🌱 How will Mason City’s new three-school plan affect your child?
Good morning Mason City! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Mason City’s new three-school plan affect your child?
- Why a Mason City nurse kept her license after multiple arrests
- Could a massive solar farm soon rise just south of Mason City?
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Mason City? Post it to Mason City photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Wednesday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 35 and low of 31 degrees.
- Thursday: Very windy; p.m. flurries, temps: high: 36, low: 0. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 26 and low of 21 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Mason City School Board chooses three elementary building option as part of reconfiguration plan (kgloam.com) — Mason City’s school board has voted to consolidate its elementary schools down to three buildings and convert Harding Elementary into a new district office that also houses alternative programs. Leaders say the move responds to declining enrollment and facility costs while aiming to protect staff through attrition, and they’ll meet with the Mason City Education Association this week to discuss next steps. 
• Nurse accused of being impaired on duty retains full licensing privileges (kcrg.com) — A Mason City nurse will keep her full Iowa nursing license after state regulators issued only a warning and treatment requirements following concerns about alleged impairment on past assignments. The nurse, who previously worked at a Mason City care facility and other regional hospitals, has multiple recent driving-related arrests, and a court hearing on her probation status is scheduled for early January.
• Hearing underway on permit to place 2250 acre solar farm in Cerro Gordo County (kgloam.com) — State regulators are holding three days of hearings in Mason City on a proposed 2,250-acre solar farm south of town and Clear Lake, despite Cerro Gordo County’s zoning ban on large-scale solar. Developer Ranger Power is asking the Iowa Utilities Commission to approve the project, aiming for permits by 2027 and operation by 2029.
📸 Around Mason City
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📣 Mason City Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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Clear Lake Noon Lions' Toys for Tots Collection
Clear Lake VFW , 219 Main Ave. , Clear Lake
1:00 pm -
Books on Tap: Best of 2025
Lake Time Brewery , 801 Main Ave , Clear Lake
6:00 pm -
BINGO Night at Reserve 173°
Reserve 173 Bar & Grill , 306 1st Ave N , Clear Lake
6:00 pm -
NIACC Performing Arts & Leadership Series: Dean Z – The Ultimate Elvis
NIACC Auditorium , 500 College Dr , Portland
7:00 pm -
Dean Z - The Ultimate ELVIS
NIACC - North Iowa Area Community College , 500 College Dr , Mason City
7:00 pm -
Trivia Thursday
Lake Time Brewery
7:00 pm -
Steve O - Stephen Gilchrist Glover
Surf Ballroom & Museum , 460 N Shore Dr , Clear Lake
6:00 pm -
Steve-O: The Crash and Burn! Tour
Surf Ballroom , 460 North Shore Drive , Clear Lake
7:00 pm -
All Request DJ Night at Rookies
Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar , 307 Main Ave. , Clear Lake
9:00 pm -
Karaoke Night at Rumorz
Rumorz Bar & Grill , 1210 South Shore Dr. , Clear Lake
9:00 pm -
Visit with Santa
Clear Lake City Park
1:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Shoptikal, LLC posted a job opening for Optical Sales Associate - Mason City, IA - No Experience Required in Mason City. Apply here.
- The Salvation Army Central Territory posted a job opening for Thrift Store Clerk in Mason City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mason City here.
🗞 Nearby News
Iowa Falls
- 12-16-25 South Hardin vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck bball (timescitizen.com)
- Alden City Council meeting recap from Dec. 15 (radioonthego.com)
- NBC Boys Wrestling had a stout performance at the Ogden Duals on Saturday (radioonthego.com)
New Hampton
- Four-Year Anniversary of December 15, 2021 Derecho Tornadoes - KCHA NEWS - Charles City's News, Weather & Sports (kchanews.com)
Waverly
Ok Mason City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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