Clear Lake Mirror Reporter

With temperatures in the 40s it didn’t feel too much like Christmas time, but holiday spirits were high at the 21st Annual Christmas By The Lake celebration.  Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tim Coffey reported the event was very successful, with crowds growing throughout the day Saturday to an estimated 10,000.  The Lighted Parade was enjoyed by those standing 10 to 15 deep along Main and followed by fireworks shot from City Beach since there was no ice on the lake.

North 20th to 24th Street is first

The Clear Lake City Council has approved a professional services agreement with Veenstra & Kimm for design and special assessment services, setting the stage for East Main Avenue street reconstruction.  The project is one of the major capital improvement projects slated for fiscal year 2017.

Only a few dozen of the nearly 200 ornaments on The Giving Tree remain as the local program enters its final week.  The 26th Annual Giving Tree features ornaments representing the needs of local families this holiday season.  Some ornaments represent a child’s needs, while others request donations of food gift cards. This year gifts must be brought to the Mirror-Reporter office by Wednesday, Dec.

The Clear Lake School Board is expected to vote Wednesday, Dec. 16, about its willingness to continue in sharing agreements with the Mason City School District.

Monday night the boards conducted their annual informal meeting and discussed pros and cons of sharing a superintendent, IT and food service directors.

State funding for sharing incentives has diminished in the years since the sharing agreements were started and in recent years members of each board have questioned the value of sharing.