Remember When 12-14-2016

(Above) Santa had a lap full in 1966 - Santa Claus arrived in Clear Lake at about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1966 on a fire truck.  He maintained his headquarters in a heated mobile home at 4th and Main Ave. from 1-6 p.m. every day except Saturday when his hours were 1-8 p.m.  Tom Richey had been Santa’s helper in Clear Lake since 1957 and he was over 90 years old.

25 Years Ago • December 1991

Clear Lakers are turning up their noses - or to be more accurate, plugging their noses, at the city’s water supply.  Word needs to be received that maintenance and inspection of one of the city’s wells is complete and pumping can begin again.  Surface water from the lake has been being used to maintain an adequate supply of water for the community. City Hall received more than 200 calls and more complaints were flooding in.

Clear Lake V.F.W. Post No. 4868 Commander Art Juhl and Nels Larsen led a group of about 60 persons in observing the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  A brief ceremony and flag raising marked the 50th anniversary of the bombing.

The Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter Giving Tree contains 70 ornaments this year.

Displaced workers from Clear Lake’s soon-to-be-closed Unisys plant will receive job retraining thanks to a federal grant from The Job Training Partnership Act.

Ventura voters will be asked to decide if the city should use a 1 percent local option sales tax to provide property tax relief, city street improvements an aid to the local fire and police departments.

Matt and Nancy Brinkman, of Jacksonville, Fla., announce the birth of their son, Adam Reed, born Dec. 4, 1991.  He is the couple’s first child.  Grandparents are Fred and Betty Wegner, Clear Lake, Pat Brinkman, Ventura, and Ron Brinkman, Clear Lake.

Gary Blodgett, Republican candidate for state representative for Iowa House District #19, has announced the following Clear Lake people as members of his campaign advisory committee: Doug Rozendaal, Bob Halford, Chuck Swift, Harry and Kathy Alcorn, Dennis and Jodie Lewerke, Charlie and Kathy MacNider, Bill and Barb Nicholas, Art Juhl, Don and Geri Hess, Jim and Jane Oldenburg, Nelson Crabb, Art Tesar and Fred Wieck. Willard and Gladys Gisel and Bob Wolfram, all of Ventura, are also on the committee.

The Clear Lake wrestlers started the season with two dual meet wins and they captured the title of the North Central-Northwood-Kensett Early Bird Tournament.  Each of the Clear Lake wrestlers finished in the top six of their weight division to win the title.  The Lions topped Algona 54-15.  Picking up pins for the team were Ben Rechkemmer (103), Craig Billings (112), Kevin Salge (145), Bob Monson (152), Mike Andrews (160), Jason Salge (171) and Dan Hansen (189).

The Clear Lake boys basketball team hosted the Clear Lake Tipoff Tournament.  The Lions dropped their first game 80-76 to Charles City and were edged 63-57 by Waterloo Columbus in the consolation game.

Jenni Fey led the Ventura girls to a victory in their season opener against Twin River Valley.  Fey, a senior, had 26-points on the night.  Ventura won the NSC contest 57-43.

The Clear Lake girls basketball team opened the season with a 65-60 win at New Hampton.  Kathy Walls led the Lions with 29 points.  Laura Hagen hit nine of 11 shots while scoring 21 points.  Coach Kay Bacon was pleased with her team’s 75 percent free throw shooting.

Grocery specials for the week at Fareway include: Charmin Bath Tissue, 4 rolls, 69¢; Bounty Paper Towels, roll, 79¢; bananas, lb., 29¢; Bakers Chocolate Flavored Chips, 12 oz. bag, 69¢; Bakeshoppe Wheat Cottage Bread, 20 oz. loaf, 59¢; chicken breast, lb., 99¢; Hormel Slab Bacon, lb., 99¢ and Iowa Chops, lb., $1.89.

50 Years Ago • December 1966

The 67-unit Holiday Motor Lodge, built at a cost of $500,000, located directly east of the Holiday Lounge on Highway 18, is scheduled to be completed near Christmas.

Julie Zirbel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max Zirbel, R.R. 3, is the winner in the “Miss Merry Christmas” contest which has been conducted by voting in sponsoring stores for the past three weeks.  Miss Zirbel was crowned on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. near the mobile home provided for Santa Claus at 4th and Main Ave.  The retail committee presented her with a $25 gift certificate .  The three runners-up each received a $5 gift certificate.  They are Vicky Grattidge, Darlene Baker and Kathy Young.

One thousand sub-adult walleyes were dumped into Clear Lake.  The one and two year old fish measured one to three inches in length.

The big players on the 1966 Clear Lake boys basketball squad are Doug Martin, Craig Champman, Ken Grabinski, Jim Elting, Bruce Evenrud and Mark Westberg.  The team is coached by Gary Boeyink.

Mel Ashland, senior captain of the Luther College football team, has been chosen to the All-Iowa-Conference defensive squad.

75 Years Ago • December 1941

A raging fire swept through two business houses Thursday.  The Bass Pharmacy and Ward Furniture and Undertaking business were gutted causing a loss of $50,000 to $75,000,  The furniture store is owned by Mrs. George Knutson and the drug store site by Mrs. John Etzel.  Dr. Sidney Brownstone suffered a heavy loss of office equipment.  Edwin Estergard lost a living room suite in the blaze at Ward’s.

The United States declared war on Japan Monday.  Clear Lake boys in service include Luverne Hill, Dennis Huey, Dale Beal, Harold Wisely and Max Axelson.

The Commercial Club is selling evergreen roping at 3¢ a foot.

The Christmas Seal committee reported $282.37 was received for Christmas seals.  Clear Lake Red Cross reports a total of $675.96 this year.

Wayne Anderson, 18, farmhand near Ventura, fell through the ice where he remained for over an hour Thanksgiving morning while hunting.  Ed Nelson, Clear Lake, Ted Wolfram, Verne Petersen and Roy Huey administered first aid.  He was taken to the Coe farm for first aid.

85 Years Ago • December 1931

The Peterson bath house on the north shore is being transformed into a modern dance pavilion.  Operations have already begun and he additions and improvements will cost in the neighborhood of $35,000.

We are informed by Mrs. Ritz that the Ritz Hotel at Bayside has been leased to Carl Weedman, of Chicago, for a term of five years.

Arnold Moeller, a student at the University of Iowa, is spending the Christmas vacation with Clear Lake friends,  Arnold looks natural behind the counter at the Ashland grocery.