Creativity

    The following honors and awards were presented to Ventura High School graduates at Commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 13:
    KIMT Scholastic All-Stars: Kaitlyn Chizek, Kyle Lundgren.
    Globe Gazette Star Class: Art, Breannah Noland; Language & Technology, Alex Young; Math, Science & Music, Kaitlyn Chizek; Social Science, Chase Smith; Female Athlete, Mandi Thoe; Male Athlete, Joel Watson.

by Michelle Watson
    Amy Palmer has found a unique way to incorporate a hobby with spreading some cheer and fun.  Palmer is using her talent of mosaicing to create “Random Rocks of Kindess.”
    “I’ve become addicted to Pinterest (an online idea board).  I combined a few different ideas I found there,” said Palmer. 

Improvements at Lions Field, Stillman Auditorium discussed

    The Clear Lake School Board approved the hiring of four full-time employees Monday night.
    Bart Smith, who has served the district as a para educator has been named as a full-time physical education instructor at the high school.  Smith also moved up from assistant coach to head girls basketball coach at CLHS for the 2011-12 season.  Joining Smith as a new staff member at the high school will be Lori Riley, named as a full-time high school guidance counselor.  Current guidance counselor Cathy Spotts asked and was granted part-time status.

    The City of Clear Lake will begin spraying for mosquitoes, as determined to be necessary by the City, and will continue throughout the summer and fall as long as justified by mosquito population counts.

Sunday will be bittersweet in Ventura

by Marianne Morf
    Commencement is, by definition, a time of change. “The beginning; start,” states Webster’s. 
    It’s also an ending. 
    Sunday, Ventura High School will award diplomas to its final graduating class.
    “It’s bittersweet.  We love Ventura, but we’re happy to graduate,” says Kaitlyn Chizek, president of

    The Clear Lake Arts Center is sponsoring a special exhibit by artist Jaclyn Garlock.  Included in this exhibit is a recently completed significant series of paintings depicting people in and about the Historical Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. 
    The title of the exhibit is “Hang 10,” as a brief flicker into the Moon Doggie surfer lingo and because there are 10 paintings.

First of three readings passes on 3-1 vote

    Despite some rumbling from about 20 persons attending Monday night’s meeting, the Clear Lake City Council approved the first of three readings of a new noise ordinance for the community.
    The second reading of the ordinance will be held at the next council meeting on May 21.

    The Clear Lake City Council gave its approval Monday to the third addition of the Pine Brooke Residential Subdivision, located just north of 10th Avenue North.  Work is expected to begin soon to develop twin homes on nine lots. 
    The third and final phase of the subdivision represents a successful venture between the City of Clear Lake and Developer Tim Stenberg, of Joshua, Inc.    

A Cerro Gordo County District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed in objection to a proposed use for the former Sunset Elementary School in Clear Lake.
    Days after officials at LifeLine Resources, L.L.C. announced they had withdrawn their $200,000 offer to purchase Sunset School, Judge Chris Foy issued his ruling on a suit filed against the Board of Adjustment for

Sam Jones, an eighth grader at Clear Lake Middle School, has won a statewide financial literacy essay contest and has been named Iowa’s 2012 Money Smart Kid.
    Jones was recognized at a Money Smart Week kickoff event at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s West Des Moines office. At the event, John Sorensen, president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association, and Marybeth Foster,