Page 4 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 6/3/2015

Opinion Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter

Page 4 • June 3, 2015

REPORTER OPINION REMEMBER WHEN

It’s time to reach a conclusion 25 Years Ago Band Fest, 1990 The grand opening of the new 99 Years Ago
on the Veteran’s Memorial May 1990 Honda Sports, S. 8th St., Clear Lake, May 1916
Clear Lake firefighters battled (Above) Jody Schichtl, a Ventura will be held. Honda Sports are dealers Why is the 15th of May always
By now it seems apparent that the Veteran’s Memorial will not be placed fumes and exploding paint canisters High School senior, was crowned for Honda motorcycles and Porta golf rainy? That was the inquiry made by
at the seawall. The veterans are frustrated and tired of beating their heads early Monday morning, as a shed at Miss North Iowa Band Festival carts. lovers of fish. Few fish were caught, the
against the (sea)wall and there appears to be no positive signs coming from The Battery Exchange, Highway 18 W., Queen in 1990. Jody is the daugh- number would hardly furnish a good
the city (mayor or council) to the contrary that offer any hope of the memo- burned. The fire, originally reported to ter of Judy and Gary Schichtl. Judy 60 Years Ago dinner at a first class hostelry.
rial being placed there. There is positive news, however. As reported in last be gun shots, was called in at 2:59 a.m. was also a Band Festival queen in May 1955 Otis Wooldridge received an in-
week’s edition of the Mirror-Reporter, the city and veterans are still engaged The building and its contents were de- 1954, while representing Corwith Mr. and Mrs. Lee Bawden an- jury while endeavoring to extricate his
in discussion about the memorial and its placement. The last thing we want stroyed. High School. The Ventura band, in nounced they will open the Lake Shore auto from a mud puddle in the road.
is for the veterans to become so frustrated they simply give up and walk The Clear Lake City Council dis- its new uniforms, captured second Hotel dining room to the public Sun- He will be laid up for some time, but
away, or worse yet give in to just any location proposed just to put the whole cussed complaints of loose cats in the place overall in the small school class. day noon for regular dinners and lun- has Woodman Accident of Omaha.
controversy behind them. community. The Council tabled any (Right) Sara Butz, a Clear Lake High cheons, also parties. The street car tie-up Monday night
With the seawall location seeming to be a distant memory, the task at action concerning placing restrictions School senior, represented Clear Lake L.L. Bless, cashier of the Ventura discommoded others besides passen-
hand is to determine the next best location. on cat owners to leash their animals in the wet, but popular North Iowa State Bank, Ventura, announced that gers. Bob Watts had a carload of hogs
Obviously the next best location has to be one that, first and foremost, when outdoors. Band Festival parade. construction of a new one story 40 by ready for shipping when the power
is supported by a majority of our veterans (because after all, it is their me- The level of Clear Lake, as mea- 44-foot Roman brick bank building was cut off. It was necessary to unload
morial). Next, it needs to be visible and in a place that is deserving of its sured on Tuesday, May 29, was -41.52” 50 Years Ago will begin. them all and drive them back to the
purpose. Finally, it needs the support of the citizens of Clear Lake. And by below the spillway. May 1965 Cp. Ronald G. Heinrich, who yards.
that I mean a majority of Clear Lake residents. This whole project is not The Clear Lake City Council ap- Duane Brandt, Clear Lake High had been in Korea several months, re- Some of the strawberry fields are
going to move forward if the people who have the power to make the final proved a low bid by Giese Construc- School football, baseball coach and ceived his discharge from the army at considerable thin owing to the layer of
decision on where this memorial can be placed are swayed by the objections tion of Eagle Grove for the North athletic director, has been appointed Camp Carlson, Colo., last week and ice which covered them for so long a
of a vocal minority. Shore Drive Paving Project. The bid principal of the Junior High School. will spend most the summer with his time this winter.
Does such a place exist? was $425,338. Joseph P. Roth, 28, has been named parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Heinrich.
I think so. And with a little bit of planning, discussion and compromise Per Myklebost is a foreign ex- publisher and editor of the Clear Lake
it can be done. change student from Norway that is Mirror-Reporter.
I believe that place is where the Viet Nam memorial currently exists, living with the Chuck and Cindy John- A bolt of lightning which struck
at the beginning of Main Street, south of the boat ramp. I believe it is the son family. His host brother is sopho- a barn on the Virgil Duregger farm
“next best choice” because of the stipulations I mentioned above. more Scott Johnson. on the south shore Tuesday evening
First, I believe this location would be supported by a majority of our The 1133rd Transportation Com- narrowly missed a number of people
local veterans. It is located near the lake (not on the lake) and would not pany of Iowa Army National Guard who were in the farmyard at the time.
block anyone’s view or access to the lake. Plus, if you incorporate the plans will be dedicating the Mason City Me- Duregger witnessed the bolt strike the
that were used for the seawall location, almost one third of the project would morial Armory on June 9. The guess barn and said balls of fire followed wir-
be complete. One of the three piers for flagpoles is already in place and one speaker will be Governor Terry Brans- ing into the house. The bolt knocked
of the three areas requiring brick pavers is already complete. Both of these tad. the peak off the barn roof and blew out
issues would save thousands of dollars towards the completion of the memo- Chan and Rosemary Ward, of all the windows.
rial. Clear Lake, will celebrate their 40th The 128-member Clear Lake High
Second, the visibility at this location would be exceptional from three wedding anniversary on June 3. School class of 1965, the largest in the
sides: coming down Main Street towards the lake, going south on Lakeview Troy Hollatz brought home first school’s history, received their diplo-
Drive and the view from almost anywhere on the lake. place in the 3,200 meter run at the mas.
Finally, I believe this location would have the support of the majority of boys State Track Meet at Drake Sta-
Clear Lake citizens. This location puts the memorial in an area near the lake, dium. With a time of 9:28.56 Hol-
but not on the lake, and would take up a space that is only slightly larger latz broke the take ahead of the com-
than the Viet Nam memorial that is already in place. petition with the second place finisher
Can we expect this location to be a unanimous choice by all parties in- clocking in at 9:36.55. This was Hol-
volved? Of course not. No matter what location is spoken of we will never latz’s second title. He also took third
get 100 percent agreement. Even if this new location is proposed, I’m sure place in the 1,600 meter run with a
there will be objections from individuals and organizations. This is where time of 4:29.31. Clear Lake’s Brad
I believe our mayor and council need to step up. It is true, this is not a Whalan captured sixth place in the 110
City of Clear Lake project, but the Council will make the final decision on high hurdles with a time of 15.73.
whether or not the memorial is allowed to be placed at a site recommended The Clear Lake boys golf team
by the veterans. The Council has already turned down one location and this was only one stroke out of fifth place
issue has been going on now for over a year. It’s time to reach some sort of and five out of fourth place at the State
conclusion. Let’s just hope it happens while we still have veterans around to Golf Meet. The Lions scored 652 team
enjoy their memorial. points to finish sixth. Top scores for
Clear Lake were Steve Spratt and Sher-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR win Bouma with final score of 162
Memorial Day each.
events a success not embrace the same set of religious Playing at the Cinema V is Dudley
beliefs, ideals, dreams. But this is the Moore and Daryl Hannah in, “Crazy
To the Editor, place where all should be respected for People.” Also playing is “Total Recall,”
We appreciate all of the veterans, having made the trip, ourselves or an- starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
families and friends that were pres- cient ancestors.
ent for the Clear Lake Memorial Day Also, lets see how many diverse Under The Amanda Ragan
events on Monday, May 25, 2015. people Jesus hung out with - common
We would like to acknowledge people, tax collectors, labeled sinners Golden Dome, Too State Senator
the Clear Lake High School Marching and cast-offs from the Temple, Roman
Band, under the direction of Bran- soldiers, women, rough fishermen, Representative Linda Upmeyer 515-281-3371 or 641-424-0874
don Borseth for performing, the Boy widows, mixed-blood Samaritans, rev- amanda.ragan@legis.state.ia.us
Scouts for raising the flag and their as- olutionary zealots, sick, blind, lame, 515-281-3221
sistance at the cemetery. We also want Essenes, Arabs, Egyptians, traders, linda.upmeyer@legis.state.ia.us
to recognize our speakers: Captain thieves, lepers, on and on. He knew
Gabriel Haugland, Noah Copney, and them all as human beings. What if Je- The calendar has flipped to June every penny, we should make sure the For many, school does not stop under the Senate’s budget proposal.
Grant Dieken; and wreath presenters, sus had only holed-up with His own and our work in the legislature contin- state is prepared for what the future with high school graduation. Increas- Senate Democrats also support an in-
Wanda Kennedy, Ann Thomeson, kind in an enclave along Lake Galilee ues. You may be wondering why this may bring. For example, it will be ingly, good jobs require higher edu- crease in tuition grants for Iowa stu-
Linda Dockwell, Linda Born, Karen all his life? legislative session has gone into over- some time before we can fully realize cation or worker training. Iowans of dents attending our private colleges.
Ressler and Pam Grill. Also the Civil time. Simply put, we are fighting to the impact the avian flu will have on all ages and backgrounds need access The budget approved by the Sen-
War Honor Guard and the VFW Post Steve Russell, ensure the long-term economic health the jobs and economy of our state. to college to build a better future for ate Democrats proves we can invest in
4868 Honor Guard with Dr. John Clear Lake of our state is not compromised and Despite our budgeting differ- themselves and their families. education at all levels and balance the
Aslakson, USCGR and Jim Reynolds funding for services to Iowans remains ences, we are meeting regularly with Ideally, these opportunities budget responsibly. The Senate does it
presenting our final honors. Let veterans choose viable year after year. the Senate Majority party to find should be as affordable as possible. with an overall budget the same size
All the volunteers made the event When negotiations began this compromise on the areas in which we Taking on massive student debt is as the budget proposed by Governor
happen and we are grateful. To the Editor, year, over $200 million separated us vary and put together a budget that is another roadblock to achieving suc- Terry Branstad.
I am not a veteran. I am a tax- from the Senate Majority party. This responsible and sustainable well into cess, to strengthening our middle class Education remains at the fore-
Memorial Day Committee paying voter. Tabling the decision for level of spending would require us the future. and to growing our economy. Iowa front of discussions in the Legislature,
the location of the memorial to our to spend more than we take in this Not too long ago, Iowans expe- students already graduate with more but with the start of summer vacation,
Diversity veterans is an embarrassment to the year, and therefore risk putting our rienced the ramifications of irrespon- student loan debt than in most other here are some ways to enjoy it:
citizens of Clear Lake and an insult state in a dangerous economic posi- sible budgeting practices. Due to states. That leads some graduates to •Free fishing, June 5-7 - Iowa
To the Editor, to our vets. Is that really the best idea tion. I think most would agree that careless budgeting decisions prior to leave the state in search of higher pay- residents may fish without a license
Diversity! you can come up with? Whose influ- with $180 million in new revenue, we us coming into the Majority in the ing jobs elsewhere. as part of the Iowa’s free fishing week-
As though it was some kind of an ence are you afraid of? should be able to fund the priorities House and under the previous admin- Community colleges work with end. DNR staff will be at popular
evil monster. The solution seems pretty simple, of Iowans. If not, we have a spending istration, Iowans saw a $500 million employers to address local skilled fishing spots across the state to help
I humbly beg to differ. stand aside and let the veterans decide problem, not a revenue problem. property tax increase, the state bor- worker shortages and provide an af- beginner anglers get started. They will
Of course there is diversity in our where their memorial should be lo- A question I often ask myself is, rowed $800 million that costs taxpay- fordable path to a four-year degree. assist with setting up fishing poles and
country. We came from every other cated. when will the next fiscal crisis or eco- ers double to pay back, and there was Senate Democrats propose investing distribute small kits with basic tackle
country and island in the world. And nomic emergency occur in our state? a $700 million spending gap for the $8 million more in Iowa’s community for panfishing, along with tips and a
Tim Byington, Obviously, that is something we are new governor and legislature to fix. colleges. few fun items.
Clear Lake unable to predict. Therefore, the only Upon coming into the Majority, At our three state universities, •Iowa’s historic sites - Learn about
prudent thing to do is be responsible we adopted a set of core budgeting there will be a tuition freeze for in- the early inhabitants of Iowa, see the
and plan ahead. Rather than spend state students for a third straight year
See UPMEYER on page 5 See RAGAN on page 5

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