by Michelle Watson
25 Years Ago
December 1997
The Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company took first place honors in the Christmas By The Lake parade held Saturday. The winning entry earned $150 in Chamber Bucks. Second place and $100 in Chamber Bucks went to Elly’s; third place and $75 in Chamber Bucks was awarded to Cole Sewell. Bob Humberg and Dome Bait and Tackle shared top honors in the special Fish House Category. Each earned $75 in Chamber Bucks.
The Clear Lake Police Department is asking for the public’s help in a burglary investigation. Police were notified of a burglary at Clear Lake High School Friday. School officials discovered a broken window and a computer and two printers stolen.
Ventura cut the ribbon on the new Ventura Elementary School media center on Sunday at a special open house. Approximately 200 visitors viewed the new facility.
Oluf T. Hansen, 403 Main Ave., Clear Lake, is celebrating their 98th Christmas at the same location. The store carries name brands like Alfred Dunner, Koret, Osh Kosh, Healthtex, Knitwares and Baby Togs. They also carry handbags, gloves, belts, slippers, wooden toys, bibs, bonnets, booties and blankets.
Farm Bureau Insurance has opened an office at 18 N. 8th St., Clear Lake, in TK Plaza. Jeff Stealy will provide service.
The fourth rated Clear Lake wrestling team traveled to take on ninth ranked Eagle Grove last week in their season opener. The Lions came away with a 38-19 victory. Winning for the Lions was Andy Thompson, Brandon Viet, Neal DenHartog, Mike Lester, Ryan Molencamp, Dustin DenHartog, Jeff Hall and Cory Nichols.
It was quite a game according to Clear Lake girls basketball coach Lynne Campbell. Trailing after three periods, the Lions outscored Webster City 21-11 in the fourth quarter to claim a 63-55 victory. Becky Avery led the team with 18 points. Rachel Handeland added 13 and Anna Teigland schlepped in 11, while Rachel Wistey was also in double figures with 10.
The Clear Lake boys had a convincing, 81-62, victory over Clarion-Goldfield in its season opener. Erik Cochran led the team with 30 points and 17 rebounds. He also had three blocked shots. Mike Moeller had 13 points.
Ventura’s Jazz Band I has again qualified for the Iowa Jazz Band championship to be held this spring in Des Moines. Four members of the band also were honored as Outstanding Soloists: Brandon Wind on baritone saxophone, Will Pueggel on trombone, Kevin Wind on piano and Mark Pueggel on drums.
Clear Lake volunteers will be going to Patzitc, Guatemala to serve. Team members include Ron Frank, Jeff Nicholas, Twila Okerlund, Mike Watson, Sue Golly, Carol Carlson, Louise Norris and Pastor Fred Lewis.
Cheering on the Ventura varsity basketball teams this season are Mia Masteller, April Brakke, Stephanie Froiland, Angie Gray, Allison Banger and Mindy Drew.
Coast to Coast Hardware, 415 Main Ave., Clear Lake, has great Christmas ideas for the whole family: Radio Flyer Steel Wagon, $29.99; Bell South Slimline Phone, $14.99; Sharp.6 cu. ft. Microwave, $99.99; RCA Portable CD Player with AM/FM Stereo Cassette, $69.99; Handheld Video Games, $18.99; and Victor Emergency Road Kit, $15.99.
50 Years Ago
December 1972
Mrs. Kenneth Nelson and two children may owe their lives to the bravery and quick thinking of a baby sitter. Lisa Holden, 14, smelled smoke in the Nelson home, 14th Ave. S., just before midnight Friday. She reportedly grabbed the children, an 18-month old and four year-old, and carried them outside. She also awakened the mother and carried out the family cat. She was asked to spend the night at the Nelson home when the mother came home from work with a headache.
Karen Kraue, 16, 200 Fairway Drive, will be participating in the Miss Iowa Teenager Pageant.
With visions of being in contention for the conference title, the Clear Lake cagers started their season with a 68-45 romping over the Belmond Broncos. Chris Larson was the top scorer with 17 points. Rich Chapman dunked in 16 points and Mark Floy had 13 points.
Mike Schwichtenberg, Clear Lake, is a member of the NIACC Wrestling team.
Some good neighbors combined 135 acres of corn Monday for Virgil Ashland, rural Clear Lake. Ashland is hospitalized with a broken hip sustained in a farm accident recently. Several of the men furnished combines and trucks. With all the combines in one field, 46 rows (13 acres) of corn were combined in one round and that’s a lotta corn!
75 Years Ago
December 1947
A capacity house watched the Lions Club members, dressed in costume, play the Ventura girls at Ventura Monday evening. The girls won easily by a score of 26-19.
A Nora Springs man writes: “You don’t know how lucky you are living in Nora Springs until you go to Clear Lake and take a sip of their water. You smell it in every beverage you put it in, and you’ll change your mind about drinking it.”
Ventura Viking staff consists of Carrol Boehnke, Margaret Boehnke, Vernon Perry, Bonnie Hanson, Beverly Miller, Barbara Luscomb, Lucille Grattidge, Virginia Benner and Eunice Ax.
Tom’s Taxi, located at Lake Lunch Hamburger Hut, offers free rides to service every Sunday morning for those who have no way to get to church.
The Lions Club has committed itself to an expenditure of $800 on the new toilets at Lions Athletic Field. The money was part of the Jamboree fundraising event. Money from last year’s Jamboree was used to buy new uniforms for the band and director and Clear Lake’s new $700 resuscitator.
90 Years Ago
December 1932
The Park Theatre was reopened Tuesday night with a packed house of movie fans present. The production of “Red Dust” featuring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable was the opening number and went over with enthusiasm.
The house on the Royal Miller farm is near completion following a fire that destroyed the original house. Among the many things that were lost in the basement, were 900 cans of fruit and vegetables and about 700-800 gales of jelly, jams and preserves.
The Harry Spilman family were released from quarantine Sunday after being isolated the past four weeks on account of scarlet fever.
The Oweso Club, always alert to do a good turn, voted to send five dollars to a needy family they have had under their care for some time.
In Lincoln Township, Mr. Spilman sold his farm for $36 an acre.
