for Homecoming festivities
MASON CITY – Homecoming conjures memories of days gone by for a lot of us, but memories in the making for Mason City High School students this week. The week started out…
1133rd holds their annual physical fitness test (photos)
MASON CITY – The Iowa National Guard’s 1133rd Transportation Company had their annual physical fitness test Saturday morning, October 1st. The spokesman for the 1133rd informed us, “We do this each year….
NorthIowaToday.com celebrates 1 year today
NorthIowaToday.com celebrates the completion of its first year in operation today, October 1st, 2011. Publisher and founder Matt Marquardt said “I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who…
The Ultra-Violence (by Peter Lagios)
By Peter Lagios After reading about the house invasion murders in Connecticut I realize that in America, we cannot do away with the death penalty. It’s just not possible, when depraved humans…
Mason City Police Officers and Fire Fighters to be Honored by Governor
MASON CITY – Mason City Police Officers and Firefighters have received official notice from the Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor Program that they are to be honored during a special ceremony with…