MASON CITY -- Justin Hanson, 20, 115 16th St. N.W., was charged with third-degree harassment Wednesday by the Mason City Police Department.

Hanson, in a Globe Gazette story published Wednesday, admitted that he put a cardboard sign reading, "F---- you, n-----s" in the yard of Margaret Foster during the night of May 10.

Hanson admitted to being a racist.

Third-degree harassment is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail.

He was taken to the Cerro Gordo County Jail and is being held on $300 bond.

Second Ward Councilman Steve Tynan, who was sworn in Tuesday night, has arranged a listening post on race relations because of the incident.

The listening post will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at Grace United Methodist Church, 200 14th St. N.W.

Tynan said he was approached by former Second Ward Councilman Leonard Foster about holding the listening post. Margaret Foster is Foster"s daughter.

Leonard Foster said Wednesday that both he and his daughter have received many messages of support from the community since the incident occurred.

"We"ve had phone calls and e-mails and I"ve had people stop me on the street to talk to me about it," he said.

"I"m 70 years old. I"ve been through it. I don"t want my grandchildren to go through it. But I also know this does not represent the views of the entire white community."

Foster said he hopes the listening post will be a way of bringing people together -- "not only the neighborhood but the community, so this thing doesn"t get out of hand."

Kristin Buehner contributed to this report.