Top Stories

Meints tells Ventura Council she is ready to serve as mayor
Former Council representative puts name in hat as city leaders plan to appoint mayor May 14 The Ventura City Council…
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What a difference a week makes
What’s that old saying about Iowa weather? Wait a day and it will change? Well, if you wait a week…
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Now that the snow is gone, it’s time for a community cleanup!
Week devoted to Trash Bash There is still time to take part in Clear Lake’s Earth days Trash Bash in…
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Historical Society will build info kiosk at cemetery
The Clear Lake Historical Society has received the go-ahead— and $3,500, for construction of an information kiosk at the Clear…
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A prom to remember
(Above) Tammy Orr snapped this photo of her son, Owen, clearing snow to be able to drive to town for…
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GHV Board considers repurposing building
(Above) Ventura school leaders are considering moving fifth and sixth graders from its Intermediate School into the Junior High building…
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County voters pass hotel-motel tax, elect Dirksen
Cerro Gordo County voters went to the polls in small numbers Tuesday, April 10, to elect a new county auditor…
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Weather disrupts some Earth Day activities
Spring’s late arrival is causing some changes to Earth Day activities scheduled for Saturday. Most of the Clear Lake Earth…
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Fire destroys Outing Club garage
(Above) Clear Lake firefighters battle a blaze which completely destroyed a garage complex and its contents at 204 10th Ave.…
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Former Mirror-Reporter columnist turned famous author Dorothy Garlock dies
One of Clear Lake’s best kept secrets—popular western romance novel author Dorothy Garlock, passed away Friday, April 6, 2018 at…
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Winter’s last stand?
For the second time in as many weeks, an April snowstorm left North Iowans feeling like Spring has forgotten us. …
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Public input, market data, site visits result in five-year plan for prosperity
With support from 12 partner organizations and more than 1,000 regional stakeholders, the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation (EDC)…
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Large item pickup delayed
Clear Lake’s City-Wide Large Item Pick-up was delayed this week after seven inches of snow fell on the area Sunday. …
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Local food pantry celebrates three years
This week the Clear Lake/Ventura Food Pantry celebrates its third full year of operation. The concept of a Food Pantry…
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Signs of spring in a snowstorm
Just two weeks after a snow storm covered the Clear Lake area with more than 16-inches of snow blanketing the…
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Main Avenue reconstruction planned in 2019 though 2020
Plans to reconstruct Main Avenue, from 14th to 20th Street, were discussed Monday night at the Clear Lake City Council…
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Two vehicle crash on I-35 sends victims to hospital, closes road
(Above) Clear Lake firefighters Aaron Forsythe (standing) and Jim Finstad (kneeling) prepare to help a Mason City firefighter move a…
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Couple shares their love of racing with fire departments
(Above) Team Hanson Racing -- Mathew and Lezah Hanson with Eddy by Marianne Gasaway It’s safe to say much of…
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Ventura Mayor Lynn Benson dead at 64
Lynn R. Benson, who has served as Ventura’s Mayor since 2015, passed away Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Muse…
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One for the record books
(Above) Travel by foot, or heavy machinery was about the only way to get around after the storm moved out…
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E-Edition
What are the benefits of the E-Edition?
- Easy Access - Can be read from anywhere with an internet connection(great for snowbirds).
- Simple to Use - Fullscreen mode, single-click zoom, simple navigation.
- Search Current & Archive - Quickly find articles by keyword or phrase in the current issue, and through back issues.
Remember When
- by Chris Barragy
Remember When 4-25-2018
(Above) Tree planting in 1993 - A number of local organizations and residents took part in planting trees in 1993 in…
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Remember When 4-18-2018
(Above) Sun sets on Blue Horizon in 1993 - Workers cleared away the Blue Horizon Motel in 1993 to make way…
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Remember When 4-11-2018
(Above) Human pyramid, 1968 -The Sunset school children were jubilant in 1968 with the thought of spring and warmer weather. …
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 4-4-2018
(Above) Ventura FFA, 1993 - The Lakeside Future Farmers of America sponsored a coloring contest in Ventura in 1993 for Ventura…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 3-28-2018
(Above) 1993 Easter Egg Hunt - A good number of youngsters turned out in 1993 to participate in the annual Easter…
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Remember When 3-21-2018
(Above) 1993 pre-season shoveling - Shoveling was required training in 1993 for members of the Clear Lake High School girls track…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 3-14-2018
(Above) 1968 basketball sendoff - The Clear Lake fire trucks and police cars escorted the basketball team out of town in…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 3-7-2018
(Above) 1968 Clear Lake basketball fans - Clear Lake fans whooped it up in 1968 as their heros, the Lions, beat…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 2-18-2018
(Above) Old timers - William McGowan and son, Bill, pose in front of the McGowan Hardware, where Wilcox Furniture Store is…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 2-21-2018
(Above) Free throw winners from 1993 - These sharp-shooters were winners in the 1993 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest held…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 2-7-2018
Blizzard, 1993 - The snow falling as fast as Michele Bush could sweep it off of her car in 1993. In…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 1-31-2018
(Above) 1993 Buddy Holly Tribute - Clear Lake’s own Lee and Roger Walston, along with their daughter, Tina, were third place…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 1-24-2018
(Above) Practice run in 1968 - Six Clear Lakers made some practice runs in preparation for the first annual North Iowa…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 1-17-2018
(Above) 1992-93 Ventura Boys Basketball Team - Members of the 1992-93 Ventura boys basketball team included front row (L-R): J.D. Shaffer,…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 1-13-2018
(Above) 1936 Blizzard - Oldtimers will never forget the snow storm of February 1936. This picture was taken at the railroad…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 1-3-2018
(Above) Nashville bound, 1992 - These Clear Lake High School cheerleaders were on their way to Nashville, Tenn. in 1992 to…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 12-27-2017
Winter break, 1992 - Who says skating is tough? In 1992, Zach Wistey was taking it easy on the Marion Park…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 12-20-2017
(Above) Christmas scenes from 1967 - Santa saw this sea of happy faces in 1967 when the Chamber of Commerce helped…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 12-13-17
(Above) Young’s Idleo, 1910 - In 1910, Contractor George Petersen and his crew constructed Young’s Idleo (pleasure hall) for R.S. Young.…
Read More - by Clear Lake Mirror Reporter Staff
Remember When 12-6-2017
(Above) Rehearsing in 1992 - Steve Erickson directed the community chorus in 1992. The chorus presented “Handel’s Messiah.” The traditional musical…
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