Local News

    Ventura High School students and the community are mourning the loss of 17-year-old Hannah Hall, who has died as the result of injuries she received in a single vehicle accident Monday morning, June 29.
    Hall was driving east on 285th Street, near the intersection of Dogwood Avenue, when she lost control of her car, according to the Iowa State Patrol.  The car went into a ditch and rolled over.  The accident occurred about 9 a.m. Monday.
    Hall was transported to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in critical condition.  She died Tuesday, June 30.
    Hannah, the daughter of Mike and Becky Hall, would have been a senior this fall at Ventura High School.  
    Members of the Area Education Agency 267 Crisis Team and confirmation leaders from Zion Lutheran Church, where the Hall family are members, were at the hospital Monday following the accident.  Tuesday, the AEA team was at the school to meet with students and parents.  The agency also provided materials for parents to use as a guide for grief counseling.
    “Hannah was a great kid with a lot of potential,” said Rob Cassidy, high school principal.  “She will not only be a loss to our district, but to everyone here.”

     Ray Hewitt, chairman of the board at Clear Lake Bank and Trust, has been chosen to serve as Grand Marshal for this year’s Fourth of July parade.
    “I think longevity has a lot to do with it --- being in this bank for a long time and doing a fairly decent job over the years,” said the modest community leader about being named Grand Marshal.
    Ray has also been involved in the community through the Chamber of Commerce and economic development groups.  Additionally, he has served as president of the Clear Lake Rotary Club and contributed on committees regarding downtown renovation and Opportunity Village’s major capital campaign.
    In 1973, Ray returned from Waukesha, Wis., to Clear Lake to become president and CEO of Clear Lake Bank and Trust. Previously, he had served as president of Marine National Bank in Waukesha.
    During his time as president and CEO of the bank,  he helped to grow the bank’s $17 million assets into $180 million.  He was also instrumental in guiding the bank through its two main renovations. The bank now occupies a 27,000 square feet building.
    Ray served as bank president until 1998, when his son, Mark, took over the role of president and CEO due to Ray’s health issues. He then assumed the role of chairman of the board and remains an active member of Clear Lake Bank and Trust.
    “He treats the employees of this bank like they’re a part of the family. We have lots of people who have worked here for 30 years, and they don’t leave because they love it, and how they’re treated,” said Mark of his father and mentor.
    “This guy, his whole life, has been giving back to everybody else. This is a nice way to honor him.”

     Stylist Sharon Lindsay has given a lot of hair cuts in her long career, but none as valuable-- or rewarding as this shave and haircut she gave John Siesseger, of Clear Lake, at the recent Relay for Life event at North Iowa Area Community College.  (Below) Siesseger has sported a beard and worn his hair in a pony tail for most of his adult life.  In memory of a close family member who passed away recently as a result of cancer, John promised to have his head and beard shaved if the public contributed $500 for the American Cancer Society event.  He surpassed that goal many times, raising over $1,700 for the organization.  John and his wife, Judy, along with friends and family members have formed a team and have participated in the Relay for Life for a number of years, raising money through pledges, garage and bake sales.-Submitted photo.