Progress 2023

RIVERHAWKREVIVAL

New

enhance MCHS sports programs

AUSTIN HANSON austin hanson@globegazette com

The future has almost arrived for Mason City High School Constructioncrewsare putting the finishing touches on the Riverhawks’ new natatorium and field house.

The Mason City Community Schools Board authorized the project which came with an estimated price tag of about $26 million, according to the Globe Gazette two years ago Some of the facilities have begun to open up for student-athlete use the most notable of which is the weight room. Boasting almost double the space of Mason City’s old

weight room,the new workout center is adorned with Riverhawk wall art and features squat racks, free weights, and numerous machines designed to help athletes perform their best.

The expanded weight room benefits athletes and casual students alike. Mason City now offers a performance physical education course that all students are encouraged to take.

The class gives the Riverhawks a way to get their strength and conditioning work done during the school day for course credit. Mason City head football coach and

physical education teacher

Josh Reuter said the class could eliminate morning workouts and improve athletes’ sleep schedules

“Being a P.E. teacher here, it allows us to offer far more opportunities for students,” Reuter said of the new facilities “I currently run a performance physical education class which our athletes are encouraged to take and all students can take. We can run about 250 student-athletes through a strength training program in our brand new weight room. And when the

field house is done, we’ll be able to walk them down the hall and use the indoor track for the same class.”

The weight room was furnished by a fundraising campaign called The Future is Now. Spearheaded by community member Phil Johnson, The Future is Now hoped to raise $750,000 to outfit Mason City’s new facilities with state-of-theart equipment. A post on the campaign’s Facebook page from July indicated over $1 million had been donated.

When the natatorium is completed, Mason City aims to offer even more physical-education options to its students. Reuter said the new pool could host a course that allows students to get their lifeguard certification and class credit simultaneously. Students that get certified through Mason City could be hired by the school to watch over the natatorium.

Reuter also suggested kayaking and fishing could be incorporated into the curriculum. Students could start learning inside, then test their new skills on the Winnebago River — which is steps away from the new field house.

The natatorium and field house are connected via a new entry. Lined completely with windows, the entrance will be used for indoor sports and football.

On Friday nights in the fall, fans will be able to park in the lot in front of MCHS and proceed to the football stadium through the new entry.

A fan shop and concession stand will be located within the new entrance. The construction project has more than doubled the size of the concessions area. The entrance will serve as a hub for Mason City athletics, boasting access to the football stadium, gymnasium, field house, and natatorium. The interconnectedness of the field house and main gym may stand to benefit the Riverhawks’ basketball program the most.

Mason City boys basketball head coach Nick Trask used to utilize up to four separate buildings to pull off the Hardee’s Classic — a local youth hoops tournament. Now, Trask can host the event in one space.

“Right now, when we run our big fundraiser youth tournament, the Hardee’s Classic, I literally have four different buildings going,” Trask said. “So, that’s four different concessions, four different supervisors. It’s super difficult to plan that all out. Now, to be able to have the exact same number of courts all underneath one roof — so we have one concession stand and one supervisor — that just makes everything so much nicer.”

Beyond the Hardee’s Classic, Trask said the facility will benefit Mason City’s basketball program from a scheduling perspective. Trask does not currently have access to enough courts to accommodate Mason City’s youth, middle school, junior varsity and travel teams.

The girls’ and boys’ varsity teams split time in the main gym at Mason City. Junior varsity and freshman teams are often pushed to other buildings, forcing athletes to walk through wintry conditions to get to practice.

With the addition of the field house, the Riverhawks will be able to streamline practice sched -

ules for their high school, youth and travel teams. Trask can now work with multiple teams a day in the same school.

“We’ve got about 11 travel teams that we manage through our youth system,” Trask said. “And if I could have four of them all practicing at once in the field house, maybe they could even help each other. One team might be better at something than another, and they can join practices for that moment. Or I can come over and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to go to each one of these four practices and teach a zone offense.’

I mean, how awesome is that?”

The field house will also be equipped with an indoor track when it’s complete. The facility will move Mason City’s runners out of the school’s hallways and main gym and onto an actual competition surface.

The space is also large enough for the tennis, golf, baseball and softball teams to practice in. Many of the Riverhawks’ spring and summer athletes have had limited opportunities to practice during past winters because there weren’t any public spaces for them to do sport-specific drills in.

“It just gives so much training space for all the programs,” Mason City Co-Activities Director Matt Berkley said. “Baseball, softball can get in there and they can bat. You know, they can get in there and do some drills where they (couldn’t) do that during the winter months otherwise.”

Berkley added that the facility could help athletes and families save money because they won’t need to use private spaces to train during the winter months.

Mason City’s natatorium is equipped with a video board, and the school is

First Citizens Bank. The new scoreboards will be equipped to run full-length commercials and show live game action. The equipment will also allow the Riverhawks to stream their games via Apple, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

Berkley said the new video screens are necessities as the boards in the football stadium and main gym are dated. The Daktronics football scoreboard is not compatible with new software.

The scoreboards in the main gym are not equipped to handle the IHSAA and IGHSAU’s new shot clocks rules. The displays are not compatible with the Daktronics shot clocks Mason City has positioned above its baskets.

The scoreboards will serve as the final portion of Mason City’s athletic facilities update. Berkley said he hopes the scoreboards will ultimately give the district’s students hands-on opportunities to learn about game broadcasts, crowd interactivity and sports marketing.

Berkley added that Mason City will install new scoreboards in the main gym first because the project is smaller than the one the football stadium requires. The Riverhawks are aiming to have their main gym video screens installed by August.

Counting The Future is Now and scoreboard campaigns, well over $1 million has been donated to update Mason City’s facilities. Reuter said the community’s effort to enhance athlete experiences demonstrates why Mason City is a great sports town.

hoping to install new scoreboards in its main gym and football stadium. The Riverhawks are in the midst of a fundraising effort for the tech, which will cost $350,000. Mason City has already raised $80,000 through partnerships with Coca-Cola and

“It shows the pride the community has in our school,” Reuter said. “To invest this type of money into this type of facility, it shows that they care about our schools. And that helps build pride within students too. When they’re in this facility, they get to use brand new equipment. It shows them, ‘Hey, people care about this, so maybe we should too.’ It just builds pride in Mason City.”

AUSTIN HANSON PHOTOS , AUSTIN.HANSON@GLOBEGAZETTE.COM

Mason city high School’s new athletics entrance.

construction on Mason city high School’s new field house continues on Feb. 23, 2023.

Mason city high School’s weight room.

Silver linings

There may be hidden blessings in a crisis

BILL SCHICKEL

Mayor of Mason City

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic drove a surge in new business creation It turns out that if a pandemic drives people indoors with little to do, a significant portion of those people will do something entrepreneurial

According to the most recentdatafromtheU S Census Bureau, there were 301 new business applications in Cerro Gordo County in 2021,a25%increaseoverthe previousyear Thisisslightly betterthanthestatewideincrease of 23%

“Our findings strongly suggest the pandemic surge inbusinessapplicationswas followed by true employer business creation with significant labor market implications,”economistsRyanA Decker and John Haltiwanger wrote in Atlantic magazine Withmanylosingtheir jobs,the pandemic provided the motive to start an entrepreneurial awakening

We also seem to be in the middle of a surge in manufacturing employment Just one example is the 100 new jobs created by the adaptive reuseoftheoldShopkostore for EV golf car assembly

During the first few months ofCOVID,Americanmanufacturers cut about 1 3 million jobs By the fall of 2022 manufacturers had added about 1 4 million jobs, a net gain of 67,000 jobs The numbers could further rise as firms bring more manufacturing back home to reduce their exposure to Chinese supply chain issues

There has also been a deluge of outdoor dining options Before COVID-19, outdoordiningwasmorethe exception Nowitistherule

It is exciting to see the summertime hustle and bustle downtown It has mostly moved inside in the winter, but it will not be long until spring when outdoor dining will be back in full force

The pandemic also saw a local surge in drive-through and take-out food service

Of all orders placed at U S fast-food restaurants in 2022, 85% were taken to go, according to the Wall Street Journal That is up from

roughly 76% in the years leading up to the pandemic Among full-service restaurants, 33% of orders were to go in 2022 nearly double pre-pandemic rates

There has also been a dramatic shift toward downtown housing In the last year more than 100 new downtown housing permits wereissued Thisishappeninginpartbecauseoftheoffice space made available by people working from home

Permits for multi-family housing skyrocketed last year The100permitsissued represent an immediate investment of $10 million in our neighborhoods Permits forsinglefamilyhomesdoubled Meetings have become more accessible and efficient Zoom meetings which were rare prior to COVID-19, are now commonplace Hybrid models where you can participate from home are also com-

mon For example, the public can participate in City Council meetings remotely orinperson Formoreinformation go to masoncity net and click on “How To/View Council Meetings”

The pandemic even showed us how robust and adaptive the English language is Words and phrases that were not part of our daily vocabulary became common How many of us knew what “zooming” or “social distancing” was prior to the pandemic? Even theactualterm“COVID-19” is new

None of this is in any way meant to minimize the tragedy of COVID-19 Many people lost their jobs, suffered illness and even death from COVID-19 This is obviouslytragic Ourheartsare broken by the loss

But the pandemic also helped our community once again demonstrate its remarkable resilience Al-

bert Einstein famously said, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity”That

certainly has proven true for Mason City Bill Schickel is the Mayor

of Mason City, Iowa Contact him at mayor@masoncity net

COURTESY PHOTO Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel presenting a key to the city to Jefferson Mays, who plays Mayor George Shinn in the Broadway rendition of “The Music Man

A community on the rise

City marked several big developments over the last year

Clear Lake has always been a community full of rich history, natural beauty, and an entrepreneurial spirit. This past year, Clear Lake continued to demonstrate its progress and determination to grow. As we reflect on the past year, it is clear that Clear Lake has made great strides in supporting its business community and improving its quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Clear Lake celebrated several exciting developments the past year, including the opening of the Fairfield Inn and Suites, an 85-room hotel and conference center, which was a remarkable accomplishment given that hotel construction was halted across the country due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Don McLean visited Clear Lake

and sang at the Historic Surf Ballroom. He also released a documentary, “The Day the Music Died,” showcasing Clear Lake as a place that has lovingly kept alive the legacy of the the three stars who died in a February 1959 plane crash. The Lady of the Lake celebrated 35 years cruising Clear Lake, and several new businesses opened their doors, including the Clear Lake Athletics and Wellness Center, 173 Degrees Craft Distillery, Lake Life Rentals, The Legacy Grill, and Surfside.

One of the most significant developments in Clear Lake this past year was the restoration of the Seawall, which secured a place on the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration project was essential for preserving the historic character of the lakefront and ensuring the safety of the community for generations to come.

The community also broke ground on the Everybody Plays Inclusive Playground, which will provide a space for children of all

abilities to play and connect with one another. This project is a reflection of Clear Lake’s commitment to making the community more inclusive and accessible for all.

One of the most exciting developments in 2022 was that Clear Lake was named a Destination Iowa Creative Placemaking grant recipient. The Surf District revitalization project will build on the Surf’s National Historic Landmark designation, preserve its music history, and continue to draw people to Clear Lake for generations to come.

These developments have contributed to Clear Lake’s economic growth, making the community an even more attractive place for businesses and individuals to call home. Private investment, development, and progress are expected to continue this year, further strengthening Clear Lake’s economic future.

This year the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 80 years of serving the Clear

Lake area. The Chamber’s work has evolved over time, but its commitment to supporting the business community has remained steadfast. In addition to supporting businesses, the Chamber recognizes the importance of improving North Iowa’s quality of life through engaging events and promoting Clear Lake as a prime tourism destination achieving re-

cord-breaking attendance at events like Color the Wind, Thursdays on Main, and TRI Clear Lake.

The Chamber will continue to support Clear Lake tourism, executing award-winning events, and connect, promote, and support Chamber members. By doing so, the Chamber aims to create a thriving destination and drive community prosperity.

Clear Lake’s progress this past year is a testament to its economic strength. The future looks bright here, as the community continues to make strides in supporting its businesses, improving its quality of life, and attracting new visitors and residents.

Stacy Doughas is president & CEO of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

KAYLEE SCHUERMANN

Mason City Cement goes green

„ Grinding the burned product, known as “clinker,” together with some 5% gypsum to control the time of set of the cement.

MATTHEW REZAB

Globe Gazette

Mason City Cement, in collaboration with parent company Heidelberg Materials, is taking steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its cement plant.

Plant Manager Patrick Karamaga said the company is committed to spending $4 million to $5 million in the next few years to get the company to using 50% alternative fuels by 2026.

David Perkins, vice president of government affairs and communications North America for Heidelberg, said the company is committed to generating 50% of its revenue from sustainable products by 2030. Perkins and other company officials said they plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2030.

“Obviously, we want to be proactive as a company and really try to lower our carbon footprint, really trying to lower our energy intensity while recognizing we have to be competitive,” Perkins said.

Germany-based Heidelberg Materials employs more than 50,000 worldwide and about 8,500 in North America at its various businesses, including about 120 in Mason City.

Reserves for creating cement in North Iowa are believed to be able to sustain production for another 75 to 100 years.

“That’s the thing about our industry is we’re really a longterm industry on the cement side for sure because of the investment that’s required to produce,” Perkins said.

Perkins said the process of making cement includes a step that turns the limestone into lime. That process — called calcination — produces CO2. Perkins said that’s about 65% of emissions from cement.

According to Encyclopedia

Britannica, There are four stages in the manufacture of portland cement:

„ Crushing and grinding the raw materials.

„ Blending the materials in

the correct proportions.

„ Burning the prepared mix in a kiln.

As a whole, Heidelberg plans to earn 50% of its revenue from sustainable products by 2030. According to the company’s webpage:

„ It focuses on heavy building materials.

„ It is committed to generate 50% of revenue from sustainable products by 2030.

„ It is committed to reducing CO2 emissions by almost 50% by 2030.

“These are things we’re doing voluntarily, Perkins said. “We realize that the marketplace is starting to pull for this and we want to get out in front of this.”

Perkins said there are things that could be done 100% of the time that are not being done all the time now. He pointed out CO2 content can be reduced, but some materials are reusable. He said concrete is fully recyclable by crushing it, screening it and putting it back into production.

Perkins also said the company has been working with MIT and other institutions around the world to come up with solutions to become cleaner. He said they’ve learned 25% to 30% of the CO2 created when concrete is produced is reabsorbed into the product itself.

Perkins said cement, being produced on the North End since 1911, can sometimes be a misunderstood product.

“Cement is really what holds everything together,” he said. “Cement and concrete, you always here those two terms, and sometimes they’re used interchangeably. Cement is like flour to a cake, it holds everything together.”

As of now, Mason City Cement has no plans to capture the carbon it produces as has been proposed with ethanol plants across the Midwest. But officials aren’t saying it is completely off the table in the future.

GLOBE GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

an aerial photo of the former Lehigh cement company plant in Mason city taken in 2017.

COURTESY OF SEN. ERNST’S OFFICE

u.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, left, stands next to Mason city cement plant manager Patrick Karamaga during a January tour of the plant.

Transformation that ’s more than skin de ep.

Lehig h Cement b e comes Heidel b erg Mat erials

We at Lehigh Cement are pleased to join our global parent company in transitioning to Heidelberg Materials. Our entire Nor th American family of brands is united under this new banner while remaining focused on what we do best: heavy building materials.

While this rebrand is an outward change, it represent s a deeper transformation in our company An evolution that has both responded to and shaped our ind ustry

It reflect s a much broader and innovative approach to ser ving you, our customers, as we lead the ind ustry in sustainability and digital solutions.

PROGRESS 2023

NAVIGATING THE

SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2023 | SECTION F

HAPPYTRAILS

ROBIN MCCLELLAND

Globe Gazette

North Iowa is known for its wealth of outdoor activities Residents hunt, fish, bike, hike, run and swim every day in our region no matter the weather Clubs and groups of like-minded and similarly skilled enthusiasts have long been a part of social life in the region.

Opportunities to get involved in the outdoors are more plentiful than ever Mason City received a $4 5 million Destination Iowa grant, and plans in the works for years are finally being realized.

The money is being used to fund Bike North Iowa, a collaborative effort between the city, Cerro Gordo County, North Iowa Human Powered Trails and Mason City Active Living and Transportation.

The state recently announced Destination Iowa grants to boost tourism and build local economies The grant is made available through the Iowa Economic

Development Authority, and the $100 million statewide investment is designed “to bolster the

quality of life in Iowa’s communities and attract visitors and new residents to the state,” according

to the IEDA’s website It is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Bike North Iowa is an expansive project that includes the development of single track trails, completion of the Highline Trail, connecting existing bike paths and trails, ongoing maintenance, and the crown jewel: construction of an eight acre bike park just north of 12th Street Northeast and adjacent to the Zerbles and Lime Creek nature trails

Mason City Administrator

Aaron Burnett is keen to see construction of the park get underway

“What we have planned, you won’t find a bike park this size, with these kinds of features until you get all the way to Arkansas The volunteers we’ve had working on these plans over the years have outdone themselves,”Burnett said

In July, Mason City dedicated the new kayak and canoe launch at 12th Street Northeast. The location will soon be home to a new boulder climbing attraction as well. The park features two portage ramps,a paved trail connecting to existing pedestrian and bike trails, and a parking area

Chad Schreck, CEO of the North Iowa Corridor Economic

Clear Lake tourism bounces back

to be $100,000 more than 2021’s figures

The city is home to some unique contributors to Clear Lake’s quality of life and tourism:

Clear Lake Arts Center

KAYLEE SCHUERMANN Globe Gazette

Tourism in Clear Lake fuels much of the city’s economy Clear Lake’s hotel and motel tax revenue helps fund tourism marketing, economic development, lake restoration and the parks and rec department.

Whilethecityexperiencedadecrease in tourism revenue during the pandemic, it has completely recovered:

 2019: $533 580

 2020: $427,188

 2021: $544,938

The city is still awaiting 2022’s results but expects the revenue

The Clear Lake Arts Center hosts many events and programs throughout the year, including classes, after-school programs and yearly art sales The exhibits include the main gallery, artist spotlights, themed group shows and quilt shows

The center also collaborates with local businesses to create unique event opportunities and reach a broader audience.

“A lot of us are nonprofits and if we can work together, it means that we are sharing those resources and supporting each other,” said Jessi Myers, executive

director “I think that the more organizations we have like that in the community, the more variety we have, the better experience we will have here and having other people want to come here and spend their time ”

Due to a decrease in volunteers caused by the pandemic, the center made room for two paid positions to maintain services, events and operational needs, according to Myers

“Our goal is to promote creativity throughout the community primarily in the areas of visuals and performing arts, and the way that we serve the community is by looking for interesting and unique ways to bring those things to life in our community,” said Myers

GLOBE GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

country officials, Park Board members and representatives from North Iowa Human Powered Trails gathered for the Destination Iowa award presentation From left are Matt Curtis, Dr Jay Lala, Steve Bailey, Mike (Doc) Adams City Administrator Aaron Burnett, Melissa Fabian Mayor Bill Schickel Anne Hansen Chris Watts and Josh Brandt.

SCHUERMANN GLOBE GAZETTE The Clear Lake Arts Center works with various businesses to create unique

Tourism

From F1

Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center

The Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center is a hub for North Iowa residents of allagestotakemusiclessons and immerse themselves in music culture. The center offers instrument and voice lessons throughout the school year, and it provides various music programs and camps in the summer

“Having music education opportunities for children and adults is extremely important, especially in a community with such a rich history of music,” said Nikki Johnson, education coordinator

In 2020, the Surf Ballroom started the Surf Scholarship, which pays for student’s lessons who cannot afford them. The scholarship also assists school-age students that wish to attend music camps and need instrument repairs “It has been growing every semester as far as students who utilize the benefits of the scholarship, and it wouldn’t be possible without all the support that

Trails

From F1

Development Company, hopes residents take advantage of the expansion

“There has been a lot of planning and preparation over the last decade or more to get us to this point The Willow Creek Master Plan has been in place and updated as we moved forward, the city is working on the Highway 122 and North Federal Corridor revitalization, the West Downtown neighborhood is getting some tax abatement, and while it may seem like these are individual projects, they are intertwined in a lot of ways,” Schreck said The River Apartment complex broke ground on 120 rental units in July 2019 and cut the ribbon by January 2021 The River II broke ground in October and is slated to open 98 more units by this fall Those complexes are squarely in the Willow Creek development area and will be accessible via the bike trail

we’ve received,” Johnson said

Larch Pine Inn

Larch Pine Inn Bed & Breakfast was built as a home in 1875 and was converted into a bed and breakfast in the 1980s Paula and

expansion Residents who would like to get involved in revitalization can contact Friends of Willow Creek, a volunteer organization actively involved in the planning and execution of cleanup and beautification of the area

Beautification and nuisance abatement are topics that have been on the Mason City Council’s agenda for years The West Downtown neighborhood project has seen the city reach out to property owners whose homes may be in disrepair with the offer of matching grant money By working with North Iowa Corridor EDC and other agencies to apply for complementary grants, Mason City is seeing those goals realized

Kenn Hanus purchased the inn in 2018, and in 2021, it won “Outstanding Lodging Property” from the Iowa Tourism Office. Paula describes the inn as a “Victorian home that feels like a 21st-century hotel room.” The inn has

four available rooms,as well as a one-bedroom apartment located above the garage. The rooms feature hotel-quality sheets, jetted tubs, smart TVs, highspeed wifi and desks The location is ideal for Clear Lake guests, with the lake

one block away, the Surf Ballroom two blocks away and downtown three blocks away

The Hanuses promote local businesses and events, adding to local tourism. “If you think about the forces on a business,and you think

of it as the community, the business itself and, of course, the visitors, I would put the word outstanding in the center,” Paula stated. “We have an outstanding community,an outstanding bed and breakfast and also our visitors that come are outstanding.”

Boutique hotel

The city has another unique tourism prospect in progress a boutique hotel and hopes to break ground in April 2024 The plot was originally home to Oaks Hotel, which burned down in 1922.

“The proximity to the Surf Ballroom will offer a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy an event at the Surf and be able to stay within walking distance to their hotel,” said Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory “Additionally, an access to the lake will create a nexus between the community’s two greatest physical assets: the Surf Ballroom and the lake itself”

Kaylee Schuermann is a reporter for the Globe Gazette, covering community interest stories in Clear Lake Garner and Forest City Follow her on Twitter: @KPSchuermann

LISA GROUETTE GLOBE GAZETTE Clear Lake, Iowa

GROUETTE, GLOBE GAZETTE

Sukup celebrates 60 years

work is still an option for employees in some departments. Hybrid schedules are also available for those who want to work in the o ce on some days and from home on others.

pany that is able to provide meaningful benefits to keep employees here and show that we go above and beyond,” she said.

MARY PIEPER

Special to the Globe Gazette

She eld-based Sukup Manufacturing has a lot to celebrate during its 60th anniversary this year.

Emily Schmitt, chief administrative o cer and legal counsel for Sukup, said the company had one of its best years ever in 2022 and is looking for even greater success in 2023.

“We are coming out of the pandemic as a stronger company,” she said.

Sukup has furthered its reach in North Iowa over the past few years by opening new facilities and expanding others.

The company recently opened a site in Clear Lake that now has more than two dozen employees. The team there is focused on producing mixed-flow dryers.

In May 2022, Sukup hosted a ribbon cutting for an expansion at its Manly facility. This site started as a rail facility to bring in raw materials for Sukup, but it now also boasts a manufacturing facility on the north side.

By adding more machines, Sukup was able to double its employment at the Manly site to 15, according to Samantha Petersburg, the company’s director of human resources.

The company opened two new facilities in Hampton in 2021, and the o ce space at its Ames location has tripled in size.

But the She eld plant, which employs 500 of the company’s 600 employees, and the She eld community remain at the heart of what Sukup does.

Earlier this year Sukup announced a partnership with Charlie Brown Preschool & Child Care, West Fork Schools, and United Bank and Trust She eld/ Hampton to build a child care center in She eld. She eld has only one other child-care center, which is currently full. Schmitt said community leaders got together last year to decide how to fill the need for local child care. The group decide to apply for a Future Ready Iowa Childcare Infrastructure grant, which provides funds for businesses starting child-care centers on site or near their site.

The She eld child-care project received $1.2 million in grant funds and is now

raising matching funds.

The child-care center, which is expected to open in the fall of 2024, will have capacity for 150 children.

“We already have a waiting list,” Schmitt said.

Sukup sees the day care center as a way to support its employees, according to Petersburg. She said the company has workers commuting to She eld from a nine-county area, so having child care available in that community is important to them.

Employees at the Sukup plant who enroll their children at the new day care center will be able to visit them during lunch breaks, according to Schmitt.

“Those little benefits are crucial and that’s one of the awesome parts of working for a family-owned and operated company that focuses on family at the heart of everything they do,” she said.

Over the past year, Sukup has focused on internal promotions to fill management positions.

James Perez, who has been working at the Sheffield plant for nearly a decade, was promoted to plant manager in 2022 to replace retiring manager John Swanson, who held that position for 44 years.

Matt Koch, the head of IT at Sukup, was recently selected as the company’s chief marketing o cer.

Schmitt said the COVID-19 pandemic “gave us an opportunity to look at how we were doing things,” particularly from an HR perspective.

Sukup had to adapt quickly and provide remote work options that weren’t there before, as well as more flexible schedules for those whose jobs required them to work on-site, she said.

Petersburg said remote

The company recently announced it is o ering paid maternity leave. Each employee now also received two floating holidays.

“We are a Christian company, but we know some employees have other important holidays, so that was something we wanted to show our workforce we are there to support as well,” Schmitt said.

Many people, including Sukup employees, re-examined their priorities in the aftermath of the pandemic, according to Petersburg.

“We want to be that com-

To celebrate Sukup’s 60th anniversary, the company is doing a matching fund campaign to build 30 additional Safe T Homes, which it began manufacturing in 2010 as a housing solution for the developing world. Sukup is planning a charity golf tournament this summer that will feature celebrities to help raise money for the Safe T Homes.

In addition, special anniversary events for Sukup employees are in the works.

“We are proud to be in North Iowa,” Petersburg said. “We continue to invest in this area, and take pride in being a manufacturer in Iowa.”

Supervisor touts progress in county operations

CHRIS WATTS

Cerro Gordo County Supervisor

When I was first elected to represent the taxpayers of Cerro Gordo, reviewing the budget and facilities were top priorities

The late Bob Ammoson, Jay Urdahl and Phil Dougherty had left the county in pretty good financial shape. Their big project was the new law enforcement facility west of town on county-owned property It was a great legacy for them and the residents of North Iowa.

Listening to other issues, the Secondary Roads Department stood out. Most of the county sheds were in failing condition and repair estimates were out of sight.

We started by selling the county maintenance facility on South Federal Avenue, the maintenance building in Clear Lake and property across the street there also, and the old Highway Patrol station at the intersection of Eisenhower Avenue and Highway 122 west of Mason City Kwik Star is now on that parcel.

Not only did this stir development at those locations, but it put previously county-owned property back on the tax rolls The proceeds went toward our new, modern joint maintenance facility and engineer’s office next to the law enforcement center, also on county-owned land.

Next came planning for better logistical locations and upgrades to the other locations

„ Ventura’s new maintenance facility opened in December

„ Thornton’s new maintenance location opened at the end of February

„ The North Illinois facility in Mason City was the worst out of all. That location has been prepared for a new maintenance facility going up in the spring. These three facilities will be paid for with federal American Rescue Plan money, long-overdue improvements to county infrastructure while watching out for the budget at the same time.

This will leave us looking toward Dougherty and Rockwell for remaining improvements

The current board had budgeted for new trucks and road graders over and above the normal replacement periods in place. A lot of needs replacing and upgrading. This equipment is the backbone to infrastructure maintenance in the rural areas of the county Rollers are being considered for the graders to help minimize the rock

in the ditches

The roads, bridges and drainage in the county also require attention. Keep in mind, when the gravel roads, bridges and original drainage tiles were first put in, trucks and tractors were a lot smaller than they are today

We hired Brandon Billings, native to our area, as county engineer He brings fresh ideas to the table all the time.

There are over 691 miles of gravel roads in our county It’s not perfect yet, probably never will be, but our maintenance crew employees work hard at trying to keep up with the aging infrastructure.

Drainage tile in many locations is 100 years old. And remember, when this was installed farm equipment was a lot smaller and weighed much less Imagine the weight compacting down on these old clay tiles

Constant repair

Bridges in many rural locations are narrow and farmers have to drive several miles around to get to land on the other side. In these areas, bridges are being identified for “bridge extensions” and you should see this improve going forward.

Snow removal concerns are always a point of contention.

The first snow this season, the roads were too soft for some of our heavy equipment It would have done more harm than good Exercising caution is always at rural residents forefront, and most understand the waiting game

with bad weather

The second snow/blizzard we had, the goal was to clear hard-surface roads and hopefully plow a path down gravel roads to open the roads and returning as winds drifted them in again.

I spent the early morning hours riding with one of our seasoned drivers two days before Christmas at the beginning of the blizzard. These guys are out in this when we are all at home safe and warm or should be. The question is usually “why my road hasn’t been done yet.”

I understand, and so do they They are giving it their best.

We tried larger rock for the rural gravel roads, hoping this would work down in and help strengthen the base. Again, how long have they been there?

We had some sizing issues from a quarry we were using, causing headaches for those traveling on the larger rock. We are aware and working through this, thinking outside the box to fix some of these bad roads All in all, county crews are doing fantastic work.

As many of you know, my cell number is published on the county site. I do take calls and I do return calls I do not just represent the new District 1, but all of Cerro Gordo County

I’m proud to serve you and see these projects through.

Chris Watts represents District 1 on the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors

GLOBE GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Kingland Construction Services project foreman Doug Holmes, in yellow, helps Vinton Feldman, a Forest City High School student in the building trades program prepare the foundation for framing of the new Cerro Gordo maintenance shed being constructed in Ventura The building opened in December

We have the technology

MATTHEW REZAB

Globe Gazette

North Iowa Area Community College electronics

technology instructor Bob Franken has found his niche after losing his job when Eaton Corporation closed its Belmond location in June

2019

He now teaches almost 40 students in NIACC’s NextGen Technician program how to code industrial machinery especially robotics

“We’ve kind of designed this program around using the same skillset that him (industrial maintenance instructor Brian Mason) and I used to be successful at Eaton,”Franken said “I wrote, built and designed the machines and the systems and troubleshot them.”

Students know if they complete the program there willbeajobouttherewaiting because of the high demand for their skills Most of the studentssaidthesamething about why they decided to apply to the industrial systems technology program “Forme,it’sthehands-on experience,” said student John Brandt.

Students are expected to be in the classroom or lab at 7:30 a m each day and usually work until about 2:30 p.m inside the Buettner Careers Building. In some

cases students are allowed to work ahead and leave early Students enrolled in this course should expect to spend 75-90 hours (five to

six hours per week) in the Industrial Systems Technology Lab and one hour of lecture to complete the course, according to the online description.

Student Ethan Beals said he didn’t want to take a lot more math classes and decided to sign up because his father completed a similar program a few years ago

and now works on x-ray and other medical equipment. He said he plans to do something similar when he graduates Brandt plans to take another route and move on to the University of Northern Iowa to pursue an engineering degree.

Franken said demand for jobs in the field is high. He had five students quit after the first year to take fulltime jobs His students end up making more money than 75% of people with four-year degrees One of his former students is making $200,000 per year right out of school.

“My advice would be to sign up,because it’s starting to get very popular,” Franken said. “If you sign up for our class and you take our program and treat it like a job, in two years you’ll have a career that nobody will ever be able to take away from you.”

Bill Freerks and Phil Smidt, both former Eaton Corporation employees, were working on coding a roboticarmtodrawaperfect circle inside a square it had already drawn It was going well, but not perfectly “We’re just tweaking the program until we get it right,” Freerks said.

MATTHEW REZAB Globe Gazette

Dwight Schwickerath may no longer be dating a plumber’s daughter, but he’s still reaping rewards from the relationship

“I used to date a plumber’s daughter and her older brother went here and absolutelylovedtheprogram,”he said of heating/ventilation/ air conditioning classes at North Iowa Area Community College “It’s one of the best programs around”

Schwickerath and his 25 fellow students are taught by instructor Jason Ott. Ott was a 1996 graduate from NIACC’s HVAC program before returning to teach in 2007 Ott said he likes to focus on specific aspects of the HVAC world in each of the four semesters required for graduation.

“First year, first semester we start with safety, and we get into wiring,” Ott said. “Then we get into actually looking at the furnaces tearing into the furnaces, how airflow works, how we produce heat, and then we troubleshoot.”

The next three semesters are kind of a rinse and repeat method, simply changing up the type of HVAC systems being studied.

“First year is really focused on residential and then second year they come back and I get into commercial heating and controls” Ott said. “That’s where we get into the computer side. We get into programming.

From anywhere in the world you have internet access and the software you can see

pieces of equipment.”

Ott said becoming a field technician is probably the most popular career for graduates, but the number of jobs students can vie for is plentiful. He pointed out jobs such as boiler operator, controls technician, building supervisor and more.

Nate Schindelar, a second-year student from Charles City, said his current employer, Mills Inc., sent him into the program.

“The company I work for in Charles City wants to get me licensed, so you have to get two years (coursework) for that,” he said.

Schindelar praised Ott for his experience and personal touch with the students,but said taking time off from work is the most challenging thing for him.

Ott said finding a job after graduation is not a problem The field is growing, and it can be difficult for employers to find replacements for retirees Each student begins as an apprentice and can become a journeyman and eventually a master through state testing.

Ott said an aspect of the program he loves to promote is that graduates can change from one aspect of HVAC to another without having to return to school or complete more training

“They realize this is a trade with many freedoms and they don’t have to go to the same place and do the same thing over and over,” He said. “As long as the work got done, customers were happy and there wasn’t a lot of call backs they left me alone.”

He added that many technicians work out their home and never have to go into the office. Technicians are dispatched to job sites

to fix or install furnaces air conditioners or troubleshoot other problems

NIACC’s program also gives credit for internships

“I’ll work with anyone I can,” Ott said. “Anybody who’s willing to work with us Students are required to find that so they get some hands-on experience.”

On top of real-world experience, Ott said, internships create avenues for students to get jobs in the future while also solidifying what their doing at school.

Students have taken many routes to Ott’s program. He said he’s taught everyonefromage18totheir 60s Layoffs often boost the number of students Student Matt Seberson

from Waseca, Minn., was trying to figure out what he wanted to do when he found NIACC’s program.

“I was looking around at four-year programs up there with my recruitment for track and didn’t see anything I wanted to do, so I started looking at the trades,” Seberson said.

He plans to be a commercial technician after graduation this spring.

Student Caleb Rasch from Bancroft wants to become a technician He came into the program a more traditional way “I just came and visited,” hesaid “Ididn’treallyknow what I wanted to do I saw the lab and really liked it”

All the students said get-

ting a chance to work in a hands-on field was integral to joining up Ad far as advice for anyone considering applying for the program, Ott said potential students shouldn’t be worried if they don’t have a mechanical

background and not to be nervous they won’t be able to do the work.

“Some of my most successful students will tell me their mechanical aptitude before this program was putting Legos together,” Ott said.

Frankensaidgraduatescan

find jobs all over the place Popular paths include wind turbinetechnician,mechanical repair technician, X-ray technician and more

“There’s just a lot of different technologies,” Franken said “That’s why the guys are so sought after they get out of here because there’s so many jobs”

NIACC’s program was given a boost when it earned a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation According to its website, NIACC has expanded robotics education through two projects: NextGen

Technicians: Addressing IndustryDemandforRobotics,andAdvancingNextGen Technicians

Students enrolled in that course should expect to spend 75-90 hours (5-6 hours per week) in the IndustrialSystemsTechnology Lab and one hour of lecture to complete the course

FrankensaidNIACC’sIST program is more streamlined than many others in the state

“If you went to Hawkeye Tech you’d have to take six programstogetwhatyouget here,” he said “They piecemeal it into a lot of different segments versus our IST guys get it in two years

Franken said he uses 57 software packages to teach the courses, but uses four primarily FANUC, Allen-Bradley, Kawasaki and Universal are the most common teaching tools Kawasaki donated a $150,000 piece of equipment know as a CX robot

Franken said teaching coding on the different machines may call for small tweaks,butforthemostpart coding is coding

“If you have a Ford or Chevy you can probably drive someone else’s car Coding is the same way in a sense,” he said The program will be

changing its name to industrial automation and robotics technology

“Nowwewanttohighlight the fact that we have a ton of automation robotics in the program,” Franken said

He said the change to using buzz words like automation and robotics will attract new students, but they’ll still be teaching the same lessons about testing equipment, trouble shooting instrumentation and diagnostics

New name or not, one thing will remain constant, and that’s Franken’s guiding presence When talking about his favorite part of the program Brandt made it quick and easy

“My favorite thing is probably Bob,” he joked

Celebrating 100 Years of

PROGRESS 2023

NAVIGATING THE

SUMMIT-TRIBUNE STAFF

Winnebago Industries is drawing attention with its sustainable electric concept recreational vehicles

The company revealed its latest fully-operational prototype of its all-electric, zero-emission RV at the Florida RV Super Show in Florida in late January Known as the eRV2, it emerged from the

Winnebago brands’ original eRV concept vehicle, which debuted at the same event last year Rigorous field testing with everyday consumers is underway to provide insights that will assist the eRV2’s final design before it hits dealerships in the future

The eRV2 was developed in response to growing demand for more sustainable forms of road travel and engaged consum-

Lake Mills bouncing back

Larson and its parent company, Fortune Brands,are still in the process of selling the 500 Larson Ave N manufacturing building in Lake Mills It is listed for sale though JLL Brokerage firm in Des Moines which held showings in November for interested parties to tour the building.

ROB HILLESLAND

Summit-Tribune

When Larson Manufacturing permanently closed its Lake Mills plant late last year,it was a big blow to the confidence and economy of the community

The work of city leaders in the months since has helped the local business community compensate for the loss

Larson had made financial investments that benefited the Lake Mills area. It also regularly supported city, youth and youth sports activities town celebrations community projects, and Lake Mills Community School District

“The city of Lake Mills and the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation have met with companies interested in the building to discuss workforce and other factors important to site selection,” Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation Executive Director Cassie Johnson said. “There have been several interested parties, but unfortunately no takers yet.”

Johnson said the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation and WinnWorth Betco have attended conferences

ers across the company’s production lines

“Our primary goal in building the eRV2 was to help people comfortably explore the world around them with less environmental impact,” said Winnebago (brand) President Huw Bower “The user experience was at the heart of this prototype’s development, through the early days of market research and even now as it goes through

field testing. The eRV2 embodies our pioneering legacy, representing not only an achievement in design, innovation and sustainability, but also our commitment to continuously evolve with the changing needs of consumers and the world we share.”

where they were able to share site information with companies seeking rural manufacturing space.

“Like many communities across the country currently, there are major struggles in workforce and housing that make it difficult for companies to take the leap to expand or move,” Johnson said. “The Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation, city of Lake Mills, and WinnWorth Betco are continuing to work with companies to get them accurate data on our region, including why the Lake Mills community is a great place to invest and grow a business”

The sale listing of $6 9 million is for up to 154,563 square feet of building space on 15 acres in a Lake Mills industrial zone. Nearby access to U S Highway 69 and Interstate 35 are noted.

A top priority has been finding another manufacturing company to locate at the Lake Mills facility, but other options have not been taken off the table.

“In a perfect world, the company would have sought and lined up a buyer before displacing the established workforce of about 200 people,” Johnson said

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. We didn’t want our residents out of jobs, and there were many local businesses needing workers, so we teamed up with the Iowa Workforce Development agency in Mason City to host a career fair on site at the Larson Manufac-

turing building before they closed their doors”

Turning lemons to lemonade, the local organizations had local and regional businesses attend to share job information with Larson employees who were losing jobs The Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation maintained a job posting spreadsheet It accumulated more than 150 listings where people could find information on Lake Mills and regional businesses with job openings.

Johnson said the Lake Mills community has done a great job of being business-friendly over many years and noted it has an

area workforce that wants to work She cited positive impacts of several Lake Mills businesses

“All States Ag Parts, who started with less than 10 employees when they took over the former Cummins building, now has over 125 employees,” Johnson said.

“Dielectric Manufacturing recently added a second shift at their manufacturing facility where they build components for medical equipment across the globe using advance manufacturing processes”

Johnson also noted Lake Mills is home to Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association, which she called an “economic develop-

ment-focused technology company that has proactively been laying fiber optic since before it was a state initiative.” She cited multiple local businesses that have changed hands in about the past six months, which brings new life into established businesses

“Our local yoga and fitness studio,NAPA automotive parts, wine and spirits store, and motel were all purchased by new owners, and we are excited to see how they grow their businesses in our community,” she said “We also had a new automatic car wash open in November that has so far been successful, even in the cold temperatures”

Lake Mills’ leadership has continued full-speed ahead with efforts to create additional housing to help support workforce growth.

The city is sponsoring a grant application through the Iowa Economic Development Authority for a local developer to create two new downtown apartments

“If the city is awarded that grant, I can see that encouraging more downtown building owners to think creatively about their buildings and how to better utilize the upper stories,” Johnson said. “Lake Mills has also had a handful of new homes built in 2022 and into 2023, which starts a chain reaction of other

homes opening for new owners”

The Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation and Winn-Worth Betco have worked closely with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at North Iowa Area Community College to support local entrepreneurs Several Lake Mills businesses have completed venture school, with Dave’s Auto Service and Norsemen Trucking winning state awards

Johnson called it an opportunity for local business leaders and experts in their fields to connect with and coach new entrepreneurs Winn-Worth Betco offers scholarships, on a reimbursement basis, for Winnebago or Worth County residents to attend venture school.

“We offer many services to our members and area businesses, including a low interest business loan program. Lake Mills Development Corporation, Winn-Worth Betco, and the city of Lake Mills all offer revolving fund loans to small businesses that are starting up or would like to expand their services or business It is a great tool to help small businesses reach their goals,” Johnson said.

“I do believe our businesses are resilient and that Lake Mills is well-equipped to serve businesses seeking to expand or establish in a new community”

Rob Hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune He can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob hillesland@globegazette com

Features

The eRV2 is America’s firstall-electric zero-emission motorhome prototype

Both the powertrain and the house systems are powered

by electricity, allowing for silent and environmentally responsible travel,and up to seven days of Boon docking, aided in part by 900-watt solar capacity It’s built on a Ford E-Transit chassis which promises a powerful torque and smooth handling

Winnebago partnered with Lithionics Battery to create the most powerful, compact and safe lithium battery system available today It features a 48-volt system with more than 15,000 usable watt-hours, and a unique thin lay-flat design stored beneath the

floor to maximize interior space It meets the highest safety standards with UL safety certification.

The eRV2 is sustainably designed to further reduce the impact on the environment. Recycled materials are used extensively throughout the interior, including in the flooring, removable floor mats, mattress system, and trim around the window frames Cab seat coverings are made with renewable plant-based materials Acrylic countertops are made from biodegradable materials

Unique broad color-spectrum lighting allows users to customize the interior lights from white to red,

which helps to reduce light pollution.

The eRV2 interior is inspired by modern Japandi principles, a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design that creates a clean, calm and multi-functional environment This includes a five-in-one sleep/lounge and two adaptable workspaces with built-in charge points and a high-speed Wi-Fi router

Finally, the eRV2 is connected. The proprietary Winnebago Connect system allows users to easily monitor and control the vehicle’s electrical and energy management systems using a display inside the vehicle or an intuitive app

Gaining notice

The Discovery Channel featured Winnebago Industries’ motorhomes and Grand National Rally in Forest City during an episode of “RV There Yet?” that aired nationally and across much of the world Feb 4

Outside the Winnebago Visitor’s Center in Forest City, the show hosts toured and learned all about Winnebago’s emerging all-electric concept vehicles

Last summer, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, received an early update on the company’s original all-electric concept RV while visiting the John V Hanson Career Center on her 99-county tour Ernst was invited by company officials to try driving it through the parking lot, which she did.

“See you all later; is there a local Dairy Queen?” said Ernst before shifting the eRV into gear for a quiet ride.

“This represents advanced work going on with our company to advance toward electric vehicles,” Winnebago Industries Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Chad Reece said. Winnebago officials noted it was in the research phase. At the time, Ernst was assured the concept vehicle she was driving would have enough juice from a full battery to last two or three days in the field.

Rob Hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune He can be reached at 641421-0534, or by email at rob hillesland@globegazette com

A to Z Drying expanding

JASON W. SELBY Press News

In 1972, Al Penfold had a vision. With a partner, Penfold started A to Z Drying Inc. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, and like many industries in Mitchell County, it’s still growing.

“We’re more grateful than anything else,” said Penfold’s son, Jason Penfold, who is now president of A to Z.

Valent BioSciences

A to Z is a third-party custom manufacturing company. From the beginning, it has worked handin-hand with Valent BioSciences, which produces environmentally friendly products.

Jason Penfold said his company’s long-lasting partnership with Valent BioSciences is unique. It was A to Z’s presence in Osage that brought the Valent plant to Mitchell County. According to Valent Senior Marketing Communications Manager John Mandel, the main reason Valent chose Mitchell County was because of the company’s close relationship with A to Z.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Penfold said. “It’s a fantastic relationship. Valent BioSciences is a firstclass company.”

According to a press release, this relationship facilitates A to Z’s mission of providing cost-e ective manufacturing with custom spray drying, blending, packaging and warehousing of environmentally friendly products. A to Z values its partnership with Valent and looks forward to helping support their growth into the next 50 years.

“We utilize our expertise,” Penfold said of A to Z’s role in the partnership.

Jason Penfold graduated from Osage Community High School in 1992. At Iowa State University he studied finance. During the summers he worked at his father’s company.

His wife, Katie, is a senior manager. She is a 1999 graduate of St. Ansgar Community High School and studied at the University of Iowa before earning a master’s degree from Drake University.

She worked for Principal Insurance in Des Moines, but A to Z allowed her to continue to use her education while returning home.

A veteran of eight years, Katie Penfold oversees three departments at A to Z.

Growth

In 1972, A to Z began with only a few employees. Today, A to Z is expanding another shift and has a new product line. That will add at least seven new workers.

“It’s continuous growth,” Jason Penfold said. In 2014, the same year Valent began operation in Mitchell County, he oversaw a $5.7 million expansion, which brought many new jobs to Osage.

According to a press release, A to Z currently employs approximately 140 workers, including 20 managers with degrees in STEM-related majors and plant managers with advanced degrees such as chemical and industrial engineering. Along with o ce assistants and technical and production employees, they have turned visions of quality manufacturing into reality.

Jason Penfold describes A to Z employees as a big team.

“These are high-level jobs,” he said. “It provides an opportunity for someone highly educated to live in a smaller community.”

Many of A to Z’s employees graduated from Iowa State University. The pool the company draws from

is large, focusing on instate talent, said Human Resources Manager Alyssa Slaichert.

“I enjoy the people I work for and work with,” said Slaichert, who is a 2012 graduate of Riceville Community High School and an ISU alum. “It’s very rewarding to watch the company grow.”

The key word is growth. In turn, city and county o cials hope to expand housing and day care to accommodate this growth.

Part of A to Z’s expansion is linked to Valent preparing to enlarge its workforce by more than 10 percent.

Foundation

Al Penfold was highly skilled. He studied industrial technology at ISU and had expertise in spray drying.

He was also willing to take risks. A to Z was a big risk.

“He wasn’t afraid to learn new things and new concepts,” Jason Penfold said, describing his father as semi-retired. “He kept moving forward from a technology perspective.

“He wanted to build something, and he took the risk. He was fortunate. You don’t always get to work with the same customer (Valent BioSciences) for over 50 years.”

The company’s cofounder was also entrepreneurial. He never worried about failing.

“From stories of employees who worked with him from the beginning, he always put the customer first,” said Katie Penfold. “That’s been engrained in the company since then. Quality is key for us. From a business standpoint, he researched if a new technology was a good fit for the company.

“He’s also pretty modest.”

Before they passed, Al Penfold’s wife, Marlene, and past plant manager Merle Boehmer were key to building the foundation of A to Z Drying as well.

“The foundation built by the A to Z team early on is remarkable,” Katie Penfold said.

Education

To ensure products are the highest possible quality, the company has

earned the ISO 9001 certification and also works with OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute).

A to Z attributes its success to the dedicated employees that continue to perform exemplary work day in and day out.

Jason Penfold said Vice President George Weber has been a key to the company’s growth. Weber is an ISU grad with a chemical engineering background.

“He’s absolutely integral

to A to Z Drying, not only to daily operations, but he also leads the research and development team,” Penfold said. “Everyone at A to Z must be hands-on. He’s a huge part of our team.”

As a proponent of STEM education, A to Z has also been a proud supporter of local robotics, Lego and E-sports leagues.

“Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are fundamental to A to Z Drying and help provide high-level engineering and technology positions to members of our management team,” said Weber. “It’s encouraging to see students engaging in STEM activities and being able to have access to those opportunities early in their education.”

Katie Penfold praises Osage Community School District Superintendent Barb Schwamman for encouraging STEM and developing a partnership between the school and local technological industries.

“We’re thankful the school system puts that much support behind it,” Katie Penfold said.

According to the press release, placing an emphasis on contributing to the community, the company is committed to giving back to the local police and fire departments, day cares, and area colleges such as North Iowa Area Community College, along with helping fund an inclusive playground, recent additions to the Mitchell County Regional Health Center and Cedar Summer Stock performances.

“The city of Osage and Mayor Steve Cooper have always supported our opportunities for expansion,” said Jason Penfold. “We greatly appreciate their support which allows us to meet the growing needs of our customer. We are proud to be a part of the Osage and Mitchell County communities.”

Jason W. Selby is the community editor for the Mitchell Country Press News. He can be reached at 515-9716217, or by email at jason. selby@globegazette.com.

Valent’s Osage roots run deep

Biosciences company planted 50 trees in May in Osage in the spring

JASON W. SELBY | Press News

Last spring, in front of the Cedar River Complex, Valent BioSciences planted the first of 50 trees it will donate to the city of Osage. When ground was broken, Valent employees and community leaders lifted the world’s richest soil in their shovels.

Valent’s Osage plant began operation in 2014 with around 30 fulltime employees. Currently there are more than 100, and there are more workers on their way, many highly skilled.

Senior Marketing Communications Manager John Mandel of Valent anticipates adding over 10% to the current workforce over the next few years. He credits the growth of Valent’s sustainable pesticide DiPel, celebrating its 50th anniversary, as fueling this worker demand.

“We’re a leader in the biorational market,” Mandel said. “The products are made locally, but they’re transported around the world.” Mandel indicated there would also be new construction at the Osage facility, which he describes as state-of-the-art. In addition, Valent is undertaking a 34-acre solar field prairie project east of the factory. Mandel anticipates a fall start date.

JASON W. SELBY, PRESS NEWS

On May 3, Valent BioSciences donated 50 trees to Osage in celebration of 50 years of its sustainable pesticide diPel. Breaking ground from left to right, daniel Zommick, Global Technical development Specialist for Valent; Bill Bishop, director of Engineering and contract Manufacturing for Valent; rosa Gimenez, Global Business director, Biorational crop Protection for Valent; Valent’s Osage Plant Manager Ertan hyuseinov; Osage Mayor Steve cooper and Osage Public Works director Jerry dunlay.

Valent, G5

“Our biggest goal right now is to keep improving and automating the plant,” said Ertan Hyuseinov, Valent’s Osage plant manager. He indicated that the expansion project, the largest since the Osage facility was opened, will take a few years before it is complete.

Growth is driven by customer demand.

“We are not here to stop getting better,” Hyuseinov said. “There has been a lot of cooperation with the city and the county since 2014. We’ve been helping each other, we’ve been supporting each other.”

Sustainability

According to Mandel, the main reason Valent chose Mitchell County was because of the company’s close relationship with Osage’s A to Z Drying, founded 50 years ago in 1972. The first contract between the two was for six months, but Valent has been working with A to Z Drying ever since.

Osage’s 50 new maple, oak and crabapple trees are symbolic of Valent’s investment in the future of agriculture in Mitchell County and in the world, according to Rosa Gimenez, global business director, biorational crop protection for Valent. Gimenez made the journey to Mitchell County to celebrate 50 years of DiPel.

Despite DiPel’s tenure of five decades, it has found new relevance.

“It’s going to be here for the next 50 years,” Gimenez said. The reason for her optimism is the demand for sustainable products to replace or enhance current methods of crop protection.

According to Gimenez, it is not only a matter of growth in agriculture, but a matter of public health.

Daniel Zommick is global technical development specialist, biorational crop protection for Valent. He sees DiPel’s market demand as a byproduct of its safety. It is found in nature and returns to nature.

“We see the growth in replacing some of those more traditional chemistries with something that doesn’t affect bees, has a good worker-exposure profile, and DiPel doesn’t leave any residue on food,” Zommick said. “So it can be used right up until harvest and sold to people the next day. It’s an incredible sustainable technology.”

“We all work in the industry, but we still eat the food,” said Savannah Bertram, a digital communi-

cations analyst for Valent.

DiPel’s sustainability was something of an accident. Five decades ago, the focus was on finding effective herbicides and pesticides. According to Zommick, a USDA researcher had a colony of caterpillars that infested cotton, and DiPel was a bacterial disease in those caterpillars. When the colonies started crashing, the researcher isolated the DiPel strain.

“Fifty years ago we were not talking about sustainability the way we’re talking today,” Gimenez said. “That’s why we say the product is more relevant today than ever.

“Fifty years ago we were

using DDT. Rachel Carson published ‘Silent Spring’ in 1962.”

Gimenez said that since the publication of Carson’s landmark book on conservation and the environment, people have sought pest control alternatives. It was a decade before DiPel emerged as one of those alternatives. DDT was not banned until 1972, the year after DiPel’s birth.

“Humanity is trying to learn how to be safer and healthier and feed more people with fewer resources,” Gimenez said. “It was relevant then. It’s still relevant today, because a lot of chemicals came after DDT that are not the same

profile as DiPel. We keep improving.”

New world Valent is uniquely suited to survival. According to its website, its Osage plant is the largest purpose-built biorational product facility in the world. The majority of the company’s products are manufactured in Osage.

However, in the post-pandemic years, COVID-19 is still wreaking havoc, causing worker shortages and increases in material and production costs.

“We have delivery problems and problems with logistics,” Hyuseinov said. “We have a difficult time

getting parts right now. Even simple items for dayto-day operations are two or three times more expensive.” He added that manufacturers are experiencing difficulty finding delivery drivers. “Everything is related to COVID-19.”

As well, Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine has disrupted the global food supply chain. Over a quarter of the world’s wheat exports come from those two countries.

“We’re all connected,” Gimenez said.

“We have to be creative in solving the challenges of today’s world,” Mandel said.

A saving grace for Valent is that their industry is agriculture, whose products are always in demand. That demand will continue to grow.

“We are an essential business,” Gimenez said.

According to Mandel, even though he believes Valent pays its employees well and has a good reputation, navigating the current job market during COVID-19 is a challenge.

“Like everybody else, we’re competing for a limited applicant pool,” Mandel said. “But it’s not impossible.”

Valent actively markets and seeks talent from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and other technical colleges. They work with community media outlets as well.

“Our business is a little different,” Hyuseinov said. “We are looking for a specific background when it comes to technology and

the chemistry side of it. The employees we’re looking for are more specialized.”

As well, as a consequence of an influx of workers, Valent is attempting to address the need for additional housing in Mitchell County.

“We are very closely working with the county and the city,” Hyuseinov said, “with incentives they can have for the newcomers. Not only for our business, but for other businesses here in town with the same housing issue.”

Hyuseinov sees progress, however, in housing developments planned for Osage and St. Ansgar. “We need that housing for the people, or else they’re going to leave,” he said.

Mandel added that the quality of the workforce was another reason Valent expanded to Osage. Small towns in Iowa are often diagnosed with brain drain, where natives flock to better opportunities in larger populations, but Valent is attempting to reverse course and draw talent to Mitchell County.

It all begins with 50 trees.

“We want to give back to the community and send this message of legacy,” Gimenez said. “We’re forward thinking in everything. The trees are symbolic of that.”

Jason W. Selby is the community editor for the Mitchell country Press news. he can be reached at 515-971-6217, or by email at jason.selby@ globegazette.com.

From G4

JASON W. SELBY, PRESS NEWS

a stone commemorating Valent BioSciences’ donation of 50 trees to Osage.

FILE PHOTO

Osage’s Valent BioSciences facility opened in 2014.

Waldorf University returns to its roots

School is again under private ownership

Iam pleased to announce that after months of work, planning, and prayer Waldorf University is now under the ownership of the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation, returning the institution to its private, faith-based roots as a tax-exempt organization. What a journey it has been, not only in this last year but the last decade.

Not that long ago, Waldorf had less than 500 fulltime students on campus, and several dormitories were empty It was a difficult time for Waldorf and the nation as we navigated through the great recession of 2009 Through a series of what can best be described as miracles, a family-owned institution, Columbia Southern University, took ownership and saved Waldorf

This was a time of great anxiety What would it mean to be owned by a family? How would we be able to deliver a Waldorf experience with online programs? What would happen to Waldorf’s mission?

While the path has not always been easy, we can say that the ownership change was an unqualified success We just need to look at the results Since 2009 we have seen dramatic growth We welcomed 626 full-time students to campus this fall,

and the dormitories are full. Campus is filled with vibrant student learning experiences, incredible fine arts performances and competitive athletic competition. The energy and school spirit on campus are exhilarating!

Also, during this period of campus success, we initiated and grew our online programs, adding thousands of students to our Warrior Nation. We currently have 31 online programs at the associates, baccalaureate, and masters level, with over 3,000 active online students and about 2,000 of them currently in a class While some of these students

may never have the opportunity to step foot on Waldorf’s campus they too

bleed Waldorf purple and gold. With our combined online and campus enroll-

ment, Waldorf University is now Iowa’s third-largest private institution of higher education. We also have maintained Waldorf’s historic mission of educating the entire person for lives of service. Waldorf’s mission continues to be at the center of all that we do It is expressed in our values, taught in our curriculum, and reinforced in our co-curriculars

But now, we look with renewed excitement to a new ownership model with the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation. The foundation has been supporting Waldorf students through scholarships, campus ministry and

alumni events for more than 15 years The foundation has been a steady partner, professing the historic mission of Waldorf No entity could be better equipped to lead Waldorf forward than the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation.

It has also been gratifying to see the community rally around this project. The Forest City Council, area businesses, city leaders, local alumni, and many others have contributed to the success of this project. They know that not only is Waldorf important to the economic development of north central Iowa but they have witnessed or experienced for themselves the profound and transformative impact of a Waldorf education. Waldorf University provides enrichment opportunities which few cities the size of Forest City can boast. Whether through athletic events, fine arts performances, or our speakers’ series, Waldorf is proud to welcome the community to experiences that enhance all our lives

While we return to our private, nonprofit, faithbased roots as a tax-exempt organization, we do so with a new model. It is a model that includes a vibrant and expanding campus It is a model that expands the reach of Waldorf’s mission with online programs It is a model with a reconstituted advancement team, generating new ways to connect with the community, alumni, and friends The future is so very bright for Waldorf University!

Robert A Alsop is president of Waldorf University

ROB HILLESLAND SUMMIT-TRIBUNE

The Waldorf University Pep Band provided music for the pre-game tailgate and carnival goers in November

PROGRESS 2023 NAVIGATING

THE

A watershed moment

Britt residents to receive reverseosmosis treated water from new plant

Summit-Tribune

Britt is undertaking generational, transformational improvements to its water system with the construction of its new water-treatment plant.

Necessary to ensure water quality, regulatory compliance, and fire protection deep into the 21st century, Britt has been adding needed components over several years. A new water tower was installed and put into service with a price tag of nearly $1.3 million, increasing capacity from the red capped historic 1937 water tower, the city’s oldest.

Both City Administrator

Elizabeth Ibarra and Britt

Mayor Ryan Arndorfer noted the increased capac-

ity of the new tower improves water pressure and allows for future expansion.

Replacement of water mains for distribution and routing untreated water from a city well to the new treatment facility are also part of the overall project.

“Henkel Construction is the general contractor on the project and Bolton and Menk, our engineers,” Ibarra said. “Henkel is great at communicating with the residents a ected. They personally go to the house and let them know if water or roads will be disrupted.

Henkel Construction tries to schedule disruptions during the day when no one is home.”

The bid for the plant was just over $5.8 million. The schedule calls for the new plant to be completed by 2024 if all goes as planned. Both Ibarra and Arndorfer said the city has been

SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2023 | SECTION H

ROB HILLESLAND

Summit-Tribune

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, witnessed something special Jan. 10 at the Original Saw Company, a family-owned and operated business in Britt during her visit there .

“Small business is the vast majority of business in Iowa,” Ernst said. ”These small businesses are vitally important to Iowa.”

However, the Original Saw Company in Britt is not so small and has found its market niche over the years.

Laurie and Bob Eden moved the Original Saw Company component of the business from Des Moines to Britt in 1989, bringing Jones’ Machinery into the fold in 1990. More recently, Allen and Jennifer Eden have brought in the business’s a liation with Williams & Hussey Machine Co., which makes

custom molders that can produce perfect mop board, trim and more for customers. The original “Original Saw Company” sign is relocated inside, which provides photo opportunities to visitors.

“It looks a lot di erent,” said Ernst, who noted the Original Saw Company was one of the first businesses she toured after becoming a senator.

“To see expansion to small businesses that are growing during some di cult times is exciting.”

A noticeable change when walking in the front door is a new lobby as well as o ce and meeting space.

“This was done in 2018,” Allen Eden said. “A woodshop for table tops was inside the front door. We were stacked on top of each other. It was terrible. Now, we have new space and even a conference room.”

Loft space also was added in one of the company’s two adjacent buildings at 465 Third Avenue S.E. The loft is used to build control panels. There is about 20,000 square feet of space total in the two buildings. Twenty-three employees are on the payroll, including two with Jones Machinery.

“I can’t believe all this space you have,” Ernst said.

“At first, it was like ‘I could not believe how much space,’ but then it was ‘why didn’t we put up more?’”

Jennifer Eden said. “We really stress American made.”

The company takes pride in things being American-made, with 99% of materials American-based. It also makes motors, switches, electrical parts and more for American-made

ROB HILLESLAND, SUMMIT-TRIBUNE

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst receives instruction from Riley Eden at Original Saw Company.

ROB HILLESLAND

machines. It specializes in the manufacture of woodand metal-working equipment.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Production Manager Gary Zeitler of hosting Ernst. “I’ve been here 24 years. I started working for his (Allen’s) dad. Working for a family business like this one is something special.”

Ernst also visited with Allen and Jennifer Eden’s daughter, Delaney, about her future plans.

“I’ve helped in the office and worked in the shop once,” said Delaney Eden, who noted her mother handles social media and marketing for the company and does sometimes seek her feedback.

Zeitler and Allen Eden provided the senator a demonstration of custom tooling, which entails making knives by grinding them into shape.

“They’re so specialized,” said Zeitler of the master design tools. “If someone is restoring an old house, they can duplicate old trim.”

“A lot of people have old Victorian homes,” Ernst said. “If they want to do something, restoration, it’s a big deal.”

“One year ago, we redid our website to do more e-commerce,” Jennifer Eden said. “Soon, we were selling $6,000 and $7,000 machines online. I didn’t know if anybody would buy large machines, but they do”

Allen Eden said that the focus was intended to be just for small things, but there was customer demand for the machines.

No family business can be without a pet helping to

oversee operations — Original Saw Company is no exception. An 11-year-old feline, Rocky, was on a table overseeing employees who were winding motors during the Ernst visit. Employees cheerfully said that “Rocky rules,” noting the cat has been a fixture there for many years.

Jennifer Eden said the hand-wound motors are baked before moving over to the shop.

“These two (employees) are always two weeks ahead and always have motors ready,” she said. “It is really great that we started making everything right here in little Britt.”

Ernst asked if there were any signs of business slowing down and how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted operations.

“There is nobody else do-

ing this at our quality level,” Zeitler said. “So, it’s good

for us.”

Allen Eden said they stayed busy through the pandemic, but noted some business supply issues cropped up.

“We’ve found with other manufacturers that they’re stockpiling a lot more because of uncertainty,” Ernst said.

Allen Eden reported inventory is about one-third higher now due to supply issues. He said getting the right vendors has been key for Original Saw Company and noted optimism about being “over the hump” on most issues, acknowledging increased focus on supply now.

In another demonstration, Ernst saw the company-made flip and fixed stops that would soon be headed

to Home Depot, which help guide lumber correctly through sawing. It is one of a number of tools and items that wind up in big box stores. The stops are also available for customer order directly through Original Saw Company.

She also witnessed employees using 64-inch panel saws with 22-inch crosscuts, prepping items for shipping to Lowe’s, a regional buyer.

“We can customize machines for different voltages and different phases,” Jennifer Eden said. “It’s customized for power for their buildings and individual needs. The flexibility of customizing motors and other options is pretty important.”

Allen Eden said training for new employees involves a lot of hands-on learning and on-the-job training. He noted the company has worked closely with North Iowa Area Community College and Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service. After 22 years in Des Moines, it was no accident the original business landed back in Britt where there is family.

“It’s all about that smalltown pride,” he said.

Employee Eric Koele, who has returned to his hometown of Britt, echoed Eden’s sentiment about working at the small-town business.

“I handle all the shipping and receiving,” Koele said. “I miss some things in Des Moines, but one year in here, I love a lot of things about a small town.” rob hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune. he can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob.hillesland@globegazette. com.

fortunate to not be as adversely impacted by increased costs of construction or materials, common amid supply-chain constraints.

“Our biggest delay was at the very start and was because we were waiting for final approval of the plans from the DNR,” Ibarra said. “This backlog with the DNR caused the project to begin three months later than expected.”

“We’ve had a few material and equipment delays, but nothing too significant as of yet,” Arndorfer said. “There have not been any substantial price increases.”

The city’s 1955 plant and equipment is obsolete and in such poor condition it could not be rehabilitated to meet stricter water quality standards. The new treatment plant will remove more manganese and other contaminants. The new facility requires more space due to modern equipment, so reverse-osmosis treatment was selected as the most cost effective.

“Construction of the new plant has stayed relatively on track after the initial 90day delay,” Ibarra said. “According to our engineers, when the new reverse-osmosis filtration system is up and running, residents will no longer need to use their in-home water softening systems. I have heard many residents excited about the reverse-osmosis system. They won’t need to buy water softeners anymore.”

Arndorfer noted the existing plant has long exceed its life expectancy. Bolton & Menk officials say with proper care and maintenance the new plant also could well exceed the stated design life, lasting 65 years

or more and assuring clean drinking water.

“The life expectancy of the new water tower is typically given at 40 to 60 years, though most towers can also experience a longer useful life if regular maintenance is performed,” Ibarra said.

Both Ibarra and Arndorfer said the city expects a smooth transition from the existing water treatment plant to the new one being built nearby. Ibarra credited Public Works Director Vance Hagen for effectively communicating about the

much-needed water system improvements.

“We needed a new water tower and plant. ... In these cases, you need to have someone listen and take what that person, who is

an expert in their job, says seriously. Mayor Arndorfer listened and the ball started rolling. Our council also took it very seriously and voted it through to make it happen. Maggie Burger with

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Speer Financial also helped with the financial aspect. They all worked together and gave us the support and information to allow us to build the tower and plant.”

rob hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune. he can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob.hillesland@globegazette. com.

The new Britt water tower went up on Sept. 17, 2021. The existing 82-year-old tower will be removed and memorialized.

delaney and allen Eden share a laugh with Joni Ernst staffers on Jan. 10, 2023.

ROB HILLESLAND PHOTOS , SUMMIT-TRIBUNE

From left, in front, Laurie Eden, delaney Eden (behind Laurie), Jennifer Eden, Joni Ernst, and allen Eden are shown at Original Saw company in Britt.

Stellar Industries continues to grow

annual earnings

KAYLEE SCHUERMANN

Globe Gazette

Stellar Industries in Garner is one company that has continued to grow and thrive post-pandemic through employee ownership and financial incentives, new technologies, and a new distribution center

According to its website, “Stellar is a 100% employee-owned and operated manufacturer of high-quality work trucks and trailers as well as service truck and van accessories ”

At the beginning of the pandemic, Stellar Industries shut down for a week to evaluate how to navigate moving forward During this period, the company proceeded to pay its employees 70% of their standard wages The following week, half of the staff returned in person The production floor returned to full staff shortly after

David Zrostlik, Stellar Industries president, attributes the ability of office employees to work from home to the company’s “forward-thinking IT department,” which had laptops for many to use at home

Stellar Industries brought in more robotic devices to limit human contact within production This allowed some employees to be moved to different roles

“Since we’re a growing company, we had plenty of other positions for them,” said Zrostlik “Maybe the robot took the place of three people who were doing hand welding, but now these people are welding some of our truck bodies, hook lifts or other products that were not affected by bringing the robots in ”

As the company’s value and employee stock ownership plan values continued to grow, the company saw an increasing need to restructure how these funds were dispersed As it grew, the former system decreased the distribution opportunities for new employees

To solve this problem, Stellar Industries became employee-owned and changed how the ESOP is funded to the employees Now it is based on a percentage of the individual’s

“If someone were making, say, $20 an hour, three to four dollars per hour they work is going into their ESOP account, and they don’t have to put a dime of their own money in it; it flows in from the company,” Zrostlik said

Several years ago, the company also exchanged yearly bonuses for monthly ones These incentives require employees to have no more than one unexcused absence and one tardy per month The company also sends weekly charts and statistics to encourage employees to continue pushing forward

“It says how we are doing so far this month; here’s where we are getting to our break-over point to where you start earning more money in the profit sharing,” said Zrostlik “It means a lot to people, like if I get a few more things built I can probably increase what I’m going to get in that profit share ”

In June 2021, Stellar Industries purchased MD Products & Solutions and now uses the facility for manufacturing and as a parts distribution center dedicated to customers’ needs

“In the past, we’ve had one bucket where all the parts are, whether we’re building a new product or taking a part out to ship to a customer that broke something,” said Zrostlik “ So we knew we had to get an independent warehouse just for our customers”

The company partnered its manufacturing engineering team with Iowa State University interns to gather data “to determine what parts needed to be stocked in the warehouse,” according to a press release

As a result, the company has created a faster turnaround time from the moment an order is placed to when it is shipped, cutting it from 48-72 hours

ROB HILLESLAND Summit-Tribune

The Britt Group is working on its first major project preserving the former First State Bank building in Britt.

Formed officially with articles of incorporation in January 2015, it is headed by former Britt Mayor Jim Nelson and includes original board members Garry Kerns,Gary Gelner, Carolyn DeKruif, Laurie Eden,Allen Eden,and Skip Miller, of Britt, and Betty Moylan, who recently moved to Myrtle Beach.

The organization’s mission is to “beautify, restore, and invest today and tomorrow”

Attorney Earl Hill helped the group set up its nonprofit status, volunteering his time to get it established legally and file its first year’s tax returns The group’s first project is a doozy

the 1916 building that was designed by well-known architect John Henry Jeffers for Commercial State Bank

It is best known as the former First State Bank but housed numerous other things over the years

Jeffers also designed the state of Wisconsin’s Exhibition Building for the 1904 St. Louis World Fair,the Carnegie Library in Clear Lake, and a 1919 prairie-style home at on First Avenue Southwest in Britt. Many of his buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places a listing the BRITT Group was originally seeking for the former bank building.

“We talked to some people and an official with the State of Iowa about the Register of Historic Places,” Nelson said. “Unfortunately, the prior owner gutted too much of the original work out of the middle of the building. It’s such a beautiful building that we don’t want to let it go”

The BRITT Group has invested an estimated $50,000 in saving the building since purchasing it from the city for $35 in 2014

Funds have come from Laurie Eden, grants, and a couple of spaghetti-dinner fundraisers that collected approximately $1,500 One of the grants was from the W David Ley Foundation, associated with the original owners of Farmers Trust and Savings Banks in Britt, Buffalo Center, Lakota, Lake Mills, and Bricelyn, Minnesota.

“The goal is to get the building to the point we can sell it,” said Nelson, noting that the west half of the original building had to be torn off due to deterioration, although the basement portion of that half is still there. “Maybe it could be a hotel with businesses down below or just a hotel. We’re open to whatever idea someone comes up with”

The group put together drawings and pictures of what the building may look like restored as a hotel. They were assisted by four Iowa State University architectural students, who assisted as part of a class project. Nelson said the restored building could be named “Center and Main” whether housing a hotel, motel, apartments, mini-mall, or some combination. He cited the community’s need of additional motel rooms and apartments, saying that retail space could also be added.

“We’d still like to do more and add on to it, but money talks” Nelson said. “We’re certainly open to most anything”

Nelson said upper-level floor boards are in pretty good condition. The main floor is almost entirely solid concrete and metal. It is built well with I-beam con-

struction In addition to windows, repairing some water damage to a portion of the tall first floor ceiling is also on the list of repairs, as is some plumbing and electrical work.

The portion of the building that remains is approximately 80 feet long and 40 feet wide. The basement is about 120-130 feet long. One-fourth of the full, original building never had a basement underneath. The basement has been used for apartments, living quarters, storage, and a barber shop in the past.

“It’s salvageable because of that and the good concrete floor,” Nelson said. “It would be nice if

someone would say ‘I could use a building like that. That is why we put a new roof on it.”

The storied history of the building includes housing many other businesses after First State Bank relocated across the street by 1980 That list includes a beauty shop,commodities and brokerage firm, boutique, and photography studio “It was kind of a mini-mall for a while because two or three businesses were in there at the same time,” Nelson said.

The BRITT Group also has plans beyond the old bank building restoration.

“It’s not just a one-time proj-

ect that the BRITT Group is undertaking”Nelson

EPA ‘neighbor’ rule cuts pollution by power plants

MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) A new “good neighbor” rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency will restrict smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas with smog-causing pollution they can’t control. Nearly two dozen states will have to cut harmful industrial emissions of nitrogen oxide and other pollutants to improve air quality for millions of people living in downwind communities

The final rule, issued March 15 will save thousands of lives, keep tens of thousands of people out of the hospital, prevent millions of asthma attacks and reduce sick days, according to the agency

“Every community deserves fresh air to breathe

We know air pollution doesn’t stop at the state line,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

The rule will take effect in May for power plants and “lockinsignificantpollution reductions to ensure cleaner air and deliver public health protectionsforthosewho’ve suffered far too long from air-quality related impacts and illness,”Regan said The limitsonindustrialsitestake effect in 2026

States that contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog, are required to submit plans ensuring that coal-fired power plants and other industrial sites don’t add significantly to air pollution in other states In cases where a state has not submitted a “good neighbor” plan or where EPA disapproves a state plan the federal plan would take effect to ensure downwind states are protected.

A 2015 rule set by EPA

Environmental

blocks states from adding to ozone pollution in other localities The rule applies mostly to states in the South and Midwest that contribute to air pollution along the East Coast Some states, such as Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Wisconsin, both contribute to downwind pollution and receive it from other states

Environmental and public health advocates hailed the final rule as a life-saving measure that will significantly cut air pollution that crosses state lines, harming people who live hundreds of miles away from power plants, cement factories, steel mills and other industrial polluters

“Too many communities breathe unhealthy air because pollution from power plants and industrial sources blows across state lines,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association.“This rule will curb emissions that contribute to unhealthy levels of ozone in downwind communities and help achieve cleaner

air for people who live near polluting sources”

The National Mining Association slammed the rule as part of an ongoing, cumulative effort by the EPA under President Joe Biden to force the closure of coalfired power plants across the country

“With each rule that targets well-operating coal plants–theverysameplants that are called on to keep the lights on when renewables or natural gas are unavailable and consumer demand soars – our electricity grid becomes increasingly vulnerable to crippling supply shortfalls,” said Conor Bernstein, vice president of the mining group

The cross-state pollution rule, combined with rules on wastewater pollution, mercury and air toxics, and rules expected on greenhouse gas emissions,“make it impossible for utilities to make decisions based on the merits of what keeps the lights on, forcing those utilities to make decisions solely based on the EPA’s agenda,” Bernstein said.

PATRICK SEMANSKY STAFF, AP

Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan speaks with members of the press after attending a speech by President Joe Biden at Belmont