Remember When 2-9-2016

(Above) Snow clean-up in 1966 - In 1966, Clear Lake’s street department kept busy during and after a spring blizzard clearing the streets.  Pictured is a snow-removal unit, operating much like a corn picker, as it clears a section of Main Ave.

25 Years Ago

February 1991

Darrel Hein, longtime manager of the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, has stepped down from that position.  Bruce and Sandy Christensen, who have moved to Clear Lake from Florida, have been named as new operators of the ballroom.  The Surf is owned by a group of local businessmen including Mark Arneson, James Connell, Robert Halford and Louis Schuler.

An event has been planned by a local business to benefit spouses of area servicemen participating in Operation Desert Storm.  Phil Douglas, of the Main Street Mining Company, 307 Main Ave., said an auction and dance have been organized to raise funds for families of the 1133rd Transportation Company and other servicemen.

Clear Lake Boy Scout Troop 30 presented Mark Ades with Boy Scouts biggest honor, the Eagle Scout Award.

Lonnie Dwayne Easter, formerly of Clear Lake, received a direct commission as a captain in the United States Air Force during ceremonies held in Iowa City.  Easter will be a May 1991 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

Wade and Kaye Wilson, of Clear Lake, welcomed a daughter, Samantha Jo, born February 12, 1991.

Clear Lake senior Shawn Zimmerman may have ended his season with a loss, but his season was certainly one to be proud of.  Zimmerman lost in the final seconds of the 130-pound class 2A wrestling championship, 10-8.

The Clear Lake boys basketball team had to share the North Central Conference crown with Humboldt.  The Lions had beaten Humboldt earlier in the season by 26-points.  But on their home court, Humboldt was the 15-point winners.  Both teams closed the season with conference records of 13-1.

The Ventura boys basketball team survived a close contest with Mason City Newman, 63-55, to advance to the district final.  Scott Hinrichs was Ventura’s top scorer with 16-points.  The team was 17/22 from the free-throw line.

After an exciting season filled with accomplishments, the Ventura girls were beaten by Postville, 82-73, ending their tournament action.  Megan Coe led the team with 35-points, Jenni Fey added 30.  Defensively, Julie Buchanan led with seven rebounds and two steals.

Grocery specials for the week at Easter’s Super Valu include:  7-Up products, 8-16 oz. bottles, $1.59; Soft and Gentle Bathroom Tissue, 4 roll, 79¢; Old Style Beer, 12-12 oz. cans, $3.89; Starkist Tuna, 6.12 oz., 2/99¢; orange roughy, lb., $3.89; chuck roast, lb., $1.68; and Jennie-O Turkeys, lb., $1.29.

50 Years Ago

March 1966

Clear Lake was the winner over Rockwell-Swaledale, 40-29, in a semi-final basketball showdown.  Jim Elting and Don Anderson each hit 10-points.

Mr. and Mrs. Al Allen and sons, John, 18, and Jay, 14, of Allen’s Hilltop Motel, miraculously escaped death when returning from visiting their daughter, Teri, at the University of Iowa.  The family encountered a herd of cows on the road outside Allison.  They killed three cows and totaled their new Chrysler Imperial.  They went into a deep ditch, but no one was hurt.

Playing at the Lake Theater is Sophia Loren in, “Judith.”  The movie also stars Peter Finch and Jack Hawkins.

Playing at the Surf Ballroom for Collegiate Night is Ronnie and the Daytonas.

60 Years Ago

March 1956

Wendell Johnson, owner of Patterson’s Jewelry Store, in Clear Lake, will serve as an instructor on colored stones at a conclave of the American Gem Society at the Sheridan Hotel in Chicago.

Mr. and Mrs. Dean Snyder and son plan to move to Drain, Ore. to be near Mrs. Snyder’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Hill.

Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Stillman returned last week from St. Petersburg and Fort Myers, Fla., where they had spend a month.  Also returning from St. Petersburg were Mr. and Mrs. George Heimendinger and their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Hank Heimendinger.  They had been there for 10 weeks.

100 Years Ago

February 1916

The Swaledale drug store had a fire Saturday night causing $1,000 in damages.

The bees in the church steeple have been quiet the past few months.  We are not up in bee lore, so we wonder if they will have a big fight soon to settle who will be queen of the steeple.

Every member of the Commercial Club is urged to be present when the question is whether or not Clear Lake will have free mail delivery in the city.

Mrs. Rev. Herbert Clegg has returned from Hot Springs, Ark. with her rheumatism nearly cured.

John Siessinger entertained the motormen and the conductors of the electric line to a 6:30 dinner at The Silsby.