It’s a sure sign of spring.  Clear Lake and Ventura have each set their dates for large item pick-ups.  The events are intended to provide an opportunity for city residents to have items that are not normally picked up on trash day hauled away.
    The City of Ventura will hold its Large Item Pick-Up Day on Saturday, April 26. There is a $12 charge for each appliance picked up.  The following items are considered an appliance: VCR/DVD, printer, microwave, television set, copier, refrigerator, computer, de-humidifier, washer/dryer.  Call the Ventura City office at 829-3861 to have your address put on the list for appliance pickup.  The appliance fee can be added on to residents’ regular monthly water/sewer/garbage bill in Ventura.
    Clear Lake has designated May 5-7 for large item pickup.  Appliances will be picked up on May 7.  Stickers are available for purchase at City Hall which must be affixed to appliances for hauling.  
    The following items are not accepted in the Large Item Pick-Up Days: construction waste, batteries, tires, hazardous waste, solvents and yard waste.

by Michelle Watson
    Talk about dedicated employees-- Kirk Groeneweg, Joe Rich and Jim Smith, all of TeamQuest in Clear Lake, will travel 1,550 miles by motorcycle to attend the TeamQuest Technology Summit in Tucson, Ariz.  Groeneweg and Rich left Clear Lake on Thursday, April 10, among rain and 30 mile per hour gusts of wind.  The duo stopped in Kansas City where they were joined by Smith.
    “I thought it would be more fun and certainly more economical than taking a plane,” said Rich.  “Plus, it’s a much better way to see the USA and it gives us an excuse to get our bikes out after a long winter.  It also builds character and a sense of team among the riders.”
    Groeneweg commented on his reasons for making the trip. “We travel a lot for our jobs, 95 percent of the time we’re flying, which has become a real drag with all the rules to remember.  The freedom we will have on this trip will be a joy.  As far as I’m concerned there’s no better way to travel and see the USA.  You can see and smell everything, unlike in a car.”
    Once the three reach Tucson, it’s all business.  
    The Summit, which runs April 14-15, gathers information technology (IT) professionals from around the world to discuss leading performance and capacity management issues.  They also share experiences, ideas and network.  New this year are product training classes and reseller certification sessions.
    Rich, director of Strategic Alliances for TeamQuest Corporation, manages the relationships with the companies’ major vendors, such as Sun, IMB, HP, Microsoft and others.  At the summit, he will be meeting with partners and introducing them to clients.  He will also be one of the trainers for the reseller certification day.

    Cari Cimmiyotti knows if you believe in your product, it’s an easy sale. That’s why the North Iowa native says she’s so excited to begin her new job as director of tourism for the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
    “I feel like I know North Iowa and I love Clear Lake,” said Cimmiyotti, a native of St. Ansgar. “Clear Lake has small town charm with big town activity and excitement. I think those are very inviting qualities.
    For the next few weeks Cimmiyotti will be learning the various aspects of her new position while finishing up course work at Waldorf College in Forest City. She will graduate Magna Cum Laude this month with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business. She maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while playing basketball for the school and enjoying membership in Alpha Chi National Honor Society.
    Cimmiyotti says her prior work experience has involved a great deal of customer service, time management, organizational and leadership skills-- all skills which she feels will serve her well in the tourism post.
    “I am learning on a daily basis the many aspects of this job and about the community in detail,” she said. “I am really excited about the opportunity to work closely with those in Clear Lake to tell their story to potential visitors.”
    “We are excited to have Cari as part of the Clear Lake Team,” said Executive Director Gary Bright. “She impressed the search committee with her excitement and desire to sell the Clear Lake Area and continue to make Clear Lake the destination of choice for travelers.”

    The Clear Lake School Board has ratified a one-year contract with the Clear Lake Education Association.
    Under the new contract, teachers receive a 4.4 percent increase.  Base pay for teachers in the district will increase $861 to $26,118 for the 2008-09 school year.  
    The contract also implements a new sick leave policy from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.  Under the plan, if an employee uses no sick leave, the employee will receive $300.  If just one day, or part of a day is used, the employee will receive $200; use of two days pays back $100.
    The total contract reached with teachers will cost the district $272,679.

  
    The ice on Clear Lake was declared officially “out” on Monday, April 14, according to Bob Powell, of the City of Clear Lake’s Water Department.  Powell makes the determination each year when it becomes possible to reach any shore on the lake.  Monday’s date was later than average for the ice to disappear, but was not a record late date.  In 1951, the ice lake wasn’t declared “out” until April 25.  (Right) The open water has been a welcome sight for fishermen, who have been shoulder to shoulder on the Grade in Ventura.

CLHS Dance Team to hold try-outs
    The Clear Lake High School Dance Team will hold try-outs for their 2008-09 team on Saturday, April 26, at the Clear Creek Gym.  The try-out routine will be taught from 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. and the judged audition will be held at noon.  Those students have may have a conflict with the try-out date may turn in a video audition prior to try-outs.  CLHS Dance Director Liz LeFevre will be at the middle school on Thursday, April 17, during the 8th grade lunch to hand out a team/try-out information packet.  She will also be available to hand out information and answer questions on Sunday, April 20, at 3 p.m. at the Clear Lake High School Gym south lobby.  For try-out information you can email clhsdanceteam@yahoo.com [10] or go to www.angelfire.com/ia2/clearlakedanceteam [11].
Youth baseball clinic planned
    The Clear Lake baseball staff and players will put on a four-day Youth Baseball Clinic for players currently in third-seventh grades on April 21-24, from 4-6 p.m.  Cost for the clinic will be $30 with prizes for individual and team competitions.  A clinic t-shirt will also be given to each participant which will get them free admission to a Lions baseball home game.  Email Coach Thompson at thompse@clearlake.k12.ia.us [12] with any questions.
3 on 3 Hoopin' At The Dome set

The Ventura boys and girls golf teams opened their seasons at Clarmond Country Club in Clarion on Monday, April 14.
    
Ventura Boys Golf
    The Clarion-Goldfield boys team won the meet with a score of 181.  The Ventura boys finished the meet with 197.
    Brian Mostrom led the boys team with a 46.  Shane Hanley and Cody Kadolph each shot a 50, while Josh Henely was right behind them with a 51.  Rounding out the boys’ score was Dalton Berhow-Goll and Cole Hanley with 58 apiece.

Ventura Girls Golf
    The Ventura girls team fell to Clarion-Goldfield.  Clarion-Goldfield won the meet with 189.  The Ventura girls scored 275.  
    Blair Berhow-Goll was the leader on the girls’ team with 63.  Amber Smith shot 67, followed by Kellie Tatro with 70 and Morgan Welp with 75.