by Michelle Watson
25 Years Ago
July 1998
The Clear Lake girls softball team clinched a State Tournament berth for the second straight year by defeating New Hampton. The Lions will meet Benton VanHorn in a 7:30 p.m. game Tuesday in Fort Dodge. The public is invited to a special send-off for the team at 7 p.m. Sunday in City Park.
Ventura Schools has announced the addition of nine new staff members for the 1998-99 school year. James Wichman will serve as principal for grades kindergarten through sixth grade. New staff includes: Amy Wichman, Jerry Woods, Mindi Harrison, Abby Callanan, Tony Heitland, Nancy O’Donnell, Kathy Schmaltz and Jeff Wilson.
As the 1998-99 school year approaches, many community members and students anticipate the move to a new site and building for learning, Clear Creek Elementary. With this move, another organization, Outdoor Classroom Friends, are equally excited to begin plans to redevelop the Lake Area Outdoor Classroom, which is the property south of the new school.
A Clear Lake 16-year-old has been charged with pointing a high powered BB gun at persons in City Park as he drove by at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, Mason City police officers detained the teen at gunpoint after an off-duty police officer reported seeing the vehicle believed to be the vehicle in Clear Lake.
The Des Moines Register’s State Fair Singers and Jazz Band, a 38-member touring company of talented high school musicians will perform Sunday, Aug. 9, at 4 p.m., at the Clear Lake City Park bandshell.
An orientation will be held Monday, Aug. 10, at Central School for those students who will be in the third and fourth grades at Clear Lake this fall.
Area women are invited to dessert by the Clear Lake Area Christian Women’s Club on Aug. 4, at the United Methodist Church. Miss Iowa Sheri Riley, of Clear Lake, will present the special feature for the evening and will also provide music.
The Clear Lake Arts Council awarded several artists who participated in the Art Sail on Saturday. The Best of Show Award went to Wesley Crowell Honeycutt, of Fairfield, Iowa, for his jewelry piece entitled Dolphin Race #2. The artists received a $250 prize. Ann Goranson, of Clear Lake, was named as the winner of a stained glass hanging donated by local artist John Larsen.
Clear Lake High School cheerleaders Andrea Snyder and Rachelle Neuberger were awarded NCA All-American honors at the National Cheerleading Association Camp held at Iowa State University. As a team, the Clear Lake cheerleaders were named a “Top Team” finalist.
Matthew D. Wegner has graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training corps (ROTC) advanced Camp at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. He is a 1995 graduate of Clear Lake High School. The cadet currently is a student at Iowa State University.
Playing at the Lake Theater is Lethal Weapon 4.
50 Years Ago
July 1973
Gov. Robert D. Ray and Lt. Gov. Arthur Neu head the list of dignitaries who will attend the 35th annual Governor’s Days July 27-28 and 29 in Clear Lake.
About 50 people interested in the possibility of a school-community swimming pool attended a meeting Monday night at the home of Louis Schuler.
The recent hiring of two patrolmen brings the Clear Lake Police Department force to 10 full time men and one part time man, according to Police Chief Bob Wagner. The new officers are Steven Phipps, 24, and Steven Voss, 21.
Rev. Ray E. Faust was installed as minister of the Evangelical Free Church during Sunday services.
About 300 boys who are participating in Little League and summer recreation baseball program in Clear Lake will be eligible to attend a baseball game in Bloomington, Minn. between the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals. The trip is sponsored by Clear Lake Bank and Trust Co. About 50-60 men have volunteered their services to drive the boys in a caravan of cars, each bearing signs advertising Clear Lake.
70 Years Ago
July 1953
William H. Nicholas announced that he will be a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Iowa in the 1954 primary.
Tommy Petersen, son of Mr. and Mrs. P.O. Peterson, has written that the Scouts arrived at the National Jamboree grounds. They toured through San Francisco and he writes they had a very good time.
Scotty Wilson, seven year old grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Yeager, received a severe cut across the top of his head Sunday afternoon while swimming in the lake.
The Clear Lake Boat Club will hold a potluck picnic on the picnic grounds at Bayside Park.
ROTC Cadet Daniel A. Rice is now a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.
99 Years Ago
July 1924
The Clear Lake Creamery last month paid out in cold cash to the Clear Lake patrons over $20,000.
Earl Miller has purchased a new Case silo filler to be used with his Fordson tractor.
The Patriarch Militant of the I.O.O.F. of Iowa is a very successful organization. It owns across the lake about $50,000 worth of property, some of the finest anywhere on the lake shore. The entire enterprise is now entirely free of debt, their last mortgage being paid recently.
Rich Bros. sold the Hope farm about six miles south of Clear Lake to a gentleman from the southern part of the state for $150 per acre.
Grain threshing will be the order next week.
