Page 4 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 10-21-2015

Opinion Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter

Page 4 • Oct. 21, 2015

REMEMBER WHEN GUEST EDITORIAL

25 Years Ago Farmer-owned for two cooperatives to merge, at least
cooperative 50 percent of the members of each or-
October 1990 ganization must vote and two-thirds
The Wheel of Fortune To the Editor, of those voting must approve.
didn’t turn out to be too lucra- Across rural Iowa, farmer-owned The unifications in Iowa most of-
tive, but a Clear Lake man says cooperatives are contracting in re- ten are combing two healthy, sound
it was worth giving a whirl. sponse to agriculture’s continually businesses. These mergers, of which
Jack Gilles, of Clear Lake, test- changing landscape. Today, Iowa is we have seem more than a dozen in
ed for the popular game show home to 57 agriculture cooperatives. Iowa in the last five years, occur to
more than a year ago and was That number was more than 200 help cooperatives navigate changing
invited to become a contestant. when I first began in the cooperative workforce, pressures of the agriculture
Gilles only won $300, but he system three decades ago. supply chain, and create financial flex-
noted that you need to be a bit Regardless of the quantity of co- ibility to meet the capital expenditure
of a gambler to play the game. operatives or their size, what matters needs of customer demands.
Many American military most is the unchanging foundation Just as we would love to have a
members are serving in a “Des- for the cooperative business model: stand alone school or grocery store in
ert Shield” against Saddam ownership and governance by the every town, even in the cooperative
Hussein’s aggression. Among members. As we celebrate October’s system, consolidation and change oc-
military members serving is Co-op Month, the sustained strength cur to keep pace.
Air Force Sr. Airman Paul J. of Iowa’s farmer-owned cooperatives The important factor to remem-
Carew, son of James and Joyce deserve significant mention and con- ber is that when you are called upon
Carew, from Clear Lake. Air- tinues to be driven by membership. to vote as a member-owner, your vote
man Carew is working as a This enduring business structure is necessary and a crucial part of being
firefighter for the 40th Tacti- was built to serve and be governed member-governed.
cal Airlift Squadron (deployed) by its member owners. Still, today,
from Pope Air Force Base, the voice of every member is heard Dave Holm,
North Carolina. Carew’s unit through the voting process. In Iowa, Executive Director, Iowa
is operating from a classified Institute of Cooperatives

All steamed up in 1965location supporting C-130
Hercules aircraft. Carew is a Harry Eliasen, 108 2nd Ave. N., and his son, Roger, posed with two of their biggest hobby projects in 1965. Harry was perched
1986 graduate of Clear Lake on his 1905 Farquaher steam-operated tractor, which when full of water weighed 10.5 tons. The big, black steamer generated LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
High School. 16 horsepower on the drawbar and 80 horsepower on the belt. Purchased in Davenport in 1960, the machine was worth about
This year’s musical at Clear $2,500. Roger, 12, was proud of his homemade machine powered by a 1.5 horsepower engine. Eliasen, a masonry contractor,
Lake High School is the spoof, stored the machines in a shed near his home. Cemetery looks
“Dracula Baby.” Cory Shook well-kept community volunteer organizations.
is playing Dracula. During his first term on the Council,
Shannon McClelland and Dustin performances and either tie or win Three small children were forced to attend the 50th wedding anniver- We want to recognize the City of Dana has demonstrated his commit-
Huey will be married Sept. 15, 1990, the North Star Conference match-up to flee from a fire which caused ex- sary of the former’s parents. Clear Lake’s crew that keeps our cem- ment to improving our community.
at Zion Lutheran Church. Friday night. Unfortunately, Alden’s tensive damage to the interior of their Forde Lee and Lyle Standard re- etery looking so neat and well-kept all He has consistently used a common-
Jim and Julie Hanson will be cel- defense proved too much and stopped home early Sunday morning. Clear turned from the American Legion summer long. The mowing and trim- sense approach to dealing with the
ebrating their 25th wedding anniver- the Vikings just short of the two-point Lake Fire Department spent nearly convention held in Boston. They also ming around all the monuments is an issues and opportunities faced by our
sary with an open house on Oct. 20 conversion that would have given two hours battling the fire. The chil- visited New York City and Washing- endless job, especially this summer! Council. We are fortunate that he is
at their home. Their children, Todd them a one-point victory, 25-26. dren, ages 8, 7, and 5, were in bed and ton. They are giving a glowing ac- We appreciate their work very much. running for Ward Three, because of
Hanson and Kim and Cole Christy The Ventura volleyball team had home alone. The youngsters had to count of their trip and anyone is wel- his openness to discuss issues with his
will host the event. two impressive wins last week. Coach run through the burning living room come to ask them about their big city Bob and Dodie Tanner constituents and community leaders,
Bobby Vee and The Rockin Dan Eikenberry named Megan Coe, to reach an outside door. adventures. Clear Lake always offering a thoughtful response.
Richochettes will perform at The Surf Julie Buchanan, Summer Quinn, Su- Miss Claudia Floy reigned as Most importantly, Dana has
Ballroom on Sat., Oct. 20. sie Woiwood and Jenni Fey as out- queen at Clear Lake’s Homecoming 100 Years Ago Support for served our community in other ca-
The Lions didn’t have any trouble standing match players. festivities. September 1915 Dana Brant pacities including as a member of the
scoring against Clarion on Friday Specials for the week at Ben Grocery specials for the week On account of paving operation, board of the North Iowa Sports Au-
night. They scored three times in the Franklin include: Sony Clock Radio, at Shop-N-Save include: Shurbest the street car service around the loop To the Editor, thority, a state-based program that
first quarter and five times by half- $11.97; Wild Bird Feeder, $2.97; wo- Flour, 5 lb. bag, 39¢; Tokay Grapes, and to the Oaks Hotel will be discon- It’s my pleasure to endorse Dana helps promote increased tourism to
time. Aaron Marken led the team in ven rugs, 97¢; Halloween make-up lb., 10¢; Folger’s Coffee, 2 lbs., $1.39; tinued. Brant for City Council, Ward Three. our area.
rushing with 176-yards. Also collect- kits, $5.97; Peanut Butter Kisses, $1; Campbell’s Tomato Soup, each, 10¢; A.E. Peterson, druggist, was I have known Dana and his fam- Please join me in voting for Dana
ing yards for the Lions were Paul Eb- and Halloween window clings, 2/$3. ground beef, 3 lb. pkg., 98¢; Decker’s granted a permit to sell intoxicating ily for 10 years as part of various Brant on Nov. 3.
eling, Adam Callanan, Mark Moeller Sliced Bacon, lb., 49¢; and apples, 4 liquor this week.
and Kurt Vala. Mike Andrews led the 50 Years Ago lb. bag, 39¢. With good weather the next few Libbey Patton,
defense with two tackles and seven as- October 1965 days the five miles of the Mason City- Clear Lake
sists. Larry Ulrich, of Aberdeen, S.D., 85 Years Ago Clear lake concrete highway will be
In a nail biting finish, the Ventura has purchased Young’s Variety Store October 1930 connected. With the gravel road near Amanda Ragan
Vikings threatened to come from be- from Robert Young. Ulrich assumed Harry Anderson, son of Mr. and Clear Lake in good condition there
hind with some dramatic offensive operation of the Main Street firm Oct. Mrs. Ernest Anderson, received a frac- will be heavy traffic over this road the State Senator
1. tured leg Saturday when the truck he next year.
was driving for the Metz Construc- Fred Kimball has a new variety of 515-281-3371 or 641-424-0874
tion Company struck loose gravel and strawberries which are very sweet. He amanda.ragan@legis.state.ia.us

turned over. has secured four or five quarts each
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Anderson at- day all fall.
tended the Minnesota-Stanford foot- J.D. Minium is paying 10¢ for October is National Bullying Pre- tad’s recently established office for
ball in Minneapolis on Saturday. hens; 10¢ for springs; 6¢ for old roost- vention Month. Anything we can do bullying prevention at the Univer-
Dr. and Mrs. A.A. Joslyn left ers; and 7¢ for ducks. to ensure the safety of all kids is wel- sity of Northern Iowa’s Center for
Wednesday afternoon for Platte, S.D., come. Violence Prevention. The office will
This includes Governor Brans- develop training on anti-bullying
policies and investigating complaints;
Small world promote YourLifeIowa hotline, which
offers resources on bullying and sui-
Diane Thompson, Oliver Thompson and Gary Harris visited Hood River, Ore. cide; come up with guidelines to deal
Also among the travelers were Oliver’s parents, Brad and Mary Thompson, for- with cyberbullying; and encourage
merly of Clear Lake. The Clear Lake residents asked a couple walking if they student leadership to prevent bullying
could take a group photo of them. The man noticed the newspaper and said he and violence in schools.
lived in Clear Lake, Iowa in the 50s. Small world! -Submitted photo A poll earlier this year showed that
73 percent of Iowans strongly support
anti-bullying measures. In 2007, the
Iowa Legislature first required school
districts to adopt safe school policies
to prevent harassment and bullying,
but there’s still too much of it going
on.
The 2014 Iowa Youth Survey
found that 39 percent of students re-
ported being bullied at school in the
previous 30 days by other students
calling them names, making fun of
them or teasing in a hurtful way.
Ongoing harassment and bully-
ing can devastate children, endanger
their mental and physical health, and

See RAGAN on page 5

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