🌱 Meth Found In Mason City Home + Former Cop Tampers With Witness

Hi all. I'm back with your new edition of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy, afternoon rain. High: 67 Low: 38.

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

1. A former Clear Lake apartment manager in Mason City was recently sentenced for theft. Cassie Miller, one of Clear Lake apartment complex's former managers, has been sentenced to seven days in jail and up to three years on supervised probation for using her master key to steal a checkbook from an apartment in August 2022 and using it for personal gain. Miller pleaded guilty to forgery and fourth-degree theft and has also been ordered to pay a $430 fine and complete substance abuse and mental health treatment. (KIMT 3)
2. Mason City resident Scott Alan Espinosa, 51, has been arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver. The charges come after officials allegedly found illegal drugs, baggies, scales, and other drug paraphernalia at his Mason City home during a search on Dec. 14, 2022. (KIMT 3)
3. A former Rochester police investigator admitted to witness tampering and will be sentenced this summer. Joshua Laber has admitted to a felony count of witness tampering in a plea agreement that calls for dismissing a felony criminal sexual conduct charge. Laber was accused of allegedly sexually touching a girl under the age of 15 and was found communicating with her on social media about "changing her story." Laber is scheduled to be sentenced in August. (KROC-AM)

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Today in Rochester-Mason City:

• Friends' Book Store At Rochester Public Library (11:00 AM)
• Free Food Friday Hiring Event At 2518 Broadway Ave N (Noon)
• The 37th Annual Taste Of The Town At Hilton Hotel Mayo Clinic Area (5:30 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know a Rochester-Mason City student who’s making a difference in the community? We want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a student to be featured on Patch.

From my notebook:

• Shoutout to the Rochester Police Department, who were active volunteers in the community on Wednesday. The department's officers were among the first responders who volunteered at a free pasta dinner provided by Rochester's Hy-Vee locations. Check out the pictures of the officers and civilians interacting with each other. (City of Rochester, MN Police Department via Facebook)
• Looking for another way to move and groove with your family? Families in Motion, a 2023 recipient of the Rochester Downtown Alliance's Start-Up Event Grant, provides the opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to dance together. It is a free event happening on May 13. (Downtown Rochester, Minnesota via Facebook)
• Yesterday, the team from ONB Bank made our community a little brighter. The team spent a few hours in the sunshine picking up litter around the bank and nearby neighborhood parks. (ONB Bank via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. I'll see you soon!

— 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.