🌱 Bill Proposed For New Interchange + Man Sentenced For Auto Theft

Hello, neighbors! I'm back with your new copy of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter. Keep reading for the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Rain at times. High: 49 Low: 42.
• Thursday: Showers and thunderstorm. High: 51 Low: 36.

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Here are the top three stories today in Rochester-Mason City:

1. Senator Carla Nelson proposed two bills on Monday to fund a safety improvement project at the intersection of Hwy. 14 and County Rd. 44 in Rochester, which is heavily trafficked with 30,000 cars traveling daily. Olmstead County officials also supported the funding for a new interchange. The bills, if passed, would allocate $84.2 million in total funding, with half coming from bonding dollars and half coming from the state’s general fund for infrastructure, to ensure a safer and more connected community. (106.9 KROC)
2. A man from Mason City, Nicholas Jon Wilmarth, has been sentenced to up to 15 years in state prison for stealing a 2014 Ford Edge and eluding law enforcement during a high-speed chase. He pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and eluding after being caught on Oct. 9, 2022, while attempting to evade law enforcement on a bike in the area of 14th Street and N. Monroe Avenue in Mason City. Wilmarth had previously escaped the law after the high-speed chase on Oct. 1, 2022, but was apprehended eight days later. On Monday, Apr. 17, Wilmarth was sentenced up to 15 years in state prison. (KIMT 3)
3. Three individuals have been arrested in connection to an attack and gun threat on a father and his daughter in Rochester. The victim and his daughter were confronted in the stairwell of their apartment by 34-year-old Shueb Noor, 42-year-old Mohamed Omer, and 24-year-old Mohamed Ali due to the rap music they were playing on their mobile speaker. The attackers tried to kick down their apartment door; upon opening the door, one of the attackers pointed a gun at the victim. The man fought off the attackers and the police arrested the suspects after getting descriptions from the victim. (KROC-AM)

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Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Wednesday, April 19

• Broadway Avenue North Reconstruction Info Session At Rochester Chamber Of Commerce (1:00 PM)

Thursday, April 20

• WE Forum Workshop At St. Mary's University (11:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Multi-platinum artist Justin Moore will play at Mason City Arena this summer. Moore has had 10 songs reach number one on the US Country Airplay Songs Chart. His seventh album titled "Stray Dog" will be released on May 7. He is scheduled to play Mason City on Jun. 17. (ABC 6 News KAAL TV)
• The Rochester Energy Commission would like to invite you to attend the EarthFest 2023 Expo! The event will have music, food, sustainability classes, an EV car show, and more. The Expo will take place on Earth Day, Saturday, Apr. 22. (City of Rochester, MN Government via Facebook)
• The citywide litter cleanup in Mason City began yesterday. The Earth Day Picnic will be this Saturday and will feature a nature scavenger hunt, bean bag game, coloring pages, educational Earth Day facts, rock painting, a reading of The Lorax, free food, and a chance to win prizes! (Mason City Earth Day via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll catch up with you bright and early soon with a new update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.