The following message, word for word, was sent from Mayor Eric Boomeyer to local news media:
Mayors Crabb from Clear Lake and Bookmeyer from Mason City have a healthy respect for each other and a valued friendship.
The mayors both preach to their citizens that Mason City and Clear Lake compliment each other and support each other’s community year round. They team up on economic development and tourism matters. The one thing they know, that they are stronger together.
But a few hours a year, they throw it all out the window for the Mason City vs. Clear Lake football game.
“It started last year, I called the mayor up and told him I had an idea,” said Mayor Crabb.
Last year the wager was that the losing mayor would serve lunch in the winning mayor’s school’s cafeteria. That resulted in Mayor Bookmeyer traveling over to Clear Lake.
“I would have rather brought Mayor Crabb over my direction but I really enjoyed meeting all the kids in Clear Lake. They have a great group of students, very respectful.”
It is now an annual wager between the two mayors.
“We settled on the same agreement but I am going to introduce the Mayor to the Mohawks this year,” said Mayor Bookmeyer.
Crabb chuckles at that, “I think the mayor will look good in his Clear Lake Lion apron again this year.”
“It will be a fun night in North Iowa,” said Bookmeyer grins.
