by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY – For many years David Lockwood had an urge to run a hot dog stand. But he just couldn’t swing it. “It doesn’t make the kind…
Category: Watercooler
Breaking news. News of interest. Bulletins. Editorials. The word on the street.
Wise Guys serving up sports and fun
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY — Just in time for March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day, a new sports bar has opened in the former site of Pete’s Corner Tap, 631…
Three shoplifters arrested Sunday at Mills Fleet Farm
MASON CITY – On March 13, 2011 at approximately 2:00 p.m. employees of Mills Fleet Farm 3200 4th S.W. notified the police department that they had detained three women inside the store…
Alley Katz to liven up North Side with drinks, music and food
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY – Alley Katz, a new bar and restaurant offering homemade pizzas, subs and a wide variety of beverages and entertainment, is expected to open April 1…
Nelson hopes Bookmeyer makes appointments, ends controversy
MASON CITY – City Council member Don Nelson has asked Mayor Eric Bookmeyer to end the Human Rights controversy and appoint the three candidates that have been submitted. The Human rights Commission…
New weightlifting gym a ‘breath of fresh air’
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY — Jake Prazak knows that walking into a weight-lifting gym can be a bit intimidating. So he and his partner, John Berding, make it their job…
Burrito Bunker opening soon in Mason City
MASON CITY – Mexican food lovers will soon be able to order custom-made burritos and such with locally raised meat. Shaun Hoffman and Lance Martin, both of Little Cedar, plan to open…
Human Rights Commission approves three applicants
MASON CITY – The Mason City Human Rights Commission met Thursday and approved three applicants for the three vacancies on the commission. Two approved were brought by Mayor Eric Bookmeyer; a third…
Council passes ordinance changes diminishing Mayor’s role in selecting Human Rights Commissioners
MASON CITY – The Mason City Council ok’d on first reading Tuesday night new rules for selecting Human Rights Commissioners that would diminish the Mayor’s role. The ordinance passed 4-2 and will…
ServiceMaster making good of Vibrations
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY – ServiceMaster of Mason City is cleaning up a logistics challenge by consolidating operations at a new site near the north edge of town. The company…
The Ruse: The Pot and the Kettle exposed (by Max Weaver)
I was ready to let the human rights issue go (you know, who said what, who wanted to shut it down) but Mr. Bookmeyer (the Pot) and Mr. Tornquist (the Kettle) had…
Up rising (by Peter Children)
(Submitted to NorthIowaToday.com by Peter Children) Joe, Joker, and all other malcontents. Understand once and for all, its not about Peter Children, Max Weaver or Don Nelson’ s concern with age. Its…
Opportunity and need have intersected at Mason City Honda
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY — Opportunity and need have intersected at Mason City Honda with the purchase and renovation of an adjacent property. “We were kind of cramped for space,”…
Unfair treatment (by Sandra Servantez)
(Submitted to NorthIowaToday.com by Sandra Servantez) City Council: In regards to the appointments I just read in the Globe Gazette about Mayor Bookmeyer’s appointments to the human rights commission I feel I…
Age factor (by Don Nelson)
(Submitted to NorthIowaToday.com by Don Nelson; letter is regarding Mayor Bookmeyer’s appointments to boards and commissions) If age is a factor, and I repeat, if, in your consideration to nominate the candidates…
Mayor approves three applicants for Human Rights Commission
MASON CITY – Mayor Eric Bookmeyer moved quickly after Tuesday’s direction from the City Council and brought forward three applicants for the Human Rights Commission. The City Council voted 4-2 at Tuesday…
Time for the truth (by Peter Children)
(Submitted to NorthIowaToday.com by Peter Children) To those of you who visit this site, you are aware of the controversy swirling around the HR issues. In a democratic society that’s to be…
Impeach Now! (by Peter Children)
There are legal remedies available to correct the impasse at the administrative level in Mason City; its called impeachment…..and petitions should be placed around this city starting today. The transparency of the…
Delivering smiles by the dozen
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY — Is there a Cindy Dahl here?” asked the deliveryman, walking into the Woodharbor lobby Monday morning with a Valentine’s Day flower arrangement. “Wow, that’s me!”…
Cameras discourage crime in, near liquor store
By Joe Buttweiler. Part 3 in a series. MASON CITY – Video cameras that were installed following a fight at Northside Liquor last May have definitely had the desired effect, according to Gulshan…
Access to information by adult adoptees
(Submitted to NorthIowaToday.com by David A. Grooters) In 2007, North Carolina resident and adult adoptee David Vaughan faced a dilemma. Although he never had a desire or an urge to seek out…
Hotel’s interior designers focus on ‘what’s Wright’
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY — Designing and furnishing the guest rooms of an historic hotel without the benefit of photos can be a tough challenge when you know scrutiny to…
Officers have criminal data at their fingertips
By Joe Buttweiler. Second in a series. Read Part 1: Online maps help citizens, police track crime Read Part 3: Cameras discourage crime in, near liquor store MASON CITY – The Mason…
Schmidtke memorial benefit Feb. 19
MASON CITY -Friends and family of Colby Schmidtke, the 16-year-old Mason City High School student who died after an Oct. 27 automobile accident, will have a memorial benefit in his honor beginning at 1 p.m. Feb. 19 at the National Guard Armory in Mason City.
Online maps help citizens, police track crime
MASON CITY – Want to know what criminal activity has been reported in your neighborhood? Then check out the Mason City Police Department’s online crime mapping website. The customizable map allows users…
Small business profile: My Comprehensive Wellness
by Joe Buttweiler – MASON CITY – Rebecca Meyer of Des Moines, who lost 140 pounds on the TV show “The Biggest Loser,” will be a keynote speaker at the My Comprehensive…
Mason City man arrested after chase
MASON CITY – On 02/04/11 at approximately 12:12 AM an officer of the Mason City Police Department attempted to stop a beige 1987 Honda Accord for a traffic violation. The driver of the…
Chickens home to roost, by Peter Children
(Submitted to NorthIowaToday.com by Peter Children) Now the chickens are coming home to roost. I said this guy was a mystery man. If those of you who watched last nights meeting you…
Human Rights controversy won’t go away
MASON CITY – The Mason City Human Rights Department has been under a microscope at City Hall over the past year, and the scrutiny doesn’t seem to be going away. A memo,…
Tornquist accuses four council members of violating open meetings laws
MASON CITY – At-Large City Councilman Scott Tornquist has alleged that open meetings laws were violated by four City Council members. The accusation was apparently leveled against Max Weaver, Jeff Marsters, Don…
New restaurant open in Clear Lake
Clear Lake, IA: The former owners of Marty’s Saloon in Sheffield have moved their restaurant to Clear Lake. It has been renamed Eleanor Rigby’s and is located at 421 Main Street. Chef…
Shoplifters flee Fleet Farm and are caught
MASON CITY – Mason City police and Cerro Gordo County sheriffs responded to a theft report from Mill’s Fleet Farm, 3200 4th Street SW, on Thursday evening at about 6:35 PM. The…
UPDATED Jan. 31: Anglers pierce the ice at Big Blue for a shot at trout
MASON CITY – Anglers took to the ice for a family ice fishing day at Big Blue in Mason City. Brian Pauly, Interim Recreation Department Manager, told NorthIowaToday.com on Monday that “We…
Drunk driver rolls car
MASON CITY – Cerro Gordo County sheriffs responded to a one vehicle rollover on highway B-20 Saturday morning at 3:02 AM. The accident was near 13187 300th Street. A 24 year old…
Cops called for bad Blizzard
MASON CITY – Police officers were called for a disturbance report at a local eatery on Sunday, January 23rd at 1 PM. An officer was dispatched to Dairy Queen at 3481 4th…
Charges filed in fatal Mason City river auto crash
MASON CITY – Charges have been filed in a fatal Mason City crash on Birch Drive from last October.
Madison School to serve students again, starting in 2011
MASON CITY – Considerable thought and planning has been underway in the Mason City Community School District to ensure that students have appropriate and conducive learning environments during the renovations of the…
Tuesday’s Council work session turns testy
MASON CITY – A City Council work session held Tuesday afternoon at City Hall covered a range of topics and turned testy at the tail end. The work session allowed for discussion…
Op-ed: Age discrimination toward human rights by Bookmeyer? (by Peter Children)
Op-ed by Peter Children – There is a lot of talk going around as to just why our mayor refuses to consider the re-appointment of three Human Rights Commissioners. It’s been said…
Human Rights Commission appointments have City Hall buzzing
MASON CITY – NorthIowaToday.com has learned that City Hall is buzzing over the re-appointment of three Human Rights Commissioners. In a memo from Human Rights Department Director Lionel Foster to Mayor Eric…