Remember When 4-27-2016

25 Years Ago

April 1991

Cellular telephones have been donated to the Clear Lake and Ventura police departments by the Clear Lake and Ventura telephone companies.  The departments will have use of the telephones free of charge for one year.  Robert Halford, manager of the Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company and the Ventura Telephone Company, said that cellular telephones can provide an important communications tool for law enforcement.

Bonnie Hall was welcomed as a new member of the Rotary Club.  Hall is the first woman member in the club’s history.  Hall is a realtor in Clear Lake.

Some rural segments of the Avenue of the Saints that will link St. Louis and St. Paul may be built as only two lanes of traffic near Mason City and Charles City with the possibility of later expansion.

The Clear Lake Arts Council has announced it will continue to stage a summer theater production.  “Bus Stop,” a romantic comedy movie made popular by its star, Marilyn Monroe, will be presented this summer.  Gary Ewing, director of Mason City’s Stebens Children’s Theater, will direct the play.

Newland Foods, Inc. is a distributor of seasoned soybean oil spreads called Chef Saute Gourmet Cooking Seasonings, located in Clear Lake.  The company employees four people and is sold in eight states.

Xi Mu’s Annual Mother’s Day Brunch will feature a fashion show.  Styles from Mohr For Her in Clear Lake and children’s clothing from Bundle of Joy will be featured in the style show.  The show will be held at the Mason City Country Club.

The Clear Lake boys tennis team fell to Charles City, 7-2.  Winning for Clear Lake was Stacy Dunn, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 and Ryan Taylor, 5-7, 7-5 and 6-4.

The Clear Lake girls tennis team had two successful outings, beating Charles City and Iowa Falls.  Winning against Charles City was Heather Datema, 8-6; Sheila Barlow, 8-4; Julie Jacobson, 8-5; and Sara Leonard, 8-2.

Kendra Berge was included in this week’s Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Weekly Track and Field Leader.  Berge, a member of the Clear Lake girls track team, finished the 200 meter dash in 27:04.

On sale at Ben Franklin are: door mirrors, $7.77; flying kites, $1.99; beach towels, $4.99; Timex watches 25% off; Pop Rocks, 45¢; Aqua Net Hair Spray, $1; and silk floral bushes, 99¢.

50 Years Ago

April 1966

A safe was taken from the Honda Sport Shop, 608 S. 8th St.  The safe contained valuable papers, including titles to motorcycles, about $100 in cash and about $550 in checks.  No merchandise was stolen.

The Clear Lake City Council adopted an ordinance calling for a year-around confinement of dogs.  The council had a lengthy discussion with a delegation of persons opposing the confinement.  The delegation was successful in the selection of a section dealing with the killing of dogs.

Four new teachers have been added to the faculty and will begin their duties next school term. Those joining the staff are Craig Rule, Gary Anderson, Kenwood Prunty and Barbara Parker.

Mr. and Mrs. John Klaudt are the proud parents of a son, Jeffrey Edward, born April 1.

75 Years Ago

April 1941

A good sized dog was rescued from a boat which lost its anchorage when the ice went out of the lake.  Don Cartcart and Joe Patton saw the dog from shore and rowed out to rescue it.

Cab Calloway and his celebrated band will play at the Surf.  He will present his famous “Minnie the Moocher” number of the hi-de-ho type of music.

George and Charles Kittleson, South Fourth Street, who were overcome by carbon monoxide gas fumes are in Park Hospital and are responding to treatment.  They were found in the house overcome by fumes of a kerosene stove and rushed by ambulance to Mason City.  They did not regain consciousness for 24 hours.

Ed Nelson is taking over the management of the Ventura Telephone Exchange.  He has purchased a 100 drop board and is building on an entire new office.

100 Years Ago

April 1916

The explosion of a vulcanizing outfit in the dental office of Dr. W.R. Clack, 5th floor of the Commercial Bank building, Mason City, resulted in considerable damage to the interior of the doctor’s lab.  It entirely demolished the vulcanizer, for it was blown up through the ceiling and into the rafters.  One of the strange things about the affair is that a $50 bridge in the vessel at the time was found on the floor of the room, not somewhere in the next county or hanging from the rafters.

Charles Ritz has opened a shooting gallery and stand on Midway.  He is planning on starting a gallery and stand over at Bayside in the near future.

Mayor R.S. Young has stated that all old wooden and iron boats, ice boats, scaffolding, rubble and junk of all kinds must positively be removed from the lake shore at once.  The mayor also said that autos are being driven at dangerous speeds in the town and he has ordered police to arrest everyone going over the limit of 10 mph.