Week of Oct 20 2007 - 7:00pm to Oct 27 2007 - 6:59pm

Trick or treaters will take over Clear Lake on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Please be careful driving city streets, as many “spooks” will be in a hurry and forget to look for on-coming cars. Turn your porch light on to invite Halloween dressed characters to your house.
Kids, remember these Halloween safety tips:
•Don’t go trick or treating alone and stay in familiar neighborhoods.
•Carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing.
•Avoid costumes that could make you trip or have difficulty seeing.
•Let your parents inspect all of your treats before you eat them.
Clear Lake Police will have extra officers working Halloween night patrolling the neighborhoods. Residents are asked to report all suspicious activity.

Work is well underway to construct a new office and storage building to accommodate the relocation of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Rice Lake Wildlife Unit to Ventura.
Greg Hanson, Wildlife Biologist at the Rice Lake office near Lake Mills, said new facilities located just south of Ventura, adjacent to Ventura Heights, will allow the unit to more effectively manage, maintain and develop the public hunting areas it currently oversees in five counties.
“We have needed a new facility. Our Rice Lake office was too small and our storage building collapsed in 2000 from the weight of snow,” said Hanson. “We (DNR offices) have been reorganizing as we have had opportunities, and this was a good time to look at moving.”
The Rice Lake unit currently manages 17,000 acres of state land in Mitchell, Floyd, Winnebago, Worth and Hancock Counties. Hanson said the new office location may allow his staff to oversee some properties within Cerro Gordo and Wright County, as well. He anticipates the unit may give up Floyd and Mitchell County duties.
Four full-time employees and one or two part-time seasonal workers will be stationed at the new office.
Hanson explained that his office differs from the DNR office in Clear Lake in terms of their personnel expertise. While the Rice Lake unit is focused on land management, the Clear Lake office houses personnel dealing with species management. Waterfowl, fur bearing and fisheries biologists are based in the Clear Lake office.
Bob Dolan, Wildlife Management supervisor for the DNR, said the new office site provides better accessibility to the public. The Rice Lake building in Lake Mills was situated in a rural location on a gravel road. That location will be cleaned up and landscaped once the office is relocated to Ventura.

Law enforcement asks public for information

    A fire Saturday evening at a rural storage building has been ruled intentional following an investigation by the Clear Lake Fire Department and State Fire Marshall’s Office.
    The CLFD was called to a structure fire at the intersection of Jonquil Avenue and 263rd Street, just east of Clear Lake, at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The fire was reported by a Clear Lake police officer on patrol.
    When they arrived nine minutes later, firefighters found heavy fire on the main floor of the building with extension into the attic space.
    The building, owned by Furleigh Farms of Clear Lake, was used for storage of landscape and horticulture supplies by a nearby business. Due to the extenisve amount of materials inside the building, a great amount of work was required by 12 firefighters operating in three companies to overhaul the burning materials inside the building.
    The building and its contents are considered a total loss.  No injuries were reported.
    A press release issued by the CLFD Monday, Oct. 22, stated that after an initial investigation, accidental causes for the fire were ruled out and evidence obtained at the scene suggests the fire was intentionally set by a unknown person or persons.
    Officials are asking the public’s assistance with any information regarding this fire.  Anyone with information is asked to contact any of the following agencies:
    •Clear Lake Police Department, 641-357-2186
    •Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, 641-421-3000
    •Arson Hotline, 1-800-532-1459
    •Cerro Gordo Crime Stoppers, 1-800-383-0088

by Lowell Washburn
Anticipation is mounting. For upland bird hunting enthusiasts, the long agonizing wait is nearly over. The 2007 Iowa pheasant season begins Saturday.
No matter how you slice it, the annual pheasant opener represents nothing less than Iowa’s Sporting Event of the Year. With an estimated 120,000 ring-neck enthusiasts taking to the fields this Saturday, nothing can stand in its shadow.
There’s a good reason why these gaudy, fast flying gamebirds create such a stir. Of all the outdoor experiences a person can encounter, few thrills compare to the explosive, heart stopping flush of a cackling rooster.
As is the case with most upland gamebirds, pheasant populations are subject to extreme cycles of boom and bust. Boom cycles are what hunters live for. By contrast, the fall seems ruined when numbers crash. This year, Iowa hunters will find pheasant populations somewhere between those extremes. Although there are some fluctuations statewide, overall bird numbers are essentially the same as last year.
Bird numbers remain average to very strong across much of central, north central, and northwest Iowa. In the southwest, pheasants suffered a significant decline for the second consecutive year and are down 37 percent from last season.
But regardless of how many roosters are actually lurking in your favorite hunting hot spot, Opening Week-End success will largely depend on those two all important, make or break the hunt factors --- weather conditions and corn harvest.
Extreme heat, driving rains, and excessive winds spell bird hunting disaster. By contrast, fair skies, moderate breeze, and morning frost all but guarantee roast pheasant for Sunday dinner. As far as the Opening Day weather goes this year, we’ll just have to wait and see. After all, this is Iowa.

School Board gets enrollment report
    The Clear Lake School Board celebrated word from the Iowa Department of Education Monday that none of the buildings in the district are on any “No Child Left Behind” watch list.
    “This is good news for the District,” said Interim Superintendent Dwight Pierson.  Last year the District was notified that one subgroup in both the elementary and middle schools did not reach adequate yearly progress.  “As a result of interventions, test scores in all subgroups met expectations.”
    District officials explained there are over 70 ways in which a district can be put on the No Child Left Behind watch list.  They include testing data of students in special education, limited English language learners, those on free and reduced lunches, attendance and drop-out rates, to name a few.
    At its regular meeting Monday, administrative team members stressed that staff in all buildings continue to look at district data to improve services.
    Sandy Christ encouraged fellow Board members to continue to communicate with legislators regarding the demands of the No Child Left Behind legislation.  While district educators generally agree the initiative has yielded positive results, they say some requirements of the program are unnecessary and unrealistic for smaller school districts.
    At its Monday meeting, the Board also received a report concerning its certified enrollment numbers. 
    Board Secretary/Business Manager Lorna Leerar told the Board the district’s enrollment has dropped 17 students, or 8 percent this school year. 
    “The good news is that our open enrollment out numbers are down 1.6 and open enrollment in numbers are up 5.1,”
said Leerar.

    Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee will take the stage at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Friday night.  But not to deliver a speech-- at least not right away.
    The former Arkansas governor will play bass guitar at “Rockin’ in the Caucuses: 2007-2008 Road to the White House” with his band, Capitol Offense, and special guest star Barry Boudreau.  The show starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26.
    Huckabee, 51, enjoys playing bass guitar in his rock-n-roll band, which has opened for artists such as Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band, and has played the House of Blues in New Orleans, the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, Colo., and for two presidential inauguration balls.
    Huckabee has said he feels the country needs a reawakening and a leadership to address an array of issues, including how to improve the nation’s infrastructure, education system, environmental policy and failing health care system.
    From 1996-2007, Huckabee served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas. When he left office on Jan. 9, 2007, he set out on a nationwide tour to promote his fifth book, “From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS to Restoring America’s Greatness.” The book reveals his optimistic vision for what America can become with the right kind of leadership and a clear direction.
    Tickets for the Huckabee appearance are $10 per person at the door, $25 per family (parents and children).  The Surf, 460 North Shore Drive, is also taking reservations by calling, 641-357-6151.

    The Clear Lake Rotary Club has selected Laurence Fredriksen as the recipient of its “Citizen of the Year” award for 2007.
    Fredriksen will be recognized at a 7 p.m. dinner in his honor on Nov. 1, 2007, at the Best Western Holiday Lodge.  Tickets for the event are available at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, 205 Main Avenue; phone 641-357-2159 until Tuesday, Oct. 30. The price of tickets is $15.
    Fredriksen is a valued member of many local clubs, including the Knights of Columbus having achieved the highest honor, the Fourth Degree.  He is a member of the VFW and serves as an Honor Guard.  And in his spare time, can be found making wine with the local wine club.
    On many Sundays during the summer, you can find Fredriksen working as a blacksmith at the Kinney Pioneer Museum sharing his talents with the visitors.  His passion for blacksmithing has also led him to build items for many local attractions, including: flower hangers and trash can holders for downtown Clear Lake, railings for the bridges in Central Gardens, Clear Lake signs at various locations and the barges for the July 4th fireworks.
    As a faithful member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, he has assisted in many ways.  He has made railings, chair racks, table racks, vent covers, pancake grill, stackable stainless steel soup containers, holy water holders, the cross in the entryway, and the office sign on the rectory.  All at no cost to the parish.
    “Laurence is simply a man with character, including all of the attributes: truth, fairness, goodwill, and friendship, which made him a perfect candidate for this year’s Citizen of the Year,” say Rotary members.

Henely sets new school record

It was a night for big numbers and broken records when the Ventura Vikings hosted Clarksville on Friday, Oct. 19. Collecting almost 600 offensive yards, the Vikings demolished the Indians, 71-0.
A highlight of the night was Josh Henely setting a new Ventura career rushing record. For the night, Henely had 16 carries for 227 yards, which gave him 3,348 total yards and the new record. The previous record was 3,310, held by Jared Ringus.
Other big numbers included Cody Kadolph, who completed 11/12 passes for 152 yards.
“I think we played with as much intensity and focus against Clarksville that I have seen this team play in two years,” said Coach Mike Horstman. “You could tell that our players wanted to prove something to our fans - that they can compete with teams like NEH and other undefeated eight-man teams in the state. These guys are eager to play on Thursday against the best to prove that they belong in the play-offs.”
Ventura will meet number one ranked NEH on Thursday, Oct. 25, in Blairsburg in the regular season finale. The game will decide the district title; both teams will advance to State playoffs starting Tuesday, Oct. 30.
Ventura opened the first half against Clarksville by scoring 29 points in both the first and second quarters for a 58-0 halftime score. The Vikings picked up a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters for the final 71-0.

Clear Lake cross country winners saw their season come to an end at District competition held Thursday, Oct. 18, at Estherville.
In the boys race, the Lions finished eighth in what was a very competitive field. There were four ranked teams in both the boys and girls races. The Clear Lake girls were 11th in the team race.
“Our kids ran hard, but we were hoping for a little higher finish as a team,” said Coach Jerry Morris.
The boys showed great parity, with the five runners figuring in the scoring all placing within the top 55.
The Lions were lead by freshman Grant Peterson, who was 36th in 19:01. Alex Schwichtenberg was close behind, finishing 42nd in 19:09. Ryan Iverson was clocked in 19:30 for 50th place, while Zach Bartlett was 53rd in 19:34 and Jake Kolker was 55th in 19:42.
“This was the last race for Jake Kolker, a senior who has run for four years and has been a four-year letterwinner,” noted Morris.
Joel Schwichtenberg and Payton Hand also participated for the Lions, placing 65th and 70th respectively in 20:16 and 20:59.
Brita Hand was the top finisher for the Lion girls, placing 23rd in 18:35. Vanessa Ruiz was next in 20:08 to place 56th. Gracie Bojorquez was 66th in 21:28, Laura Fyfe was 69th in 21:42 and Sara Jo Raner was 75th in 26:14.
“Laura Fyfe ran her last cross country race for Clear Lake as the only senior on the girls team,” noted the coach.
The top three teams, as well as individuals placing in the top 10, advance to the State Meet Saturday, Oct. 27, in Fort Dodge.

Boys results