by Michelle Watson
25 Years Ago
May 1998
The Clear Lake School Board will likely have an answer to the counter-offer it presented to Fareway Inc. for the purchase of the Central School property by the end of the week. Following a public hearing, the School Board unanimously agreed to reject Fareway’s $200,000 bid for the property and proposed a counter-offer of $300,000, with all other conditions of Fareway’s original proposal remaining the same.
The Clear Lake Police Department is investigating a hit and run accident involving a bicycle. The reported vehicle came out of an alley in front of the bicycle. A description of the vehicle is an older model brown Camaro with blue doors and a loud muffler. The driver was a female in her 30’s with long blond hair.
“The Main Street Trolley” nostalgic narrated tours began Thursday evening in Clear Lake. The tours feature local historical background to promote Clear Lake and attractions such as The Surf Ballroom, Lady of the Lake, Iowa Trolley Park, Clear Lake Fire Museum and picturesque parks.
The 21 members of the Ventura Class of 1998 will receive their diplomas in commencement ceremonies at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the high school gymnasium. Teacher Mark Kuehl will address the class, along with graduating senior Margo Kressin.
Zahra Rahmani, a fifth grader at Central School in Clear Lake, has been chosen to participate in a free concert at the State Capitol in Des Moines on Memorial Day. The outdoor concert is the final event in the May 23-25 Heartland Children’s Choral Festival, a production of Des Moines Children’s Choruses, Inc.
The Clear Lake girls track team won their second straight NCC title and will be sending eight events to State. State qualifiers include: Laura Maring, Kristin Keefe, Sarah Tompkins, Anna Teigland, Angie Doebel, Liz Jaben, Kristy Echelberger, Kathy Bitker and Brandi Halsne.
The Clear Lake girls golf team placed second in the North Central Conference meet. Amber Wissler won the meet with a 45-45-90.
The Clear Lake boys tennis team beat Mason City, 6-3. Winning singles matchers were Isaac Sorenson, Trent Doerges, Shawn Person and Lee Green.
Clear Lake High School athletes will compete on the collegiate level. David Doebel will be wrestling for Buena Vista. Brenda Dasch will be playing volleyball at North Iowa Area Community College.
Ventura’s Jami Sonney used her best performances of the season to qualify for the Girls State Track Meet. She will compete in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.
The Ventura boys track team qualified seven events to compete at the State Track Meet. Competing for the Vikings will be Brad Spilman, Adam Froiland, Josh Smith, Jared Ringus and Eric Morf.
50 Years Ago
May 1973
Four Clear Lake organizations are joining together in a project to beautify Highway 18. Flower beds are to be planted soon along the exits to the highway within the city limits.
Over 1,000 bankers and wives are expected to attend the annual meeting of Group 3, Iowa Bankers Association to be held in the Surf Civic and Convention Center in Clear Lake. M.A. Arneson, Clear Lake Bank and Trust is in charge of local arrangements.
Ryan O’Neal, Jacqueline Bisset and Warren Oates star in, “The Thief Who Came To Dinner,” playing at the Lake Theater. Coming soon is “Steelyard Blues,” starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
The following athletes from the Ventura boys track team have earned a trip to the State Meet: Tom Christensen, Mark Mehmer, Jeff Bryant, Dan Dockstader and Gene Toppin.
75 Years Ago
April 1948
The opening of the new Fertile Roller Skating Rink was held Saturday evening. It has a hard maple floor 44×90 ft.
Clear Lake has a new industry. Upstairs in the Ward Furniture Store is a compete Venetian Blind Mfg. Co., operated by Art Burckhardt who went to Chicago a while back and learned the trade.
A & P Food Stores have real bargains: coffee, lb., 40¢; long horn cheese, lb. 55¢; large grade A eggs, 42¢; gum, 20 pkgs., 75¢;
A letter which was mailed in the Clear Lake post office on the first day of direct airmail service was received in Copenhagen, Denmark, 41 hours after it left Clear Lake.
99 Years Ago
April 1924
After many years of very efficient teaching in the Clear Lake schools, Miss Letty Ellen Keerl has decided to resign. It is with the keenest regret that we see her leave.
There are over 1,341 persons owning delinquent dox taxes of $1 each in Clear Lake and surrounding counties.
Dr. A.J. Cole demonstrated that even a Willys-Knight won’t run without gas.
Clifford and Paul Rice have gotten to be rather experienced horsemen. Anyone having obstreperous horses to break, call on the boys.
Seventeen million fish are now being hatched out at the hatchery every one of which will be turned into the waters of Clear Lake when the time is comes.
A few of the farmers planted corn last week,
Sondrol’s has Selby Arch Preserver oxfords in long camp styles for $4.85.
