Globe-Gazette from Mason City, Iowa • 1

VW THUKSUAY, JAN. 15, 2009 750 ETTE GAZ Cheer Fund total well above goal We're Online At globegazette.com COMiNG FRIDAY Generous North lowans contribute more than $123,000 in difficult times to make Christmas merrier for others; 80-year total near $2 million 6000 CHEER FUND 2008 the collected funds to families and organizations in need. One hundred percent of all donations are given back to the North Iowa community. This year's effort shows, See CHEER, A2 Rock 'n' roll royalty will be featured at sessions Maria Elena Holley, Graham Nash, Bobby Vee and many others will participate in free public symposiums By MARY PIEPER mary.piepergl0bega2ette.com CLEAR LAKE Maria Elena Holly, members of the Ritchie Valens family, J.P. Richardson Graham Nash, By DEB NICKLAY deb.nicklayglobegazette.com MASON CITY North Iowa, take a bow.

Despite the sagging economy and gloomy financial forecast, the 2008 Christmas Cheer Fund surpassed all expectations, taking in 23 As the drifts grow higher and higher, North lowans keep shoveling while they brace for the coldest temperatures in more than a decade on mmmsm mnm the Globe Gazette, who serves as president of the fund. "We are very honored this year to not only hit the goal, but to far exceed it." The final tally was $123,601.85. That amount pushes the Christmas Cheer Fund cumulative income since it was established in 1927 near the $2 million mark. The Cheer Fund annually solicits donations and gives 4 if percent more than its $100,000 goal. "We're elated," said Howard Query, publisher of onto streets, she said.

"We've had to stack it high this year," said Ian Stockberg-er, who was plowing a lot across from The Manor, 302 Second St. N.E. The battle to keep parking lots clean has put some plow drivers at odds with city crews. "We push it out and they push it in," Stockberger said. "It's hard to keep it all on the median." To a lesser degree, that also goes for those moving snow the old-fashioned way.

Fred Danger, 657 Fourth St. N.E., was shoveling snow onto a mound taller than he is 5-foot-10 at the end of his driveway. "It's going to get higher" he said, joking that he ought to have a sculpture artist come by and carve his face into the mountain of snow. He said he's lived in his house 20 years. Maybe once 10 years ago there was this much snow, but this is the most in recent years, Danger said.

And the key to tossing it so high? "Muscles," he said, face beaming from under a furry hat fit for Siberia. Downtown, Jeff Watts shoveled out his frozen car in the lot west of City Hall. "At least it's nice and pow- mm. Bobby Vee, The Crickets, Sir Tim Rice and many others will speak at symposiums during the 50 Winters Later celebration in Clear Lake. The celebration, which begins Jan.

28, marks the 50th anniversary of the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens played their final concert. Maria Elena Holly, the widow of Buddy Holly, will speak on Jan. 29, as will members of the Valens family.

J.P. Richardson son of The Big Bopper, will speak on Jan. 30. Wanda Jackson, Vee and The Crickets also will take part in symposiums that day. Those who performed at or attended the 1959 Winter Dance Party concert at the Surf will participate in symposiums on Jan.

31. Symposium topics on Feb. 1 will include Chicano rock; a songwriters' panel featuring Sonny Curtis of The Crickets and Kevin Montgomery; and the influence Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper had in Great Britain, featuring Nash, Peter Asher and Gordon Waller (Peter and Gordon), and Rice. The symposiums, most, of which will take place at E.B. Stillman Auditorium at Clear Lake Middle School, are open to the public.

Admission to most of them is free. A complete schedule of all events related to the 50 Winters Later celebration will be published in the Preview section of the Jan. 22 Globe Gazette. For a complete schedule of the symposiums, see the online version of this story at www.globegazette.com. America speaks: First dog should be a basic mutt WASHINGTON (AP) Mr.

President-elect, the votes are in: American pet owners prefer a mutt in the White House. By more than a 2-1 margin, pet owners say the Obamas should choose a mutt for their first dog over a purebred, according to an Associated poll released Wednesday. People who don't have pets mostly don't care either way. "Let's get philosophical about it: We're kind of a Fred Danger of Mason City looks for a place to put the snow as the piles at the end of his driveway rise over his head. We'd like to share your weather-related photos with other North lowans.

Send them, one at a time, in JPEG version no larger than 1MBtonewsglobegazette.com. Wallpaper makes a comeback Oprah Winfrey and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" reported it, Europeans and southerners sing its praises. Wallpaper is making a comeback. INSIDE TODAY It. 1 Gaelic Storm tickets on sale Gaelic Storm, an award-winning Celtic band, will per- form on Tuesday, Feb.

19, as part of the 2008-2009 North Iowa Area Community College Performing Arts Series. Preview, C2 Thinking of buying a new computer? The Globe Gazette's newest Tech Talk offers tips and considerations you need to keep in mind. Look for it under "Multimedia" at: globegazette.com TODAY'S WEATHER TODAY High Low 8 -20 Sunny and bitterly cold today; extraordinarily cold tonight. Complete forecast, A10 Get the latest weather including live radar at www.globegazette.com INDEX BusinessMarkets Comics Entertainment Iowa News National News North Iowa Obituaries Opinion Sudoku Puzzle World News A5 C7 C6 A6 A7 A3-4 A8 A9 C6 A10 GLOBE CONTACTS Business Office: 641-421-0500 News Sports: 641-421-0524 800-421-0524 I 641 357 7j January's only half gone, but snow total already near monthly average. Page A2 North lowans are facing some of the coldest temperatures in more than a decade.

Page A2 Everyone should take precautions against frostbite and hypothermia. Page A3 Tired of it ail? A ARIAN SCHUESSLERTh GMm Gazettt nil A 1 Including a time for even colder weather. "They said it will be 25 below tonight. There'll be a lot of cars not starting," Watts said. -7 JTi By JOE BUTTWEILER joe.buttweilerglobegazette.com MASON CITY North lowans layered on the heavy clothing and dug out as best they could Wednesday from VIDEO yet another snowfall, charmed by the Nordic surroundings yet wary about cop ing with it all.

"It's tough out there," said Tom Baumgartner, a postal carrier who was trudging over and around snow banks along Twelfth Street Northeast, some of them waist-high. "The weather conditions are really bad freezing temps and deep snow," said Baumgartner, who wore three layers on top and three below to keep warm. At the time about noon it was about 5 below zero, with a plunge toward minus-25 predicted for Wednesday night and wind chills between 35 and 45 below. "The snow is really piled up," said Verna Askildson, 711 Eighth St. S.E., as she waited in her SUV near East Park to pick up a relative.

Because of the high mounds of snow at many intersections, drivers have to be extra careful when crossing or turning 7 2612 Check out the new photo galleries on our Web site. Go to "Multimedia," Photo Galleries, Latest Galleries." Tired of winter? Check out Think Spring, a collection of file photos from past springs. Like winter? Check out our Snow Scenes 2009 photo gallery, snow photos from the last few days. All at: globegazette.com dcry" he said. His Pontiac wouldn't start first time since he bought it in 2000, he said.

"I put the key in and There's a first time for everything, I guess." Trucks, 4x4 SUV's, Vans Cars.