by Michelle Watson
25 Years Ago
March 1998
It’s now official, Clear Lake third, fourth and fifth graders will be attending Clear Creek Elementary School late next year. The Clear Lake School Board selected a name for the new school Monday night. The new name actually comes from the creek, best known as the outlet stream, which runs nearby the South 14th St. site. Its formal name is Clear Creek.
Fareway Stores, Inc. has proposed building a new grocery store and developing elderly housing on the Central School site offered for sale by the Clear Lake School District. Fareway was the only bidder Monday night on the property which the district hopes to vacate by the end of the year. The grocery store chain submitted a bit of $200,000 to purchase the entire Central School site.
As many as 20 bald eagles have been spotted on Clear Lake in recent days, as the spring migration gets into full swing. Officials say eagles will usually congregate in areas where ice is breaking up. At least 59 bald eagle nests were documented in Iowa in 1997, and four new ones have already been found this year.
The ice on Clear Lake was declared “out” on Sunday, March 29, by official at the city’s Water treatment Plant. The Lake Level was measured at 4.32” above the weir.
The City of Clear Lake seems to be bucking the trend of steady or slightly declining population within Cerro Gordo County. The incorporated area of Clear Lake is showing strong growth, with an estimated population of 8,298, an increase of 1.4 percent.
Carolyn Nicholas, of Clear Lake, recently met with Sen. Chuck Grassley in Washington, D.C. during the winter program of A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. She was selected from a competitive group of outstanding student leaders from across the country to make the trip.
On Sunday, March 22, Angie Rose, of Clear Lake, was crowned Iowa’s Homecoming Queen and will now travel to Pasadena, Calif, in July to represent Iowa at the national level. The program is open to all high school homecoming queens across the state.
Clubs featuring news in the “Club News” section include: Lincoln Peppy Pals 4-H Club, Sons of Norway, Fibromyalgia Support Group, North Iowa Quilt Guild and North Iowa Genealogy Society.
Four letter winners will return for the Clear Lake girls tennis team, Steph Eliasen, Kristy Austin, Laura Ostrander and Carolyn Nicholas.
Shad Muth, Brad Floy, Joe Fandel and Jeff Scudder return from a varsity team which finished sixth at the Boys State Golf tournament last year.
After completing an unprecedented high school season on the mats, Clear Lake senior Andy Thompson took yet another step in his stellar wrestling career at the national level. Thompson went 2-2 over the course of the competition, and while he did not officially place, Thompson’s record put him in the top 16 national contenders at the 125-pound weight class.
Clear Lake resident Wes Wistrom will be inducted into the Minnesota High School Football Association Hall of Fame.
Alan and Lisa Heady, founder of Health Quest in Clear Lake, have announced the sale of the business to Bob Wagner and Allan Ashland, both of Clear Lake, along with their wives, Joyce and Nancy. The new owners plan no immediate changes at the business.
50 Years Ago
March 1973
Construction is expected to start within the net three weeks on the expansion of Clear Lake’s Water Treatment Plant.
Julie Beard made the first big splash of the season in Clear Lake Monday afternoon. She wins the title of “First Girl in the Lake.” However, after the plunge she may have been regretting her decision. Brrr!
Elgin Morris, 33, who has been vice present of the Iowa County Savings Bank at Marengo, has been appointed present of the Ventura State Bank.
Clear Lake had four players named to the North Central Conference teams. Rich Chapman, Chris Larsen and Tom Hendricks were named to the First Team and Steve Gould was named to the Second Team.
Playing at the Lake Theatre is “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
65 Years Ago
April 1958
Dick Oulman turned in a one-in-a-million three game series while bowling at Melodee Lanes in the Classic League. He had a 642 for the series with each of his games scores the same, 214.
Dennis Molencamp leaped 19’5.5” to win third in the broad jump event at the State Track Meet.
Larry Bacon, Ventura High School senior, won second places in both the high and low hurdles at the State Track Meet. Vernon Griemann, senior, pole valued 10’ to win a tie for fourth place in the State meet.
Mrs. C.E. Lay is retiring effective April 30 as rural letter carrier after serving Ventura patrons for 38 years.
Ron Mosher was installed as president of the Jaycees at the annual banquet Saturday night at the All Veterans Social Center.
90 Years Ago
March 1933
E.R. Boyle, president of the Clear Lake Commercial Club, has received letters of inquiry from California, Canada and Washington D.C. asking about our town’s corn money project. Also on the agenda for the club are plans for a Greater Clear Lake Committee to handle promotions of all kinds.
A band of gypsies called on a number of business places in Ventura last week.
Ed Secory and Ralph Kimball have leased what has been known as the Pitsor One-Stop service station at North Fourth and State Streets.
At the annual meeting of the Clear Lake school board, Sam Kennedy was elected president of the board.
Laurence M. Jones, Clear Lake, has been awarded the Emmons scholarship in Harvard Law School.
