Page 2 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 11-18-2015

Local NewsPage 2 • Nov. 18, 2015
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Clear Lake
Mirror-Reporter
CALENDAR
from page 1
Saturday
Arm knitting
Learn how to knit a scarf using
the modern craft of Arm Knitting at
an Arty party Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10
a.m. at the Clear Lake Arts Center.
Everyone knits the same type of scarf
with step-by-step instructions. In
the end, there will be a finished scarf
in everyone’s hands. No previous
knitting experience is necessary.
Participants will need to purchase
their own yarn: three skeins of #6
weight yarn (Larson’s Mercantile has
a large selection Red Heart Mixology
yarns recommended for this project).
The cost of this Arty Party is $15 for
Arts Center members, $20 for non-
members. To register for Coffee,
Mimosas and Arm Knitting call or
email the Clear Lake Arts Center at
357-1998 or [email protected]
Cruz in Clear Lake
Senator Ted Cruz will headline
the seventh event in Concerned Vet-
erans for America’s (CVA)‘Veterans
and Military Town Hall’ series to be
held in Clear Lake on Saturday, Nov.
21, from 10-11 a.m. This policy fo-
rum, part of CVA’s ‘Defend & Re-
form Series,’ will be held at the Surf
Ballroom, 460 North Shore Drive,
and will highlight critical issues facing
Iowa’s veterans, military families and
by extension all Americans. The event
will feature remarks by Senator Cruz,
a conversation with CVA’s CEO Pete
Hegseth, and a Q&A session with vet-
eran members of the audience. Com-
plimentary refreshments will be avail-
able. Doors will open to the public at
9:30 a.m.
411 Woodlane Dr., Clear Lake
$479,000
3714 N. Shore Dr. #101A, Clear Lake 214 East Lake St., Ventura
$636,000
630 Briarstone Dr. #204, Mason City 1781 Balsam Ave., Alexander 612 S. Penn. Ave., Mason City 839 14th St. SE, Mason City
$116,900
15338 Bayside Ave., Clear Lake 800 N. 8th St., Clear Lake
$140,000
Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
Tourism on the rise in Cerro Gordo
County with record-breaking year
Look who’s reading Tourism in 2014 generated a re- up 30 percent in information requests *graph information provided by Visit Mason City
the Mirror-Reporter cord amount of visitor spending in- and 20 percent in its hotel/motel tax
jecting an estimated $191.37 million revenue, which is the highest ever since
On a recent campaign trip to Des Moines, Iowa Re- into Cerro Gordo County’s economy. we increased the tax in 2008,” said Pat-
publican presidential candidate Gov. Chris Christie, of This 2.5 percent increase was featured ton.
New Jersey, took time out to catch up on Clear Lake in a new report by a Washington‐based Other economic benefits of tour-
news. Patrick Finnegan, a Clear Lake native now living group that analyzes the economic im- ism to the area includes supporting jobs
in Des Moines, is a memebr of the Christie campaign pact of tourism. for individuals at all levels of education
staff for Iowa. The report, completed by the U.S. in both full‐ and part‐time positions.
Travel Association for the Iowa Eco- These jobs are vital since they cannot be
CITY COUNCIL nomic Development Authority Iowa outsourced. In 2014, tourism in Cerro
from page 1 Tourism Office, stated Cerro Gordo Gordo County supported over 1,480
County ranks 11th in the amount of jobs and created $25.15 million in pay-
ceeded estimate by $12,600. visitor spending generated when com- roll.
•Local Option Sales tax money exceeded estimate pared to all 99 counties in Iowa. In addition to business and worker
by $46,700. According to Libbey Patton, tour- income, travelers visiting the county
•Building permits over estimate by $9,100. ism director at the Clear Lake Area generated an estimated $8.77 million
•Ambulance fees underestimated by $24,700. Chamber of Commerce, tourism in in state taxes and $3.15 million in local
•Realized gain on forgivable loan from Clear Lake Iowa has increased above the national taxes.
Sanitary District; Loan balance forgiven $31,800, in- average the last five years. Latest data Statewide, visitor expenditures to-
terest paid under estimate of $3,300. from the US Travel Association shows a taled $8 billion in Iowa during 2014. In
•Police fines over budget by $8,000. $5 million increase in 2014. addition, tourism in Iowa employed an
•Variety of other financing sources impacted the “We are seeing continued growth estimated 66,500 people contributing
report due to timing or actual costs. into 2015 as year-to-date Clear Lake is $1.2 billion in payroll.
The City also saved money through key personnel Giving Tree program begins today
changes when interim leaders were named until direc-
tors were hired. For example, police personnel was For a quarter of a century, the Giving cal children. And just like it always has, the This year gifts must be brought to the
$118,000 under budget, library personnel was $18,000 Tree has helped to make the holidays a little community rose to the challenge of seeing that Mirror-Reporter office by Wednesday, Dec.
under budget and public works was down $22,000. brighter for Clear Lake area families. We are each of those ornaments was chosen. 16.
pleased to report that there is already strong The Clear Lake School District is in In the 25 years that the Mirror-Reporter
interest by families, businesses and other charge of distributing, as well as processing has housed the tree, needs have never been left
groups interested in choosing ornaments from the forms filled out by parents specifying unmet. In fact, those choosing ornaments of-
The Giving Tree and purchasing anonymous needs they have for their children. The school ten remark that they had more fun shopping
gifts for local families. district then provides the Mirror-Reporter for someone they didn’t know than someone
The 26th annual Giving Tree will be dis- with ornaments representing the needs of each they did. They put time into thinking about
played in the Mirror-Reporter office starting child. Other ornaments will list the size of a their gifts, had fun wrapping them and like to
today (Wednesday, Nov. 18). family requesting a food gift card. think about how excited a child might be to
Sign-up forms for the Giving Tree have Again this year, the Giving Tree is asking open their presents on Christmas Day.
already been distributed in the Clear Lake that gifts of food be made with a gift card. The Questions regarding sign-up for the Giv-
School District. They were also sent home card may be presented with a small treat, but ing Tree should be directed to Sally Duesen-
with those attending Head Start and Lake the food gift must be in gift card form, rath- berg at Clear Lake Schools, 641-357-5288.
Town Charlie Brown. If your child did not er than boxes of non-perishable items. The Those with questions about purchasing gifts
receive a sign-up form, contact Sally Duesen- change was necessitated by the overwhelming or food for families, or wishing to make a do-
berg at Clear Lake Schools, 357-5288. amount of food given in the past, as well as nation which will be dedicated to the Giving
In 2014, the tree featured approximately the challenge of making timely deliveries to Tree, should contact Marianne Morf at the
202 ornaments representing the wishes of lo- the large number of recipients. Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter, 357-2131.
Happy Tanksgiving
Dick Hayes Matt Wolff Donna Eckard Britney Formanek Rod Rozevink
641-420-7123 641-357-7990 641-529-1525 641-860-0856 Office Manager
409 Bedford Court, Clear Lake 15126 Dove Circle, Clear Lake 1513 N. 24th St., Clear Lake
$418,000 $389,900 $243,900
18074-A Grouse Ave., Clear Lake 2515 S. Lakeview Ct. #103, Clear Lake 414 East Lake St. #5, Ventura 2700 N. Shore Dr. #N-25, Clear Lake 2700 N. Shore Dr. #F27-B, Clear Lake 2700 N. Shore Dr. #J-15, Clear Lake
$485,000 $218,900
$299,000 $232,500 $183,800 $132,500 $113,900
635 4th St. NE, Mason City 118 11th St. NE, Mason City 1039 East State Street, Mason City 622 9th St. NW, Mason City
$110,000 $93,900 $64,900 $49,900 $48,900 $39,900 $36,900
2 N. 4th St., Clear Lake Stonecliff
$399,000 $480,000
Third Division
1112 Highway 18 East, Clear Lake
641-357-6123 • www.LakeIowaRealty.com Coming
Soon!