🌱 Creekside Apartments Condemned + Child Rapist Sentenced To Prison

Good morning, Rochester-Mason City! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including the top three news stories.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Milder with clouds and sun. High: 49 Low: 27.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High: 43 Low: 29.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

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

1. The Olmsted County Attorney's Office filed charges against Dylan Yocum Wednesday for his involvement in a traffic accident along Broadway Avenue that caused serious injury. The three-car accident occurred Monday evening around 5:45 p.m., when Yocum reportedly rear-ended a pick-up truck that then swerved into the northbound lane and was hit by an oncoming vehicle and flipped into a nearby ditch. The driver of the pick-up truck suffered from several major injuries and was airlifted to the hospital but is expected to survive. Officials say they suspect Yocum was driving under the influence of marijuana based on the odor coming from him and the vehicle, the paraphernalia seen in the vehicle, and a field sobriety test that showed impairment. (KROC-AM)
2. A section of the Creekside Apartments in southeast Rochester has been condemned due to several safety violations that need to be addressed. On Mar. 18, Rochester Fire Department responded to a call of water flooding in one of the apartment buildings and found a broken water line with no direct shut off to shut off all the water supplied to the building which is mandatory. There were also broken windows and broken safety systems at the site. The Olmsted County Housing Stability Team has met with impacted families, many of whom will need to stay in nearby hotels while the issues with the building are corrected. (KTTC)
3. On Wednesday, Quentin Townsell was sentenced to 16.5 years in prison for sexually assaulting three young sisters from ages eight to 11. Townsell entered an Alford plea agreement, wherein he did not admit to being guilty but acknowledged there is enough evidence to convict him of a crime. This investigation opened up three years ago when the mother of the children reported sexual and physical abuse. Townsell will be eligible for conditional release after 10 years and has been given credit for the 138 days he has already spent in prison. (KROC-AM)

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Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Friday, March 24

• Welcome Spring Craft & Vendor Show - Southbridge Mall (11:00 AM)
• You Choose Dragon Or Fairy Forest - Twigs Tavern And Grille (6:00 PM)
• ASCEND - Rochester Civic Theatre Company (6:00 PM)

Saturday, March 25

• Rochester Thaw Music Fest 2023 - Chateau (3:00 PM)
• North Iowa Dinner - Olson Building, North Iowa Fairgrounds (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Spring and renewal go hand in hand and another season starting brings forth another set of holidays. See how downtown Rochester celebrates these Spring holidays like Easter, Ramadan, Passover, and more. (Downtown Rochester Minnesota via Facebook)
• Rochester Parks & Recreation is asking the public for feedback on Cook Park! Residents are invited to join the virtual meeting Mar. 29 at 6:30 p.m. to hear the plans and give their thoughts. (City of Rochester, MN Government via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. See you all soon for another 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.