Page 1 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 9-16-2015
P. 1
Hummingbirds Pg. 11
Weather More weather on page 5.
Mostly sunny Sat. & Sun. with a chance of an
isolated T-storm on Fri. High of 73 degrees Sun.
USPS 117-120 VOL. 145 Issue 37 Sept. 16, 2015 Serving Clear Lake and Ventura since 1869 • Hometown newspaper of Gus & Janet Erickson $1.50
Clear Lake City gives VFW okay to develop plan for veterans memorial
Mirror-Reporter Concept for former water one time involved a citizen task force which ulti- with design concepts, site preparation and other work on the issue said those planning the memo-
CALENDAR tower site will be created mately became deadlocked and was unable to give professional insight into the project. rial need a location in order to finalize details.
the Council a recommendation for location of a Council representative Gary Hugi was the “It’s a long way from being a done deal, but
Wednesday The Clear Lake City Council, on a 4-1 vote, memorial. only member of the Council to vote against the we seemingly have come up with an outline on
Meet the chief has given its approval for V.F.W. Post 4868 leaders At the meeting, VFW Post Commander motion. Hugi said he would need to see a site that location of something, that if professionally
to explore design ideas to locate a veterans memo- Mike Nelson asked the council for their approval plan with dimensions, how much area the memo- designed and financed could work,” said Calla-
The public is invited to at- rial at the former downtown water tower site. to earmark the former water tower site for the me- rial will use, and be assured that it will not affect nan. “This has been a contentious issue for quite
tend an open house to meet the The Council met Tuesday, Sept. 8, in regu- morial. He requested that the city donate the land the view of the lake. some time. We all feel its time to move forward.”
new Clear Lake Police Chief, lar session. Placement of the item on the agenda to construct the memorial and asked that RDG Mayor Nelson Crabb, at-large Councilman Any final design would have to be approved
Pete Roth, on Wednesday, Sept. was the first time since early summer. The issue Consultants, or a similar alternate, be named as Mike Callanan and City Administrator Scott Flo- by a vote of the council.
16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The has been in discussion for more than a year and at a consulting firm to assist the city and the VFW ry, who have met with VFW leaders and others to
open house will be held in the
Council Chambers at City Hall, Brant will run for
15 N. 6th St. Refreshments will Ward 3 Council seat
be served. Dana Brant has announced
his plan to seek re-election to the
Thurs. - Sat. Clear Lake City Council. Due to
All class reunion re-districting based upon current
census information, the current
The Clear Lake Commu- Ward One representative is now
nity School Foundation and seeking the Ward Three Council
Alumni Association will once position.
again sponsor the annual All If elected, this will be Brant’s
Class Reunion, Sept. 17-19. second term on the Council.
The event originated in 2011 “I’m a person who finds solu-
with a goal of providing schol- tions to problems and brings this
arships for Clear Lake schools. focus towards constantly helping
Admission is $40, including a make our City a better place to
catered banquet Saturday eve- live, work and play,” said Brant.
ning, which is the main event, DANA BRANT “The City has gained a great deal
but the Surf will be open each
day for registration. The bonus of momentum during the past four years and I’m looking forward
is a silent auction and a live auc- to helping deal with the challenges and opportunities we’ll face
tion; proceeds go to the Alumni during the next four.”
Scholarship Endowment. There Thursday, Sept. 17, is the deadline to file nomination papers
will be numerous donated items in the office of the county auditor. Current Ward Three represen-
available again this year. tative Jim Boehnke has stated he intends to seek re-election, but
has not yet filed his nomination papers with the county.
Saturday Homecoming Performing arts
Farmers Market Hoopla troupe plans to
leave Arts Center
The Clear Lake Farmers Clear Lake High School students enjoyed a great Homecoming Week. New
Market is held from 9 a.m. to activities, as well as a few revived from year’s past, took place, including a The curtain appears to be falling on Kitchen Sink Productions
noon Saturdays in the Surf Ball- Homecoming parade (pictured above). High School and Middle School at the Clear Lake Arts Center. However, local performers say they
room parking lot, 460 North bands, along with Homecoming royalty, student floats and honored guests are ready to take their talents in a new direction.
Shore Drive. Fresh fruits and made their way from the school to City Park for a community pep rally before Clear Lake Arts Center Executive Director Paula Hanus con-
vegetables, as well as baked Friday’s football games. firmed The Kitchen Sink drama group is spinning off from the
goods and handcrafted prod- (Right) Cooper Merrill and Erin O’Tool were crowned as the CLHS King Arts Center. The Arts Center Board met Thursday and discussed
ucts are available for purchase. and Queen. the internal program.
See more Homecoming photos on page 8. All Kitchen Sink shows, previously scheduled at the Arts Cen-
Meet the author ter for the remainder of the year have been cancelled.
For the love of gardening “This was a decision by Kitchen Sink to gain greater creative
Clear Lake High School freedom and financial flexibility. Kitchen Sink is growing in both
alumnus Dave Ellingson has Nelson celebrates 65 years with numbers of participants and shows and this gives them freedom to
authored a book, “Paddle Pil- Clear Lake Friendly Garden Club manage their own budget, fundraising and choice of venues when
some shows could use a larger venue,” said Hanus. “We see this
continued JANICE NELSON Janice Nelson says she has always ucation of its members, through speakers as a positive sign of the vitality of the Clear Lakes arts community.
loved gardening— from the days when and sharing. As it evolved, service proj- The Arts Center will still put on drama shows like the recent sum-
More CALENDAR she would help her mother in the gar- ects, such as the planting and tending of mer production of The Importance of Being Earnest produced in
on page 2 den to the planting and tending of her local flower beds became common club partnership with Central Gardens.”
own flower and produce gardens. And activities. Flower shows and educational Laura Wilson, who has directed the group for the past 12
Inside as much as she has enjoyed the vegetables programs were also calendar highlights, years, said she and more than 25 volunteers who have appeared in
she’s raised or the flowers she has grown along with the social connection the club shows, plan to pursue a local community theater.
Opinion..................4-5 and displayed, the gardening brother- provides for women in the community. “We currently have no venue, but our enthusiasm is high and
Weather.................... 5 hood she has found in a local club has Nelson says she has made many I believe we will have a stage,” she said.
Sports................13-15 been the most satisfying. friends through gardening— not only Wilson submitted a Letter to the Editor concerning her de-
Legals................17-18 Today, just like she has done for the with members of the club, but with parture from volunteer involvement in productions at the Arts
Classifieds.........18-19 past 65 years, Janice will attend a month- neighbors and others who have stopped Center which appears on page 4 in this edition of the Mirror-
ly meeting of the Clear Lake Friendly by to admire her gardens over the years. Reporter.
The lake level dropped Garden Club. The group has deep roots “I’ve had many, many gardens— Jaclyn Garlock, who has been involved with the Cup O’ Joe
.96” to its new reading of in the community. At this meeting mem- vegetable and flowers. Gardening has productions at the Arts Center since its 2003 beginning, submit-
+4.56”. Last year at this bers will share memories, as well as con- always stayed with me,” said Janice. “It’s ted her resignation from the Arts Center Board on Friday. Gar-
time the lake measured tinue to plant the seeds of gardening suc- where I have found peace. I talk to my- lock said her decision was not solely based on the decision to cut
cess with each other and the community. self and to the Lord.” the performing arts program. She declined to elaborate, but said
+0.96” above the weir. Mirror-Reporter archives trace the Like most, Janice got her start gar- she intends to remain involved with community theater in Clear
history of the club back to 1937 when dening from her mother, who grew veg- Lake.
Mail: 12 N. 4th St., ladies from Fertile, Iowa started a group. etables for the family table. “I remember “We have felt for the last year or so that as the Kitchen Sink
Clear Lake, IA 50428 In 1941 there was so much interest that her telling us we needed to shuck a pail players were wanting to grow the theater program, we were be-
Telephone: 641-357-2131 Clear Lake women started their own of peas before we would get to go swim- coming more of an obstacle to rental scheduling, than an asset, so
Fax: 641-357-2133 club. The mission of the club was the ed- it would be best to give the Arts Center the space it needs,” said
Email: office@clreporter.com See GARDENER on page 2 Garlock.
Website: www.clreporter.com According to the Clear Lake Arts Center website, last
year, more than 120 Kitchen Sink volunteers donated close
@CLReporter to 4,000 hours to produce two Cup O’ Joe Shows, two Non-
semble performances, an Olde Fashioned Radio Show -
KOJO, a Halloween Show and two high school performances.
“We expect the unique production-style of Kitchen Sink fea-
tured in Cup O’ Joe productions to continue in Clear Lake under
See PERFORMING ARTS on page 2
