Page 1 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 2-10-2016

Valentine’s Day Fun pg. 9
Weather
Mostly cloudy and cooler for the week ahead.
Highs will be in the high teens.
USPS 117-120 VOL. 146 Issue 6
Clear Lake
Mirror-Reporter
CALENDAR
Fri. - Sat.
The Jack
The seventh annual “The
Jack” Helgren Memorial Iowa
Lemans Championship will be
held Friday and Saturday, Feb.
12-13. The event is sponsored
by the North Iowa Snowseek-
ers. Friday night from 6-9
p.m. pre-register at the V.F.W.
in downtown Clear Lake and
cruise around the lake. Satur-
day, Radar Runs start at 9 a.m.
At 10 a.m. Lemans style racing
begins. The event also includes
a Vintage Show and Kitty Kat
races, all held at Clear Lake State
Park on South Shore Drive. An
awards ceremony will be held
at 7 p.m. Saturday night at the
Surf Ballroom with a live band.
Saturday
Arty Party
Join Linda Dlouhy for an
afternoon of fun, friends, and
artistic inspiration at a Clear
Lake Arts Center Arty Party
Saturday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m.
Dlouhy will teach simple tech-
nics and guide participants in
creating a “Cup of Friendship”
12 x 12-inch canvas painting.
All materials, including paint
smocks, are included in the $35
price ($32 for Clear Lake Arts
Center members). To register,
call or email the Clear Lake Arts
Center at 357-1998 or clac@cl-
tel.net.
continued
More CALENDAR
on page 2
Inside
Opinion..................4-5
Weather.................... 5
Sports................ 11-15
Legals..................... 15
Classifieds.........16-17
Road Reports
Iowa 1-800-288-1047
Illinois 1-800-865-5394
Kansas 1-800-585-7623
Minnesota1-800-542-0220
Missouri 1-800-222-6400
Nebraska 1-800-906-9069
S. Dakato 1-866-697-3511
Wisconsin 1-800-762-3947
Forecasts
Des Moines 1-515-270-2614
Sioux Falls 1-605-330-4444
Waterloo 1-319-234-6600
Call 511 for Iowa, Minnesota
and South Dakota
non-emergency weather
and road conditions.
Mail: 12 N. 4th St.,
Clear Lake, IA 50428
Telephone: 641-357-2131
Fax: 641-357-2133
Email: office@clreporter.com
Website: www.clreporter.com
@CLReporter
(641) 357-2612
www.LakeChev.com
3005 Willow Creek Ct.
Clear Lake
More weather on page 5.
Feb. 10, 2016
Monday Blizzard forces I-35 closure
For the second time in as many weeks, Clear
Lake found itself in the midst of a blizzard.
This time the snowfall was limited— less than
an inch Sunday night, but winds whipped up pre-
vious snowfall and made travel conditions hazard-
ous Monday, Feb. 8.
In addition to the usual cancellation of
schools and closing of some businesses, Monday’s
storm forced the closure of Interstate 35, as well as
the Avenue of the Saints west of Highway 65.
Southbound lanes of I-35 were closed be-
tween Clear Lake and Ames shortly after noon
Monday.
Later the northbound lanes from Clear Lake
were also closed.
The Iowa State Patrol said poor visibility con-
tributed to a series of crashes Monday that led
them to close a portion of Interstate 35, south of
Clear Lake.
RrReooulcnlkio&n
Crickets give final
performance during
Winter Dance Party
Another legendary chapter in rock and roll
history was composed Saturday night at the Surf
Ballroom in Clear Lake. The largest- ever reunion
of Crickets band members was held as part of the
annual Winter Dance Party. The Crickets then an-
nounced to the sellout crowd that Saturday night’s
performance was their last -- the end of an era dat-
ing to 1957.
The Winter Dance Party is held every year at
the Surf to celebrate the music and era of Buddy
Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.R. “The Big Bopper”
Richardson, who died in a plane crash shortly af-
ter performing at the Surf.
Crickets (L-R) Glenn Hardin, Keith Allison, Tonio K, Albert Lee and drummer JI Allison reunited at the
Surf Ballroom Saturday night.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.
Registration for the Feb. 1 Caucus at Clear Lake High School stretched outside the gymnasium lobby and extended all the way north to the Clear Lake Cemetery
fence.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.
15 Vehicles
UNDER
$5,000
Serving Clear Lake and Ventura since 1869 • Hometown newspaper of Dale & Kathy Snyder $1.50
A Cerro Gordo County Deputy directs traffic forced to exit Interstate 35 Monday afternoon. The Interstate According to the Patrol, several minor acci-
was closed for the duration of a blizzard Monday. I-35 re-opened at approximately 7:45 a.m. Tuesday. - dents were reported. In addition, a car rear ended
Reporter photo by Chris Barragy. a semi in the southbound lanes of I-35 between
mile markers 151 and 159. At least one of the
drivers had to be extricated from a vehicle, leading
to the road closure.
A tow ban was also in effect for the area.
Semis forced off of I-35 lined the highway
after truck stops were filled. Parking lots at Wal-
Mart, Kohl’s and Best Buy in western Mason City
were also filled, leaving the overflow to fill High-
way 122 shoulders.
Visibility was reported at zero in several loca-
tions across the area during the two-day blizzard
warning.
The Interstate remained closed until approxi-
mately 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.
A dance contest was part of Friday’s Winter Dance Party fun.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.
The Crickets were formed in Lubbock, Texas, love the Surf Ballroom. The people of Iowa are too
by Buddy Holly and J.I. Allison. Stand-up bass- cool.”
ist Joe B Mauldin was recruited shortly after and The Surf was packed all three nights of the
Saturday night’s reunion was a tribute to him, Winter Dance Party, as well as Wednesday night
commemorating his passing Feb. 7, 2015. Among when a Sock Hop is held to encourage families
performers was current Cricket Allison along with to come and enjoy the Surf ’s Winter Dance Party
Albert Lee, Glenn D. Hardin, Tommy Allsup, atmosphere.
Tonio K., Gordon Payne, Keith Allison and The Local school children, who had their own
Killer Vees. “Rockin’ Kids Show” Friday at the Surf, gave opti-
The Crickets have appeared at the Surf nu- mism to longtime dance party supporters that the
merous times, especially during The Winter music will live on.
Dance Party. Jeff Nicholas, president of the Surf “I get such a kick out of seeing the young kids
Ballroom board of directors, called Saturday night come here and really celebrate the music,” said
“one of the most magical nights at the Surf.” Marcia Graven, from Mankato, Minn. “It’s en-
“This was rock and roll history,” he said. “To couraging to see them carrying on the torch of the
have the Crickets play their final show at the Surf music and the history that lives here.”
Ballroom leaves us with mixed emotions. We Alan Clark said he was pleased and honored
were honored and happy to have been chosen as to return to the Surf for his 18th year. Friday after-
their last show, but it was sad to see the ending of noon he was on stage in the Surf Lounge reveling
an era.” in the crowded dance floor. Clark has worked un-
Allison called it a “fantastic night.” der a variety of group names, including Alan Clark
“Rock and roll is here to stay,” he said. “We
See DANCE PARTY on page 10
Clear Lakers help
state to huge
caucus turnout
Clear Lakers joined scores of Iowans who made it a
point to get to their Caucus Monday, Feb.1. And like
the rest of the state, local caucus results helped Texas
Senator Ted Cruz to a four-point victory over Repub-
lican rival Donald Trump. Likewise, vote totals were
close between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie
Sanders.
Those attending Republican caucuses within the
city limits of Clear Lake filled the Clear Lake High
School gymnasium, cafeteria, fitness room, and E.B.
See CAUCUS on page 2
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