Local News

Participants in 39th Annual Opportunity Village Benefit Walk put giving total over $1 million mark
    The 39th Annual Opportunity Village Benefit Walk on Sunday raised approximately $75,400, making it the highest year ever. This brings the grand total of all money raised for North Iowans with disabilities to over $1,019,577 in the 39 years of the Walk.
    All proceeds from this event support services to people with disabilities at Opportunity Village throughout North Iowa. This year’s goal was $56,000. An estimated 275 walkers enjoyed a sunny but breezy day, choosing either a 10-mile or 3-mile route or the Village fitness trail.
    Paul Hassman, New Hampton, took top honors once again for bringing in the most sponsorships, with $4,597. Hassman, 94, started walking in the event in 1989 and has had the highest amount of donations for 15 of those years. Hassman’s sponsorships have totaled $61,448 since he started.
    Dan Peterson, a Village staff member from Ventura, was named to the Benefit Walk Hall of Fame for his contributions as a walker over the years. Dan and his family have raised a total of $20,953 since 1987, as far back as Village Walk records go. However, Dan has been walking in the event since he started working at the Village in 1976.
    Past recipients of the Hall of Fame award are Paul Hassman, New Hampton; Ken Wattier, Jane Iverson, Murley Severtson, Jim Ransom, and Dan and Diane Djuren, all of Clear Lake; Mary Mathews, Thompson; Marian Sanders Smith, Alden; Hazel and Ed Chuck, Mason City; Gary Mrosko, Faribault, Minn.; and Tammy Rodningen, Clear Lake.

Officials expect dredge barge to be pumping in ‘Little Lake’ by early June
    A lake enhancement dredge project that was scheduled to begin on Clear Lake sometime in July has been moved ahead.  According to Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Scott Grummer, the dredge barge should be “assembled and pumping” by early June.
     “At this point, the barge company is running ahead of schedule and wants to begin work as soon as possible,” said Grummer.  “Once the pumping begins, the barge will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the lake freezes this fall.  If the work begins a month early, it will be very positive for the project.”
    Right now, the DNR is informing the public of some minor recreational changes that will accompany the dredge project, said Grummer.  “Most noteworthy is that, beginning Monday (May 5), the Lynne Lorenzen Park and Boat Access (located at Ventura) will be closed.  That location is where the dredge will be assembled and launched into Clear Lake.  The McIntosh Woods State Park and its boat accesses will remain open to the public all summer.”
     Grummer also noted that a boating speed limit of 10 mph will be in force this summer on all areas west of the McIntosh Woods State Park sandbar (known locally as the Little Lake).  All areas of the Little Lake will remain open to fishing, swimming, and other recreational uses.
     The Clear Lake dredge project is expected to remove 2.3 million cubic yards of sediment from the Little Lake and will increase water depth from its current five and one-half to six-feet to 24-feet.  The sediment will be pumped to a completed containment site located two miles south of the Ventura Marsh.  The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2009.

     
    Jackie Peterson, owner of The Unique Boutique in Clear Lake, has announced her business will soon relocate to the former Barnyard store at 415 Main Ave.  Peterson said the move will expand space for her jewelry, clothing and tuxedo rental from 3,000 to 5,400 square feet.  “The store will now be on one level, more spaced out and much more convenient for shoppers,” said Peterson.  In addition to better displaying her merchandise, Peterson said more space will allow her to carry swimwear for women, men, boys, girls and babies size 2T and up, as well as sandals.  The store will open at its new location in late May. Until then, Unique Boutique remains open at 503 Main Ave.

    The Iowa Department of Transportation’s (Iowa DOT) Britt construction office authorized I-35 ramp closures near Clear Lake for Wednesday, May 7, weather permitting.
    Hot-asphalt pavement work will begin on the northbound outside-lane at exit 193 (Cerro Gordo County Road B-35/Fourth Avenue interchange). Ramp closures will be necessary during the milling and resurfacing work.
    I-35 northbound off-ramp at exit 193 will close early Wednesday morning, and traffic detoured north to the next interchange at exit 194 (U.S. 18/Iowa 22), and then redirected south on I-35 back to exit 193.
     Later Wednesday morning, the northbound on-ramp at exit 193 will be closed. The ramp traffic will be detoured west on Fourth Avenue S. to Eighth Street in Clear Lake, then north to U.S. 18, and then east to I-35.
    The two ramp closures will be reopened by the end of the day.
    The Iowa DOT asks motorists to drive with caution and obey posted signs in the construction area. As in all construction zones, drivers should stay alert, watch their speed, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear their seat belts.

    Probably the only thing more fun than restoring a classic car is seeing it sold to a celebrity.
    Bruce and Julie Steinberg, owners of North Iowa Collision in Clear Lake, recently learned a 1969 Camaro SS restored to better than mint condition by Bruce and employees of the business, has been sold to Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison and host of the reality show Rock of Love and now Rock of Love II on VH1.
    The Steinbergs purchased the Camaro about three years ago from an individual in Britt, Iowa. At that time, the vehicle was in good shape, but had damage on its left rear quarter. In the months to follow, Steinberg and others repaired the damages and in the process transformed the copper-colored car into an eye-catching silver ride flanked with black SS stripes.
    The car was sold by the Steinbergs to a car jockey in Des Moines who, in turn, sold the car to Michaels in January.
    “Bret played in the Des Moines area and saw the car in a showroom,” explained Julie. The same dealer also recently sold a classic vehicle to Billy Joel, who was in concert in Des Moines.
    “This type of project is so much different than the regular collision work we do,” added Steinberg. “We only do a very limited amount of restoration work, so it was fun for all involved.”
    Bruce Steinberg has been involved in auto body work since the early 1980s. He and Julie opened North Iowa Collision in Clear Lake nine years ago.