🌱 Budget Cuts In Mason City Schools + New Fentanyl Penalties Proposed

Morning, everybody. Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your Wednesday edition of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy. High: 42 Low: 26.
• Thursday: Times of sun and clouds. High: 39 Low: 25.

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

1. Police investigated three schools in Iowa Tuesday morning, including Mason City High School, after receiving calls of a potential school shooting. Mason City, Clear Lake, and Charles City High Schools, as well as Charles City Middle School, all entered lockdowns Tuesday morning after receiving calls of a shooting; thankfully, no one was injured at any of the schools. Mason City police department released a statement on social media that everything was normal when arriving at the school, and the matter was referred to partners at the state level for follow-ups. (KTTC)
2. As Mason City schools are slated to lose their COVID funding, a proposal is being presented to the Mason City school board to reduce the hours of school nurses by 20 percent. This reduction primarily targets the 30 minutes before and after school; many in the community are worried the reduction of these hours will jeopardize the health of students The debate will go back and forth as this proposal reaches the school board for the final decision. (KIMT 3)
3. Throughout the country, states are proposing harsher penalties for fentanyl possession, manufacturing, and more in hopes of cracking down on the opioid epidemic. MN Adult and Teen Challenge Rochester's center director David Hunter II stated, "The reality, is we can't arrest our way out of it." However, proponents of the harsher penalties hope the fear of punishment will deter more traffickers. At this point, there are no bills in Minnesota changing laws around fentanyl, but as other states in the country begin to make changes, state lawmakers could follow their lead in the future. (KIMT 3)

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Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Wednesday, March 22

• Lego Club - Mason City Public Library (3:00 PM)
• Red Hot Chilli Pipers - North Iowa Community Auditorium (7:00 PM)

Thursday, March 23

• Preschool Story Time - Rochester Public Library (10:30 AM)
• The Office Trivia - Little Thistle Brewing (7:00 PM)
• Neil Simon's "Barefoot In The Park" - Mason City Community Theatre (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The iconic Suzie Q Cafe is officially back open for indoor dining. It's one of the few Valentine Diners remaining in the country — and there are only 10 stools, so visitors will want to hurry in! (Visit Mason City Iowa via Facebook)
• The first day of spring is finally behind us and the warm weather is approaching day by day. Not to mention, there are beautiful views like this one on your regular downtown Rochester stroll. (Downtown Rochester, Minnesota via Facebook)
• The Rochester Police Department and Olmsted County Sheriff's Office have received reports of smashed windows and vehicle theft over the past weekend. Remember to take care of yourself by locking your doors, taking out valuables, and parking in well-lit secure spots to name a few. (City of Rochester, MN Police Department)

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.