🌱 Woman Sentenced 5 Years For Meth Distribution + Rochester Pride

Hi all. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your new copy of the Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Let's get this Friday started off right with a quick guide to the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy with a stray t-storm. High: 75 Low: 59.
• Saturday: Cloudy. High: 75 Low: 53.

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? 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 three stories in Rochester-Mason City today:

1. Tara Graham, of Mason City, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for distributing meth. Graham received the prison term after pleading guilty to selling quantities of meth up to an ounce to a confidential source on three separate occasions in Mason City. When she has served her time in prison she must also serve a four-year term of supervised release. (Department of Justice)
2. Police stopped Californian Jorge Arreola along I-90 in Rochester after noticing a missing front license plate. When police were granted permission to search the vehicle, they found a shipment of cocaine weighing eight pounds. After entering a plea deal, Arreola has been charged with one first-degree drug charge – rather than two charges and a felony count for bringing drugs across state lines – and is now sentenced to 65 months in jail. (KROC-AM)
3. Rochester, Minnesota Pride will be held on May 20. The celebration and commemoration for the LGBTQ+ community will offer local entertainment with live music at Soldiers Field. Leading up to the pride celebration, various pride week events will be held across Rochester. (106.9 KROC)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Rochester-Mason City Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Rochester-Mason City:

Friday, May 12

• Wines Of The World 2023 At Rochester Event Center (8:00 PM)

Saturday, May 13

• LTS Block Party At LTS Brewing Company (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• According to recent data, Minnesota and Iowa respectively had the second-lowest and fourth-lowest rate of U.S. teen driver fatalities in 2022. Bumper.com reports that "young drivers are statistically more likely than other age groups to be involved in fatal accidents." (Bumper.com)
• The City of Rochester will be breaking ground on the restoration of the historic town clock tower. The event is taking place on May 16 when the Board of Directors and the fire department will celebrate the kick-off to bringing this landmark back. (City of Rochester, MN Government via Facebook)
• The Rochester Fire Department has been working with the city's Parks and Recreation Department to conduct controlled burns. This has allowed fire department personnel to train and learn in a known environment. You can watch them in action on a video taken by the fire department. (Rochester, MN Fire Department via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. I'll be in your inbox 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.