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Planning a Midwest Renovation? 7 Site Logistics Decisions to Make Before Demolition
A successful renovation depends on more than design choices and contractor schedules. The physical flow of the jobsite matters too: where materials arrive, where debris goes, how workers move through the property,
Four injured, including 5-year-old, after SUV turns into path of truck hauling horse trailer
Four people, including a 5-year-old child, were injured early Friday when an SUV allegedly crossed into the path of a heavy-duty pickup pulling a horse trailer on a remote Iowa highway.
Jim Beaver, 95 of Spirit Lake, remembered as hardworking family man and legendary local fisherman
SPIRIT LAKE — James Richard “Jim” Beaver, 95, of Spirit Lake, a hardworking Iowa native, devoted family man and avid fisherman who became a familiar sight along the waters of Spirit Lake, died Saturday, August 8, 2026, at his home.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 14, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel, 401 N. Seventh St. in Estherville.
Iowa man dies in violent crash while allegedly fleeing deputies
A 34-year-old Iowa man was killed Saturday night after authorities say he sped away from deputies, blew through a stop sign and crashed off the roadway.
Northern Iowa stabbing suspect collared after bloody late-night fight
FORT DODGE — A late-night fight outside a Fort Dodge convenience store ended with an 18-year-old man suffering a serious arm wound and a Bayard man behind bars on a felony assault charge.
Massive Iowa wildlife area offers year-round escape just off Interstate 35
An easily accessible 2,300-acre wildlife area about an hour south of Des Moines offers year-round opportunities for hunting, hiking, birdwatching, fishing, mushroom hunting and exploring restored prairie.
Rose Marie “Rosie” Kruger, 90 of Northwood, remembered for her giving heart, beautiful gardens and devotion to family
NORTHWOOD — Rose Marie “Rosie” Kruger, 90, of Northwood, a devoted mother, longtime church choir member and gifted gardener whose kindness touched generations of family and friends, died Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 8, at First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St. in Northwood, with Pastor Becky Sogge officiating. Visitation was held for one hour before the service at the church. Rosie was laid to rest at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery in Mason City.
Mark Leonard Tieskotter, 77 of Lime Springs, remembered for hard work, community service and love of family
LIME SPRINGS — Mark Leonard Tieskotter, 77, of Lime Springs, a hardworking family man who spent years farming, working in manufacturing and serving his community, died Friday, August 7, 2026, at WinnMed Hospital in Decorah.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 12, at Notre Dame Parish, 223 Second Ave. E. in Cresco, with the Rev. Jon Seda celebrating the Mass.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 11, at Notre Dame Parish, with a Rosary beginning at 4 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour before the Mass on Wednesday.
Northern Iowa lake and marsh offer fishing, hunting, paddling and glimpse of original prairie
ARMSTRONG — Two neighboring public areas along the Iowa-Minnesota border offer visitors a chance to fish, hunt, camp, paddle and explore a landscape resembling the prairie encountered by Iowa’s earliest settlers.
Lake Iowa and Lake Iowa Marsh are located north of Armstrong along Iowa Highway 15. Although the two public areas are nearly identical in shape and size, they are separate water systems with distinctly different habitats.
Motor home erupts in flames at Kossuth County Fair; dog rescued but cat dies
ALGONA — A motor home erupted in flames along the midway at the Kossuth County Fair on Friday, forcing authorities to evacuate the area as firefighters battled thick smoke and flames.
Northern Iowa truck driver escapes injury after dump truck collides with train in Charles City
CHARLES CITY — A Northern Iowa truck driver escaped injury Thursday afternoon after the construction truck he was driving collided with a moving Canadian Pacific train at a railroad crossing in Charles City.
Gov. Reynolds names Martin Noven to lead Iowa’s $47 billion IPERS retirement system
DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed veteran public pension executive Martin Noven as the next chief executive officer of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System, placing him in charge of the retirement system relied upon by hundreds of thousands of Iowa public employees and retirees.
Noven’s appointment will take effect August 24, 2026.
Elaine Le Nore Honeck, 102, formerly of Mason City, remembered for remarkable work ethic, faith and devotion to family
MASON CITY — Elaine Le Nore Honeck, 102, a former Mason City resident whose long life was marked by hard work, faith, family and an enduring desire to stay active, died peacefully Thursday, August 6, 2026, at StoneBridge Senior Living in Chillicothe, Missouri.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 8, at Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe.
Elaine’s final resting place will be Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, 1224 South Washington Avenue in Mason City.
David Hamlin Leonard, 86 of Grundy Center, remembered for a life rooted in family and Iowa
GRUNDY CENTER — David Hamlin Leonard, 86, of Grundy Center, died Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at his home.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 10, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 First Ave. N. in Clear Lake. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., immediately before the service at the funeral home.
Gary Dean Hyland, 82 of Orchard, remembered as Army veteran, classic car craftsman and devoted family man
ORCHARD — Gary Dean Hyland, 82, of rural Orchard, an Army veteran, longtime auto body professional and classic car enthusiast who shared his skills with younger generations, died Thursday, August 6, 2026, at his home surrounded by loved ones.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 15, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 702 State Street in Osage. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., immediately before the service at the church.
Gary’s final resting place will be Orchard Cemetery, where inurnment will follow the memorial service.
Donna Jean Spratt, 91 of Greene, remembered for caring heart, remarkable garden and devotion to family
GREENE — Donna Jean Spratt, 91, of Greene, a longtime caregiver, devoted mother and grandmother, avid gardener and active member of her community, died Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 11, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 324 E. Traer St. in Greene. A public visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, August 10, at Woodley Funeral Home, 519 N. First St. in Greene.
Garner manufacturer Plas-Tech Tooling named national finalist, will compete for share of $1 million
GARNER — A North Iowa manufacturing company that began more than three decades ago in a two-car garage is headed to Washington, D.C., with a chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in a national small-business competition.
Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. of Garner has been selected as one of just five finalists in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition.
Desperate felon flees Northern Iowa cops, nabbed with illicit drugs again
An Iowa felon with a lengthy criminal history is awaiting trial after authorities say he refused to stop for a deputy, led law enforcement on a dangerous six-mile pursuit through Northern Iowa and eventually crashed in neighboring Hardin County.
Rick Rodney Bitterman, 75 of Algona, remembered for steadfast faith, giving heart and devotion to family
ALGONA — Rick Rodney Bitterman, 75, whose life was shaped by deep faith, devotion to family and a generous spirit of service, passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at MercyOne in Des Moines.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 520 N. Garfield Street in Algona.
A funeral service will be held Sunday, August 9, at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, with lunch immediately following the service.
A private family burial will take place at a later date.
Iowa senators Ernst and Grassley fight to pass Farm Bill as Democrats block measure in committee
WASHINGTON — Both of Iowa’s U.S. senators backed a new five-year Farm Bill Thursday, but the sweeping agriculture package was defeated after every Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee voted against advancing the measure.
Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa each voted in favor of moving the Farm Bill forward during the August 6 committee meeting.
“Democrats’ obstruction leaves the fate of the Farm Bill in serious jeopardy at a time when farmers need our help,” Grassley said following the defeat.
Chicago man gets decade in federal prison for cyberstalking and terrorizing Mason City victim
A Chicago man who repeatedly threatened to kill a Mason City resident and members of the victim’s family has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Shaninth Michael Ray, 38, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced in Sioux City by U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months in federal prison.
The sentence will run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors said Ray continuously threatened the Iowa victim between April and October 2023, even after a no-contact order had been issued against him.
Ray allegedly used telephone calls, text messages, videos and multiple online platforms to continue contacting and threatening the victim.
According to prosecutors, Ray threatened to “end” the victim’s life and said he would “bash [the victim’s] face in with a rock.”
The Judge described Ray’s criminal history as “atrocious and disgraceful” and characterized the conduct in the cyberstalking case as horrific, noting the terror inflicted on the victim and the victim’s family.
Illinois illegal alien nabbed by ICE, wandering in traffic with 8 molotov cocktails
WASHINGTON — A blue state and the former Biden Administration unleashed a potentially explosive illegal into America, and after he wandered all the way into neighboring Illinois, ICE nabbed this Jordanian national as cops there arrested him with eight alleged Molotov cocktails and a written map, according to federal officials and court records.