Daily Staff Writer

Businesses and residences in the northeast area of Ames experienced a blackout Saturday afternoon due to a power failure.

A squirrel got into a transformer at the power station between 11 a.m. and noon and shorted out a grid in Ames, said Officer Dean Pollpeter of the Ames Police Department.

He said almost all power was out north of Sixth Street, but Iowa State was not affected.

The City of Ames Public Works Department restored most of the power by 2 p.m.