Clear Lake Mirror Reporter

An electrical failure is suspected to be the cause of a fire which caused more than $25,000 damage to a Clear Lake home Saturday, Dec. 30.

The Clear Lake Fire Department was dispatched to 908 7th Ave. N. for a reported structure fire at approximately 4:10 a.m.

Clear Lake police were first on scene and confirmed there was heavy smoke showing from the roofline of the home occupied by Doug Wilson and Heather Alvarez.

As the year comes to a close, we take a look back at the stories which dominated the headlines in 2017.

In 2016 national politics, including a stop at the Surf Ballroom by future President Donald Trump, dominated headlines.  In 2017, it was local decisions which made the news.  As we begin 2018, the Mirror-Reporter takes a look back at the stories which provided major headlines in Clear Lake in 2017.

#1 RAGBRAI rolls in

Ralph Fredrick Schroeder, 98, Clear Lake, died Dec. 11, 2017, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Galilean Lutheran Church, 4454 255th St, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Scot McCluskey officiating. The service will be followed by a time of fellowship.   

Timothy Edward Dietrich, 40, of Mason City, Iowa, died Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, in Monroe, Wash.

A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, at Praise Community Church, Mason City, with Pastor Mark Hicks officiating.  Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City at a later date.