FDGA 10 years

Celebrating of Regional Collaboration

10 YEARS 10 YEARS

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance has played a critical role in rebuilding and revitalizing the north central Iowa region and taken it to a whole new level. Through public-private partnerships, they’ve boosted economic development through affordable housing and job creation. The Alliance has undoubtedly helped make Iowa a destination to live, work and raise a family.’

I think the Growth Alliance has done a great job of evolving as an organization to support what is going on in the community, whether it is a primary sector industrial development or a community development project. Their ability to collaborate and create partnerships, I think, has added value to all of those projects.

I think the Growth Alliance has set the standard for collaboration in the state of Iowa. I think the proof of that is that I’ve been contacted by mayors that wanted to learn about our structure, a structure in which all entities, public and private, play a role in the synergy to drive a community and a region forward.

Matt Bemrich Mayor of Fort Dodge

Kim Reynolds Governor of Iowa

Matt Bemrich

Gov. Kim Reynolds

As an early grassroots committee, we wanted to see what other communities in Iowa and in the Midwest were doing with their chambers of commerce and economic development. We made several trips to visit the Sioux City Initiative, the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Ames.

It became very clear that there was a lot of duplication between the chamber of commerce and the economic development group. It became very clear that there had to be more communication and collaboration. In the past, these two groups didn’t communicate as much as they should have.

Tim O’Tool was probably the most vocal on why this should happen. He had a vision that this should happen.

As our committee had more meetings, we brought in Dr. David Haggard, who was just finishing as superintendent of the public school system, to facilitate. He was very helpful.

And when it came time to pick a leader for the organization, we all pointed toward Dennis Plautz and his knowledge of the city, the county and business.

I think it’s been tremendously successful. The Growth Alliance has brought the city, the county and small businesses together as one team. That’s probably the single biggest thing – having these three things pulling together in the same direction.

Casey Johnson Co-Owner of Fort Dodge Ford Toyota Member of committee that started Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

The Growth Alliance continues to be the standard for collaboration. The incredible team that has been established has made Webster County an example for teamwork across the State, as other communities have looked to Fort Dodge as a model. It is with a common goal of economic vitality that the staff at the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance work to achieve for businesses, residents and visitors. Through their efforts, the Fort Dodge region has experienced noticeable progress over the

I applaud Dennis and everyone for all their hard work and incredible

Mark Campbell Webster County Supervisor

Casey Johnson

Mark Campbell

Celebrating 10 Years

Congratulations to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance on 10 exceptional years of creating opportunities for Fort Dodge residents and businesses to thrive. The GFDGA has a steadfast commitment to making Fort Dodge the choice for businesses and families alike which is shown through their long track record of highly successful community investments and advocacy. Thanks in no small part to their work, the region has benefited from additional housing for their workforce, the formation of innovative training programs and strategic partnerships with local and global businesses. The result is a thriving region where jobs are plentiful, homes are being constructed and new talent is welcomed with open arms.

The GFDGA has played an invaluable role in supporting Iowa’s talent attraction efforts. Their work has led to a high availability of jobs in highdemand industries and a diverse workforce with excellent retention rates - all of which are indicators of a prospering local economy. Their partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority on business attraction and retention efforts has seen tremendous results for Fort Dodge and the State alike. The organization has provided a decade’s worth of results through a recipe of partnerships, ingenuity, tenacity and unwavering pride for their community. Congratulations to the entire Fort Dodge region on these accomplishments and I look forward to seeing what is to come.

Debi Durham Director, Iowa Economic Development Authority Iowa Finance Authority

I know they’re working on economic development in our region – not just Fort Dodge, our region – and that brings the prospect of goodpaying jobs. That’s good for our citizens of all ages – young people, middle aged people and retirees. It improves the quality of life.

I think the Growth Alliance definitely has helped push the city and county to focus on quality of life - things like walking and biking paths, developing the riverfront.

I think a progressive Growth Alliance goes hand-in-hand with a progressive city and county and I think we have that. We all work together. We’re not worrying about who gets the credit. It’s a team effort.

Tim Burns Chief Investment Officer, Decker Truck Line Treasurer of the

Growth Alliance from 2011 to 2013

Current representative of Decker Truck Line Inc. to the Growth Alliance

Debi Durham

Tim Burns

I was part of the Economic Development Corporation and as the vice chair, one of my duties was to go to Chamber of Commerce board meetings on a regular basis. It was ironic to me that when I went to those I saw a lot of volunteers who were active with the Economic Development Corporation and a lot of other activities around town. I also witnessed the fact that a lot of their projects were projects we were working on also. It was obvious there was a lot of duplication of effort.

It became very evident that it needed to be one group working together.

It took a lot of marketing, a lot of getting out and talking to the key people in Fort Dodge. It was about collaborating. It was about bringing everyone together.

It has done extremely well. I would say it’s exceeded expectations. It has exceeded my expectations.

O’Tool First chairman of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance board

Since moving back to Fort Dodge in 1989 and getting deeply involved with the economic development efforts for our region and state, it is refreshing to see how the Chamber of Commerce and Webster County Development have successfully merged after several years of hard work from a variety of people to become the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. The Growth Alliance, the city, county and college are now shining examples of how cooperation and transparency bring positive development and other communities across Iowa are envious.

Jim Kersten Vice President of External Affairs and Government Relations Iowa Central Community College

Tim

Tim O’Tool

Jim Kersten

JAN

2011 2011

First meeting of group that would establish the Greater Fort Dodge Alliance is held

JUL

2011

Development Corporation of Fort Dodge and Webster County joins Growth Alliance

AUG

OCT 22 13

Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce votes to join the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

NOV

23

2011

Kelly Halsted is named economic development director for the Growth Alliance

2011

Dennis Plautz, director of business affairs and community growth for the city of Fort Dodge, is named acting chief executive officer of the Growth Alliance

Dennis Plautz is named the first permanent chief executive officer of the Growth Alliance

2011 2012

JAN

JUN JAN 15 1 1 1

Merger of Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce into the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance becomes effective, creating today’s organization

2012

Amy Bruno, the former executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, becomes the first community development director of the Growth Alliance

FEB 2013

United Way and Community Foundation, and the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau begin co-locating in Growth Alliance building

2012

Green cube logo of the Growth Alliance debuts

2014

447 acres in the ag industrial park called Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation are certified as ready for development by the Iowa Economic Development Authority

FEB

FEB 2014

Alliance members cite teamwork in FD progress

APR

2015

Crosstown connector construction gears up

JUL 2013 2014

New web site, www.greaterfortdodge.com debuts

APR

2014

Jill Nelson is hired as Community Development Director

Certification recognizes ag park’s excellence

Crosstown Connector

“I fell in love with this project almost right away,” Mayor Matt Bemrich said. “It just gave me a feeling that we could reinvent downtown.”

Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, has described the crosstown connector as “the largest single thing the city could have done to expedite the improvement of downtown Fort Dodge.”

Cargill buys corn wet mill

By JESSE HELLING Messenger city editor

Jenny Feaker, ellsworth: “I'm pretty

of corn daily

“We’re going to make some modifications to the

ciency,” she said Reichert said the facility w

Cargill properties in Eddyville and Blair, Neb

“Our vision is to eventu-

based products at the facility,” she said

produced has yet to be de-

BREAKING NEWS

This story first appeared as breaking news on www messengernews net

The impact on the local corn supply Page 3A

Deb Kern, Webster City: “You lose

Electrolux closes

By CARRIE OLSON

have become a symbol of factory closings; Maytag workers hung their work shoes

See CLOSED, Page 10A

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

RoBBIe WILSon, of Dayton, gets a hug from co-worker Rose Sielaff, of Webster City

Dennis Plautz Matt Bemrich

Jim Constable, Lehigh: “It’s

Dan Huber, Webster City: “If they think they can do

Denise Hill, Fort Dodge: “I've got to start a

MIke McDermott, Webster City: “I’m feeling

Cheryl McDermott, Webster City: “It's my birthday and I

Darrell Pigman, Lehigh: “I came in when I was

See CARGILL, Page 2A

By BILL SHEA

Ag park could see new plant

∫ Korean company plans $323 million amino acid production facility west of Fort Dodge ∫ State agency to consider incentives today

By BILL SHEA Messenger staff writer

will be reviewed today by the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board

That panel will consider awarding millions of dollars worth of state incen-

tives for the project

‘‘This is the first step of

have to be taken for the company to make the final commitment ’’ said Dennis Plautz the city’s director of business affairs and community growth If all goes as planned construction will begin in April 2012 in the North Central Ag Industrial Park west of Fort Dodge The plant would then begin p

2013

See PLANT, Page 3A

About the company

CJ Cheiljedang Corp was established in 1953 as Cheil Sugar Co Ltd At the time it was a sugar manufacturing operation that was part of Samsung Corp

The company expanded into flour milling in 1958 In 1963, it began producing the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate Production of Mipoong, a seasoning, was added in 1964

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the company expanded into more food production areas and into pharmaceuticals

In the early 1990s, the company separated from Samsung It concentrated on four core businesses: food and food services, bio pharma, entertainment media, and home shopping

In the United States, the company does business as CJ America, with headquarters in Downers Grove, Ill

Prescription pickup planned

‘‘It is a project that is what is commonly referred to by Cargill as an over-the-fence company where they would take product produced by Cargill ... and use it to add value.’’

Dennis Plautz Fort Dodge director of business affairs and community growth

Halsted accepts Alliance position

By BILL SHEA Messenger staff writer

A state official who has spent years marketing Iowa to businesses around the world will taking a leading role in future economic development efforts in Fort Dodge and Webster County

Kelly Halsted has been named the director of economic development for the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, leaders of the group announced Wednesday She will start on the job

Dec 12

‘‘We’re just very excited

that Kelly has accepted this position,’’ said Tim O’Tool, the president of the alliance’s board ‘‘We really feel as an organization that we hit a home run with this hire ’’

Halsted will replace John Kramer, who resigned in

August to become chief executive officer of the Greater St Cloud Development Corp in St Cloud, Minn

She has been the international project manager for the Iowa Economic Development Authority and its

predecessor, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, since 1998

In that capacity, she was instrumental in influencing nine European companies to make more than $500 million in new investments in Iowa, according to an an-

BILL SHEA

nouncement from the alliance Those investments created more than 650 jobs in the state, the alliance report-

Plautz to lead Growth Alliance

By BILL SHEA

staff writer

Dennis Plautz, a key player in local economic development efforts for 36 years, is about to assume a more permanent

Since August, he’s worked as the interim chief executive officer of the new Alliance while still fulfilling his duties as director of business affairs and community growth for the city

He’ll leave his city job by March 1 to become the first fulltime CEO of the Alliance

By PETER KASPARI Messenger staff writer

Page 9A

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

DennIs PlAuTz listens as David Fierke, Fort Dodge city manager, speaks Thursday afternoon during a press conference in the lobby of the Webster County Courthouse to announce Plautz’s appointment as permanent CEO of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

DaviD YaCKle, left, of eagle grove, casts his line into Moorland Pond

morning while fishing for trout with his son, Brian, right The pair have made several trips to the site recently after the Iowa DNR stocked

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

cused g 16 in istan thrilled’

E JOHNSON ated Press

The U S ed of slaughteran civilians last twice been inours in Iraq and to leave on his ment, a Seattle hursday t thrilled about nother deployhe lawyer, John e “He was told oing back, and

n Greater FD Growth Alliance leaders say development means more than pursuing companies Planning strategy

By BILL SHEA Messenger staff writer

Growing an economy involves more than persuading companies to set up shop or expand their existing facilities, accordi

Growth Alliance

‘‘To have a successful

e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t program it goes far beyond recruiting and retention,’’ Dennis Plautz, the Alliance’s chief executive o f f i c e r , s a i d T h u r s d a y ‘‘It transcends into having a community that’s competitive in many ways ’’ Tim O Tool, the presi

ity growth, took over as s CEO on March 1 Now ’s preparing three initiaves in addition to the onoing work of recruiting usinesses

School budget session targets loss

board of directors, said teamwork is essential to becoming competitive.

‘‘What’s important is for us to work together collaboratively,’’ he said ‘‘None of us, independ ently, can be successful.’’

A l l i a n c e l e a d e r s a r e reparing for what they all a work force summit They’re also studying the o m m u n i t y ’ s h o u s i n g eeds and getting ready to ct on a strategic plan

The alliance was established last year, and is accelerating its efforts since Plautz, the former Fort Dodge director of b usiness affairs and commu-

Work force issues

P l a u t z s a i d e c o n o m i c development could be redefined as human devel-

See GROWTH, Page 3A

Van Zyl says district faces a ‘negative perfect storm’

By BRANDON L. SUMMERS

for its 2013 b u d g e t , t h e F o r t D o d g e

nd asked to be y Browne when nto custody, the Browne said he ith the staff mily, and unle ss eturned to Joint McChord in the s, he will travel oldier wherever dy. clined to release ame, which the hheld, but said young children, y is worried ty of his family, onoring that,”

John Henry Browne ER, Page 5A Afghan who crashed truck near Panetta dies Page 5A

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is an efficient organization whose mission is to unify and coordinate accountable, economic and community development, to enhance the quality of life in Fort Dodge and the region.

Magazine places FD in top 50 for expansion

By BILL SHEA Messenger staff writer

Fort Dodge has been named one of the top 50 small communities for industrial expansion by a magazine that specializes i n c o r p o r a t e r e a l e s t a t e a n d e c o n o m i c d e v e l o pment

The March issue of Site Selection ranks Fort Dodge as the 48th best micropolitan area out of 576 such regions in the nation

The U S Census Bureau defines a micropolitan area as a rural county whose largest city has a p o p u

n 50,000 people

‘‘It’s mostly recognition of good things that are going on,’’ said Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

‘‘It brings the indirect

place,’’ he added Plautz said the listing

Community School District will use 96 percent as its target for spending on its unspent 2012 budget balance

A s p e c i a l meeting was h e l d T h u r sd a y s o t h e FDCSD b o a r d c o u l d consider the b u d g e t i n d e p t h a n d ask questions

w i t h o u t t h e time constraints of its regular semi-monthly meeting

S u p e r i n t e n d e n t D o u g

Van Zyl said issues the district currently faces include d

h e Iowa Legislature “not being ge n e r o u s ” o n a l l o w a b l e growth and loss of revenue, with expenditures remaining the same or increasing He called it a “negative perfect storm ”

“When talking about estimates, you do try to estimate expenditures a little bit high and estimate revenue a little bit low But the challenge with estimating reve n u e

have an extra revenue com-

esources,” he said

∫ Investment of more than $1 million; ∫ Creation of 50 or more jobs;

Fort Dodge Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection, said Thursday afternoon that the planned expansion of the Land O’Lakes facility on Eighth Avenue South, the development of the Cargill plant and the upcoming construction of the CJ Cheiljedang Corp p l a n t l e d t o t h e c i t y ’ s ranking Bruns said the ratings are a measurement of private sector investments in a community that meet or exceed one or more of these criteria:

He added, “This is one of the years where we really have no new monies coming in in any way, shape or f o r m , u n l e s s s o m e t h i n g drastically different were to happen ”

The board only consid-

owa House passes school reform bill

Tim O’Tool Dennis Plautz

Amy Bruno Kelly Halsted

Doug Van Zyl

CJ Bio America to break ground

Today’s ceremony will mark start of $323 million facility

By BILL SHEA

Messenger staff writer

The CJ Bio America plant will bring a new level of value-added agricultural production to Webster County Workers there will take corn starch from the adjacent Cargill facility and refine it into amino acids to be used in livestock feed

announced in October

2011 The plant will be located just north of the Cargill facility. It will be the company’s first production site in the United States

The ceremonial first step on the path to that production will be taken today with a groundbreaking ceremony to be attended by Gov Terry Branst ad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds company executives and local leaders The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p m at the plant site off Iowa Highway 7 in the North Central Ag Industrial Park

The $323 million plant is expected to open in early 2014

About 170 people will work there The company plans to hire 50 to 60 people this summer, and another 100 next year

Work at the plant site began in early April

CJ Bio Americ a is the first of what local leaders hope will be many over-thefence customers to surround the Cargill plant and make use of its byproducts

Plans for the plant were

‘‘This investment further exemplifies the opportunities the ag park can and will creat e,’’ said Tim O’Tool, the president of the board of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. ‘‘It also illustrates the great relationship Cargill is developing with over the fence companies, and our regional economic development future ’’

Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich said the plant’s construction is the first step toward expanding the ag industrial park, which is also the site of the Valero Renewables ethan ol plant.

‘‘After this step will come many more steps adding value to the park, creating jobs in the region and creating reinvestment in the communities,’’ he said.

Webster County Supervisor Bob Singer said three factors led to the creation and growth of the ag industrial park

‘‘The thing that makes this work is the two railroads, the phenomenal supply of corn and the cooperation of all governmental

bod ies,’’ he said.

The two railroads he referred to are the Canadian National and the Union Pacific, whose tracks cross in the ag industrial park

Some of the governmental cooperation Singer spoke of came from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which last year awarded millions of dollars worth of incentives for CJ CheilJedang

The incentive package includes:

∫ A $1 8 million loan,

half of which will b e forgiven

∫ A refund of sales taxes paid during construction worth up to $4 79 million

∫ An investment tax credit of $2.86 million.

∫ A research and development tax credit of $100,000

The company will also receive more than $1 million worth of employee training from Iowa Central Community College

The county government will construct a new road

and a railroad spur to serve the plant, while the city of Fort Dodge will upgrade its water and sewage systems

CJ CheilJedang Corp , based in South Korea, was established in 1953 as the Cheil Sugar Co Ltd At the time, it was a sugar production company that was part of Samsung Corp

The company expanded into flour milling in 1958 In 1963, it began producing the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate

Production of a seasoning

called mipoong followed in 1964

In the early 1990s, the company separated from Samsung It now works in four business areas: food and food services, bio pharma, entertainment media and home shopping

In the United States, the company does business as CJ America, with headquarters in Downers Grove, Ill

Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews net

Terry Branstad Tim O’Tool

Bob Singer Matt Bemrich

CJ Bio AmeriCA Ceremony launches plant

170 new jobs planned

By BILL SHEA

Messenger staff writer

About 170 new jobs, better prices for farm commodities, and deeper ties between Iowa and South Korea were celebrated Monday afternoon with a groundbreaking ceremony that formally launched construction of the CJ Bio America plant in Webster County

The event began with traditional music performed by a six-member percussion group from the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center in Chicago, Ill It ended with clumps of dirt flying off the ends of golden-colored shovels

About 200 people gathered in a large tent at the plant site in the North Central Ag Industrial Park for the ceremony

Between the music and the actual groundbreaking, a series of business and government leaders talked about the importance of the $323 million plant where corn starch from the nearby Cargill facility will be turned into amino acids, principally lysine, for use in livestock feed

‘‘It is our first manufacturing plant in the United States of America,’’ said Tae Jin Jeong, the chief operating officer of the bio division of the local plant’s parent company, CJ CheilJedang Corp That parent company is based in South Korea

‘‘2,000 years ago, the proudest thing was to say I am a citizen of Rome,’’ Tae added ‘‘Now, today, for CJ and me the

Corn demand set to jump

By LARRY KERSHNER

For The Messenger

Sometime in early 2014, CJ Bio America, a new subsidiary of Korea-based CJ CheilJedang is expected to be in full operation The company broke ground Monday to construct a $320 million lysine production facility at the North Central Ag Industrial Park west of Fort Dodge

For those with corn to sell in Webster and surrounding counties, the presence of the dry milling plant owned by Valero and the wet milling facility owned by Cargill, both in the ag park, competition for corn is expected to be intense

And competition for corn is expected to be just the beginning, according to those attending Monday’s groundbreaking ceremonies They also think that CJ Bio America is just one of additional new manufacturers that could locate in the park in the relatively near future

Gov Kim Reynolds prepare to toss ceremonial dirt Monday after during the ceremony

More photos from the CJ groundbreaking Page 6A

Governor vows to continue tax fight Page 10A

“When I was governor before, we were working on value-added products,” said Gov Terry Branstad “Now we have the best of all worlds Valero, Cargill and now CJ (Bio America), right in the midst of some of the most productive agricultural land in the world, raising more corn and soybeans than any American state ” When asked where the park can go in the

CORN, Page 6A

TOP: Tae Jin Jeong, Bio Division of CJ CheilJedang chief operating officer speaks Monday afternoon during the groundbreaking ceremony for their new plant west of Fort Dodge

LEFT: Tae Jin Jeong, left, Iowa Gov Terry Branstad and Lt

RIGHT: Webster County Supervisor Keith Dencklau, left, listens during the groundbreaking

-Messenger photos by Hans Madsen

By BILL SHEA

Celebrating 10 Years

BRIEFS

n, Erxleben

red at Decker

Balsley competes certification

DUNCOMBE Arrin

Balsley, Duncombe Public Library, has completed all requirements for public librarian certification

ael Brown and Warleben have been choDecker Truck Line December 2012 Drithe Month

wn was selected in the an division He has with Decker for six

ben was chosen in the division He has driDecker since 2005

ddition to winning a gift certificate, both

ll be eligible to com-

r driver/owner-opera-

he year.

ded in 1931, Decker

Line Inc is a diversiarrier, transporting refrigerated and dry ght to the 48 contiguited States and seven an provinces

r is named cal director

Certification is a voluntary program. To receive a certificate, individuals must meet work experience and/or educational requirements. Certificates are valid for three years Recertification requires a participant to complete an additional 45 hours of continuing education every three years

Molle honored as a top performer

Mike Molle, manager of the Arnold Motor Supply in Fort Dodge, received the Service is the Difference Award and was recognized as one of 2012 top performers for the retail store division of The Arnold Group of Companies at the managers meeting held in Ankeny on Jan 15 Molle received the award for exemplary effort in customer satisfaction His store reached a milestone in sales in 2012

Freeman returns to JCP Salon

Beth Freeman has rejoined the JCP Salon as a hair designer

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance buys a new home

Key partners will co-locate with group

By TERRENCE DWYER tdwyer@messengernews net

James Meyer, Trihysicians Group, has ed the position of l director for Trinity e, where he previoused as assistant medector In his new role, ves as a liaison beTrinity Hospice and s’ primary care

ans er is also the medical r of the respiratory d sleep disorders unit ty Regional Medical Trinity Health Sysboard member and hairman of the TriSpecialty Medicine

She has 20 years experience with color, carmelizing, haircutting and waxing

beth Freeman

She lives in Fort Dodge with her husband and children

Town & Country named a GEM Agency

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance will move to a new headquarters in the heart of downtown by early spring. The Alliance has purchased a building at 24 N Ninth St previously owned by Trinity Building Corp.

Tim O’Toole, president of the Alliance’s board of directors, said the one-story structure on the corner of First Avenue North and Ninth Street will provide just about triple the usable office space that exists at the group’s present location, 1406 Central Ave

“We need to engage everybody in this community in the process of economic development ”

was an especially exciting and valuable aspect of the arrangement

executive officer,

Dennis Plautz Chief

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

efficiencies in reception and in infrastructure ”

That was a point underlined by O’Toole

Showcasing a unified community effort to grow the economy and improve quality of life is an important reason for co-locating key groups, Plautz said

ttee He is board cerin internal medical monology

Daniel Cole previously as medical director of Hospice for 38 years continue his work as dical director of the ncy department at and as the Webster medical examiner

er elected to

Town & Country Insurance has been named to The IMT Group’s list of 2013 GEM Agencies, in recognition of being one of the highest-performing agencies in a six-state Midwest area

Of the more than 800 independent IMT Group agencies eligible for consideration, only the top 72 performing agencies received the GEM distinction this year

year, Town & Country Insurance was one of the

O’Toole said a major reason for the acquisition of the building is to create sufficient space to permit other key partners of the Alliance to co-locate with it, thereby, facilitating easier collaboration as well as generating savings on operating costs

Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the Alliance, said Tuesday the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way will be joining the Alliance in moving their offices to this building

“Each partner will have their own area and identity,” he said, stressing that shared reception, conferencing and meeting space will help make it possible for each of the organizations to use available budgets more optimally

Randy Kuhlman

The arrangement is more than just about costsaving, however

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance MISSION

“By virtue of what each of them do, we think it will be easier for us to collaborate,” Plautz said

“They will not be under

“The goal is to develop

of community and economic development,” he said Wednesday “Being located in the same office area will promote even greater collaboration and coordination on a wide range of community projects and initiatives ” Kuhlman added that he sees locating his staff team in this new office as a “nice fit ” “Being in close proximity with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance just makes sense, ” he said Dan Payne, executive director of the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Wednesday he is also enthusiastic about the new office arrangement He said it is a good way for his organization “to show our support for the other organizations ” He said the finan-

“We will be entertaining various companies, clients,” he explained “I think one of the advantages of co-locating all these organizations is not only does it help with collaboration, but it clearly gives a more unified appearance to our clients and to the outsider by having us together ”

Plautz said Fort Dodge must leverage its resources wisely to compete effectively for corporate investment dollars

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is an efficient organization whose mission is to unify and coordinate accountable economic and community development, to enhance the quality of life in Fort Dodge, Iowa and the region.

“We need to engage everybody in this community in the process of economic development,” he said “You can’t collaborate until you can communicate among the groups This is just one more step in the evolution of better collaboration ”

About the new site

O’Toole said the building was purchased from Trinity Building Corp for

Mike Molle

GReateR FoRt DoDGe GRowth alliance boaRD pResiDent Tim O’Toole, left, and Dennis Plautz, CEO, pose in front of the group’s new building in downtown Fort Dodge at First Avenue North and Ninth Street

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

Celebrating CJ, Cargill

Fanfare marks formal grand opening of plants Tuesday

By BILL SHEA bshea@ messengernews net

Standing in the shadow of the Cargill and CJ Bio America plants

Tuesday afternoon, white-gloved dignitaries snipped a red ribbon to formally mark the debut of the facilities that promise jobs, better prices for farm products and future growth in Webster County

Nearly 300 people attended the grand opening celebration for the plants, which actually began operating last fall

The partnerships that led to the establishment of the plants were repeatedly praised by company leaders and government officials who spoke during the event

‘‘Our success is the result of creating longterm partnerships with our customers and other stakeholders,’’ said Dave MacLennan, the president and chief executive officer of Cargill

‘‘Our investment in this biorefinery is a great example as we continue to work with the state, the city and our farmer customers, CJ and our employees to create a powerful partnership for the future,’’ he added Kyung-Shik Sohn, the chairman of CJ Group, the South Korean parent company of CJ Bio America, called the Tuesday ceremony an ‘‘auspicious event ’’

‘‘Today will be recorded as a historic day for CJ Group,’’ he said ‘‘By opening the Fort Dodge plant it is becoming the largest producer of lysine in the global market ’’

About the plants:

About 250

Capital investment: About $300 million

Start-up date: Oct 29, 2013

Products: Lysine, some liquid fertilizer Employees: About 180

Capital investment: $323 million

Start-up date: Nov 1, 2013

KASPARI

CJ AmeriCA ChAirmAn Kyung-ShiK Sohn, left, Iowa Gov Terry Branstad, Lt Gov Kim Reynolds and Cargill President and CEO Dave MacLennan, right, put their white gloves on as they prepare to cut the ribbon at the CJ Bio America/Cargill grand opening celebration

-Messenger photos by Hans Madsen

Continued from Page 1A

ous questions to the pool, including their knowledge of the case, relationship with any of the victims or wit-

About 12 jurors were excused for various reasons throughout the day

The trial will resume with

merand told jurors that the trial is expected to last into next week likely would be done by Aug 25

g a ‘vacation’

no acid feed, is ct of the ant. The to proric tons , but so ning at a produce ns. t lysine accordicials

s t e a d y mand for years,’’

r e d i c t e d he plants ch other ial park ossroads on.

ge bioren investof agri‘We and r invest-

h n o l o g y

e - a d d e d stomers will con-

Trott’s statement

admissible

Celebrating 10 Years

T Avenue nOrTh that extends west of Third Street would er a proposal recommended Tuesday by the Plan and Zonng Co wants to acquire part of the deadend street so that

j o b s i n t in the nd help

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stad and eynolds, o Seoul, 2011 to o f C J ilJedang uesday’s bration d about B r a n s t a d om past uture is ight.’’ aid that similar acilities

Judge rules against suppression

By JESSE MAJOR jmajor@messengernews net

A judge ruled Monday

y

Corey A. Trott, the Rockwell City man accused of killing a Rockwell City police officer, after his arrest can be used in court.

defender Joe McCarville s a i

clear that we w a n

CJ Bio AmeriCA ChAirmAn kyunG-shik sohn, center, listens as Gov. Terry Branstad speaks Tuesday afternoon at the CJ Bio America/Cargill grand opening celebration Cargill President and CEO Dave MacLennan, right, listens along with Webster County Supervisor Bob Singer, left

statement left o

This is after a hearing on Friday in 2nd Judicial District Court in Webster County to suppress the statement he made after his arrest on Sept 13, 2013 “ T o t h e defense, it’s a surprise,” Trott’s attorn e y , p u

state wanted it in

See TROTT, Page 3A

Commission favors more signs for businesses

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews net

Businesses in Fort Dodge should be allowed to have signs on every outside wall of their buildings, in the opinion of members of the city’s Plan and Zoning Commission Commission members voted Tuesday to recommend that the City Council change the current sign law to allow signs on all sides of a structure

2014 Aug

d B l a i r , the ang com-

nto that a n a n d on voted o m m e n d uncil vaof the nd Lisa ent from animous m e m b e r s of the occur if buys the eeds for nsion ated that

g t h o uDodge e better Branstad

on age 2A

‘‘It needs to change because the other cities sign it this way and it works out,’’ said commission member Mike Doyle

Commission member Kim Motl added ‘‘It only makes sense.’’

Under rules in place since 2011, businesses can

OHV park phase II to open in Sept.

Sups discuss park, POET and zoning

By JOE SUTTER jsutter@messengernews net

U S H i g hway 20, and approved window w a s h i n g f o r the county’s buildings.

Keith Dencklau

w l e d g e d story in d CJ Bio e. to welanies to re espewe have aliber of

Guests At the CJ Bio AmeriCA/CArGill grand opening celebration looked over the fermentation equipment at the Cargill plant.

See SIGNS, Page 2A

The off-highway vehicle park south of Fort Dodge will hold a grand opening early next month, the Webster County Board of Supervisors heard Tuesday.

T h e s u p e r v i s o r s a l s o heard about developments at POET Biorefinery and with

Phase II of t h e G y p s u m C i t y O f fHighway Veh i c l e P a r k will open Sept 12, said Supervisor Keith Dencklau.

“I believe if you have a chance to go out there, there

See SUPS, Page 2A

utilities policy

ing, mayor says all council members need to be involved in decisions

-Messenger photos by Hans Madsen

corey Trott

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

Thank you to the originators of The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, the investor members, and all other members and contributors who have collaborated and partnered to make our region an even greater place to work and reside. Our region has done a 180 degree economic turn around because of your ability to work together toward common goals and have developed a reputation as a prime example of a coordinated successful model within Iowa for economic growth. Thank you all for 10 years of governmental, education, community agencies, and private business cooperation and leadership.

Since the inception of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance 10 years ago, the cooperation and collaboration between the City of Fort Dodge, the Webster County Supervisors, the State of Iowa, and the Federal Government has never been better. The Alliance has played a key role in the industrial expansion of the Fort Dodge region. I look forward to working with you in the future. Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary.

I had the privilege of working with the committee organizing the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance 10 years ago. The GFDGA is a prime example of what happens when City, County, businesses and private individuals work together for the greater good of our communities and region. When one of us wins…we all win! I couldn’t be prouder of the growth we have seen over the last 10 year and the opportunities ahead of us.

follow

Congratulations on a decade of service to the community, region and the State of Iowa.

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance has been an example how impactful an organization can be in coordinating business, government and non-profit efforts for the betterment of all. The Growth Alliance is considered a partner in all aspects of our business operation (Collaboration, Personnel Development, Recruiting, Networking, etc.) and we appreciate their leadership and ability to unify multiple entities for a common cause.

The Fort Dodge market has continued to thrive and evolve even during times of uncertainty. This is a true testament to the steady leadership in the Growth Alliance organization while being pliable enough deliver their mission.

I am excited to see what is in store for the Greater Fort Dodge area over the next 10 years, but one thing I know is for certain, we can count on the Growth Alliance to lead the charge.

Sarah Holmes GreenState Credit Union

Dan Scott Citizens Community Credit Union

Congratulations Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance! As an investor, it is a privilege to partner with you. The development and growth brought to the Fort Dodge region is incredible and the support you provide to the community unparalleled. A heartfelt thank you for your continued dedication to the Fort Dodge region. Looking forward to the next ten years and beyond!

As a Fort Dodge native, I’ve had a front row seat to witness the positive impact the Growth Alliance has made toward the development and success of our city and region as a whole. The work they have done for North Central Iowa has played a key role in consistently attracting new business, which in turn brings new talent to the area, but more importantly, has helped bring local talent back to the area. We are so incredibly fortunate to have a partnership with such a forwardthinking entity that has helped us thrive for so many years and one we see immense value in supporting. We would not be who we are today without the Growth Alliance going to great lengths to support our region and feel privileged to be able to reap the rewards of their work.

Congratulations on 10 years of success!

Mike Biedenfeld United Bank of Iowa Kraig Barber First State Bank

Congratulation to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance on 10 years of community growth.

The Growth Alliance has served as a catalyst for economic advancement of the region. Whether we live, work, or shop in Fort Dodge or nearby communities, we all benefit from the collaboration of a regional effort to maintain and improve our quality of life. The organization has the staff and resources to facilitate these efforts and respond to opportunities for development and growth in the region.

The Growth Alliance works for the larger community in collaboration with Fort Dodge, Webster County, and the communities and counties in our region. We all benefit from this effort.

Being an investor in the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance has a broader return for the region as a whole. The Growth Alliance works to ensure the region has its footprint at the doorsteps of opportunity. It takes a tremendous amount of collaboration with the city and surrounding communities, county, state, and businesses to put just one deal together and the Growth Alliance has worked to facilitate this process since its inception. Business and industry is what grows the region and the Growth Alliance is one of the main components to help make that happen. This investment will help to sustain the region that we call home.

COLLABORATION

Pipeline speakers must sign up

By JOE SUTTER jsutter@messengernews net

The Iowa Utilities Board has announced a sign-up process for anyone wishing to speak at the public comment hearing Nov 12 in Boone

The hearing will allow people to speak for or against the board issuing a permit for a proposed oil pipeline Dakota Access LLC, a Texas-based company,

wants to build the pipeline connecting the Bakken region of North Dakota with a crude o il distribution hub in Patoka, Illinois The proposed pipeline would cross 346 miles of Iowa, including Sac, Calhoun and Webster counties

People who want to speak at the public comment hearing must call the board today and Friday between 8 a m and 4:30

p m at (515) 725-7300

“Callers will need to state their name, address, and whether they want to speak in favor of or against issuance of the permit,” the bo ard wrote “Waiting lists will be assembled as necessary The completed list will be posted on the board’s website on Monday, Nov 9 ” The public comment session is scheduled to take place from 9 a m to 5 p m Nov

Model

By BILL SHEA

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Swanson gets 25 years for slashing inmate

21-year-old is in prison for Humboldt, Algona murders

By PETER KASPARI pkaspari@messengernews net

IOWA CITY Michael Swanson, who killed two convenience store workers in 2010 and was convicted in 2011, will serve an additional 25 years after pleading guilty to attempted murder

Swanson, 21, made the guilty plea Tuesday to slashing a fellow inmate with a knife at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville

JOE SUTTER

A second inmate, Michael Ivester, 34, pleaded guilty to attempted murder in late October

On Nov 15, 2010, Swanson, then 17 years old, shot Sheila Myers at a Humboldt convenience store Earlier in the evening, he shot Vicky Bowman-Hall at a convenience store in Algona

Both women were survived by husbands and children

Swanson was convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery for killing Myers He shot Myers in the face with a 40-caliber Beretta handgun and left the Kum & Go store with $31 and some cigarettes

He received a life sentence for that murder michael swanson

Iowa Lt. Gov. KIm ReynoLds shares a laugh during the reception with Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Chief Executive Officer Dennis Plautz, right, as Erik Ingerslew, with Cargill, listens at left

AML Riverside inaugurates operations in Fort Dodge with a flag raising New beginning

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews net

Two new flags the blue banner of New Zealand and a white one bearing the words AML Riverside were raised Monday afternoon as a Fort Dodge site long affiliated with animal health began a new chapter in its history

The place Fort Dodge residents commonly call the Riverside plant began operations under its new name, AML Riverside LLC, and its new owner, New Zealand-based Argenta.

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

“This is a very, very big day for our company and a very, very big day for me personally,” Cleverly said.

“We declare the facility open.”

Doug Cleverly Managing director and co-founder of Argenta

“We declare the facility open,” Doug Cleverly, the managing director and cofounder of Argenta, said after the flags were raised

The ceremony at which the flags of the United States and Iowa were also raised was witnessed by the first 20 employees of the plant, local officials and representatives of the

The plant at 141 Riverside Drive is the company’s first manufacturing facility in the United States The company has hired 20 people and will hire about 23 more by the end

See ARGENTA, Page 7A

The water meters in homes may someday be re versions that will automat all the data needed for wa Municipal Building

A system now being considered would eliminate the need to send meter readers to every home and would provide accurate, up-to-the-minute information on water use, according to Brett Daniel, the city’s superintendent of meters and services

He and City Manager David Fierke presented information on the planned new system to the City Council on Monday during a workshop

Although no formal vote was taken, council members indicated that they would allow the city staf posals from companies th water meter systems Daniel estimated the co system at $3 1 million to He said the current cash

ABOVE: DAVE BAARDsOn, left, head of site, and Mike Landwehr, head of quality, raise the New Zealand flag along with an AML Riverside flag, at a ceremony Monday celebrating New Zealand-based Argenta officially starting operations at the Riverside plant

LEFT: DEnnIs PLAuTz, chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, center, watches the flagraising ceremony

By CHAD THOM cthompson@messenge

A $12,000 Iowa Depa tural Affairs grant will h 2017 Preserve Iowa Su Dodge in the summer of 2

The DCA awarded the money to the Fort Dodge Historic Preservation Commission, it learned in December

The event is expected to bring from 350 to 500 people to the Fort Dodge area

Fort Dodge will be on display as part of an annual statewide historic preservation conference, o portunity for visitors to l city’s historic districts

Pa

-Messenger photos by Joe Sutter

‘101 Ways to Enjoy Webster County’ has launched

By TERRENCE DWYER

tdwyer@messengernews net

There’s a new resource that will help residents and visitors alike experience the diversity that makes Webster County remarkable The Messenger has produced in partnership with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance “101 Ways to Enjoy Webster County ” The new publication highlights the plethora of

www.messengernews.net

BUSINESS BRIEFS

events, festivals, places to see and things to do in Webster County “It is truly a ‘must have’ for any resident or tourist who wants to experience everything Webster County

has to offer,” said David Jakeman, The Messenger’s advertising director This 56-page, high-quality, glossy publication will be refreshed every other year It and the already pop-

Saturday, April 16, 2016

“It’s a nice, professional-looking publication I think it is so professional looking, it becomes an indicator of how we do things in the community ”

Dennis Plautz CEO, Greater Fort

ular “All About Fort Dodge” will appear in alternate years The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is handling distribution Additional copies can be found at businesses throughout the community and at welcome centers all over Iowa A digital version is available online at messengernews net and fortdodgecvb com

Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the Growth Alliance, said he is enthusiastic about “101 Ways to Enjoy Webster County ”

“It’s the kind of thing that when I go to another community and I stay in a hotel room,” he said “It’s the first thing when I have some free time that I look at It’s very, very helpful to show people what we have to offer in the way of entertainment, in the way of restaurants and businesses ”

Plautz said he expects the publication to be immensely useful in the Alliance’s efforts to market Fort Dodge and Webster County

“It’s very helpful when we give tours to people who are being interviewed here,” he said “They like to look through it And quite frankly, people are a little surprised I think that we

have as many national franchises and other things here

This is a great way to expose that to people You’ve got a Pancheros You’ve got a Jimmy John’s Whatever it is It’s very valuable for the visitor ”

Plautz said that the range of people who will find this publication of help is broad

“It’s valuable for the person who is looking to get a feel for what’s in the community,” he said

According to Plautz “101 Ways to Enjoy Webster County” should also help the Alliance in its ongoing effort to bring new corporate investment to the county

“We will share that with companies that we are making proposals to as well as people the companies are looking to hire to bring to Fort Dodge,” he said

Plautz said the appearance of the publication is very much in sync with the message the Alliance is sending about Fort Dodge and Webster County

“It’s a nice, professionallooking publication,” he said “I think it is so professional-looking, it becomes an indicator of how we do things in the community ”

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Ta x s e a s o n i s u n d e r w a y

Friendship Haven plans memory center

Here are some things you may need to know

By PETER KASPARI pkaspari@messengernews net

n t , aerial Crop Health Imaging and weather data collection

Friendship Haven will expand its memory care services with a new facility planned for the Fort Dodge-based senior living community

Chad Hammar

new when you file your taxes this year?

ments in each, totaling 30 private apartments with private bathrooms

Business Briefs submissions

The announcement was made Friday Julie Thorson, chief executive officer of Friendship Haven, said the new facility will help care for patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

“Simply put, it’s the right thing to do,”

Taxpayers without health insurance will face larger penalties, and those insured by their employers will get a new tax form

Thorson said Friday “There is such a need and we really feel like we are the community to meet that need We’re very excited about it for many, many reasons ”

The Messenger invites businesses in its circulation area to submit brief, typed items concerning their employees for the newspaper’s Business Briefs column

The free-standing facility will be located on the east side of the former Tompkins Health Center

dementia-specific apartments and a waiting list for nursing home-level dementia support

There also have been adjustments for inflation, and Congress extended expiring tax breaks, some permanently

s o n o p e n e n e d Jan 19, when the Internal Revenue Service began accepting returns

If you like to procrastinate, you’ll have four extra

their forms, said Greg Rosica, tax partner at Ernst & Young LLP But do take into account any changes in your personal life, he urged Did you get married, have a

creep upward, said Barbara

The new building will accommodate two dementia households with 15 apart-

manager at The Messenger Originally from Farnhamville, Hammar has more than 20 years of sales and business development as well as seven years of sales management experience in the banking, insurance and fundraising fields

Dale Peterson is a FARMserver dealer

HARCOURT Beck’s, the largest family-owned, retail seed company in the United States, has announced that Dale Peterson of Premium Ag Solutions in Harcourt, is a new FARMserver dealer

FARMserver is Beck’s precision ag software tool developed to help farmers

Submissions will be edited and run on a space-available basis

Thorson said the addition will include more dementia-specific licensed apartments Friendship Haven currently has 16

Items must be received by 5 p m Tuesday for consideration in Sunday’s column

The Messenger reserves the right to limit articles to no more than one every 30 days and to refuse any information that is not received in a timely manner

Photos will be used at the discretion of The Messenger Submit articles and headshots to: Business Desk, The Messenger, P O Box 659, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or tdwyer@messengernews net

“The good news is that we finally have some certainty,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director of the Tax Institute at H&R Block

“This neighborhood is designed by the caregivers who serve the residents,” she said “Over time, we’ve learned what works well and what could work better This new building has all those features in mind ”

The arrival of the new year means it’s time to start

the documents needed to file taxes

They include W-2 forms reporting wages or salaries, which employers sent out

o need Form 1099 reporting interest and

options for short-term nursing support and therapy as well as more resources for those needing additional services

Fundraising for the project has already started, and Thorson said donors have had a positive response so far

“The good news is that we finally have some certainty ”

Julie Thorson

Kathy Pickering Executive director, Tax Institute at H&R Block

The new facility will also provide more

“People that are donating to the project have been touched by Alzheimer’s in a personal way, and I think that drives people that much more to support a project like this,” she said

days counting Feb 29 because this is a leap year to file without needing an extension The deadline is April 18 because of the celebration of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia If you live in M a s s a c h u s e t t s o r M a i n e , Patriots Day means you’ll have still another day to file

Taxpayers will not see many significant changes when they start filling out

child or begin caring for an elderly relative, for example?

“ A

your personal life, so do taxes change,” h e said Tax brackets, the value of each exemption and the s t a n

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, left, looks over the new publication “101 Ways to Enjoy Webster County,” with Dave Jakeman, The Messenger’s advertising director

Dodge Growth Alliance

Aug. 5, 2017.

Success

Walls go up on new Duncombe School

Jessica Gomez

Continued from Page 1A

Knigge and Gomez, w h o w e r e o n c e d escribed as friends, were publicly reported missing on Aug 9, 2017

magnitude of Greehey’s donation

Knigge was arrested in connection with the case on Aug 10, 2017, i n L a f a y e t t e , I n d i a n a She was a passenger in a stolen Pontiac Montana minivan that was stopped by police there.

Site is progressing through cooperation, construction manager tells school board

“I thank people who buy me dinner,” he said “I don’t know how to thank people who do something this generous and I don’t think I could come up with anything better than thank you very much ”

Mackenzie Knigge

CJ Bio proposes

By CHAD THOMPSON cthompson@messengernews net

The new Duncombe Elementary School is starting to take shape at 615 N 16th St

Tim Burns, president of the Iowa Central Community College Foundation, also thanked Greehey

Williams was also in the minivan.

Gomez’s burned body was found in a ditch along Indiana Avenue near Clare on Aug. 12, 2017.

“It has been a great week if you have been driving by the site,” said Keith Kolacia, construction manager for Kolacia Construction “It has been the most telling week of progress ”

n ‘The application for assistance is one of the key elements of paving a path for future growth at CJ Bio America’s Fort Dodge facility’

-Dennis Plautz

“Our wish is for every student to have a great experience here at Iowa Central and discover their own path to success,” he said

By JOE SUTTER

Knigge was returned to Iowa shortly after her arrest, and her trial was recently continued to Nov 26

Williams was extradited back to Iowa on July 7 He had to answer to charges he was facing in Indiana prior to his extradition

Kolacia provided an update on the project Monday during the Fort Dodge Community School District board meeting

“Within the

“Folks, this center is going to remove barriers for our students,” he added “Fewer barriers will mean increased potential for success, which is the heart of our mission.”

Both Knigge and Williams are each being held in the Webster County Jail on $1 million cash bond.

New monument honors Gold Star families

-Messenger photos by Hans Madsen

Iowa Central nursing student Kristin Swanson is already benefitting from Greehey’s contributions to the college. Swanson, of Fort Dodge, was awarded the first Greehey scholarship.

During Wednesday’s event, she said the new center will “help so many students, including myself.”

Supervisors negotiating land purchase for

“I am so grateful for everything Mr. Greehey has done for myself and for Iowa Central,” she said.

Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich read a proclamation declaring Wednesday to be William E. Greehey Day in the city.

By CHAD THOMPSON cthompson@messengernews net

Greehey described the college as a “great asset” that gives students an affordable education.

2018 AUG

TOP: Framed by an archiTecTural rendition of the Greehey Family Student Success Center, Iowa Central Community College President Dan Kinney speaks at the podium Wednesday afternoon during groundbreaking for the new facility

abOVe: mary ludwig, executive director of development and alumni at Iowa Central Community College, helps Bill Greehey get his hardhat adjusted during groundbreaking for the Greehey Family Student Success Center at Iowa Central Community College College President Dan Kinney, at left, along with Greehey’s sister, Keeka Lynch, watch

-Submitted graphic

belOw: a rendering shows what the new building will look like.

Groundbreaking for Greehey Family Student Success Center at Iowa Central was Oct. 15, 2018

He then recounted his upbringing in what he called a “poor, working class neighborhood” on the east side of Fort Dodge.

The Webster County Board of Supervisors is in the process of acquiring another piece of property located in the Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation, an ag industrial park seven miles west of Fort Dodge Supervisors on Tuesday approved a

attorney,

Kersten said the

“We were not blessed with financials, but we were blessed with friends and love,” he said. “Neighbors cared for one another. Parents gave us the love and attention.”

“I had a great childhood,” he added. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

2018 OCT

Greehey said when he graduated from high school he could not afford to go to college so he enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, for all four years of his military service. When his enlistment was up, he decided to stay in San Antonio. He used the GI Bill to

When he retired as CEO in 2006, the company had $82 billion in revenue and about 22,000 employees But those kinds of business statistics aren’t the most important measures of

He said creating Haven for Hope, a 23-acre campus that provides a full range of services to the homeless population of San Antonio, is his proudest accomplishment, The center pro-

Keith Kolacia

By CHAD THOMPSON

APR

2016

Growth Alliance receives the 2016 Business Retention and Expansion Award from the Professional Developers of Iowa for its work to keep the veterinary medicine plant on Riverside Drive viable

SEP

Growth Alliance co-sponsors the 2106 Fall Conference of the Professional Developers of Iowa, which was held in Fort Dodge for the first time in 16 years

OCT JUN 2016

Greehey gives Iowa Central $3M

2017 2016

$885 million deal: BIVI plan to be sold to Elanco

NOV

2016

Skyla Porter is hired as Organizational Administrator

FEB 2018

Prestage Foods of Iowa: $300 million project

NOV

Main Street Fort Dodge co-located in Growth Alliance building

Lydia Schuur is hired as Communications Specialist

City, county blaze new trails in collaboration

Fort Dodge features a variety of public art

CJ Bio America plans $20M expansion

New housing continues to emerge

Deena McCaulley is hired as Office Manage

Fort Dodge housing: Housing boom in Fort Dodge

manager at Gehlhausen Construction, of Fort Dodge, looks over a display showing ompleted homes at 1308 20th Ave. N. Monday afternoon during the Williams Bend e. The open house was held inside 1304 20th Ave. N.

d “I have omething smaller cious.” Bemrich e partnerg subdividucts,” he e for that worth all e We are rt Dodge, ment plans omes, 55 es, and 60 y on some n of 24th t between 5th Street roject are of Fort x that can Street for ich is also the new Housing company, h Avenue It is also and suby, Rasch ng a new North bend North main thorod e project, o LLC, is agent for c., will be le family ve already eived and ame from y live in

Williams Bend Welcomed

‘It’s about building communities people want to live in’

By CHAD THOMPSON

cthompson@messengernews net

Fort Dodge is on the right track in tackling its infrastructure needs and attracting new people to the area, according to Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority

Williams Drive, the property extends almost to North 15th Street It was purchased for the purpose of establishing a site where new homes can be built

ABoVe: CrAig sCHlienz, left, and Ann Lenox, ambassadors of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance talk about the Williams Bend Development Monday afternoon at 1304 20th Ave N during an open house

-Messenger photos by Chad Thompson

ABOVE: FOrT DODgE MAyOr MATT BEMricH waves to some incoming guests during a Williams Bend open house Monday afternoon Fort Dodge Councilman Kim Alstott is shown in front

Pedestrian dies crossing 169 near Humboldt

Authorities say road was snow-covered; accident under investigation

By PETER KASPARI

pkaspari@messengernews

HUMBOLDT A pedestrian died when he crossed U S Highway 169 near Humboldt during snowy conditions

Sunday night

The man was identified by the Iowa State Patrol as Olaf H Engman, 61, of Humboldt.

The accident was reported at 11:01 p m Sunday on 169, north of Fourth Avenue North in Humboldt

According to the Iowa State Patrol’s accident report, Engman was crossing the northbound lanes of 169

As he was crossing, a southbound 2017 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Celeste Reilly, 54, of Humboldt, was traveling in the inside lane of traffic

“It’s about building communities people want to live in and you have that vision here,” she said Durham spoke briefly during an open house for the Williams Bend Development Monday afternoon

Eventually, all of the former farm property will be filled with houses, apartments, and duplexes like the one on display at the open house

Earlene Nordstrom, an ambassador for the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, was impressed

BeloW: ABout 100 people attended the Williams Bend Development open house Monday afternoon.

About 100 people crammed inside one of the recently completed homes at 1304

BELOW: EArLEnE nOrDsTrOM, an ambassador of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, feels the countertops inside one of the completed Williams Bend Development homes Monday afternoon

The state patrol said Reilly didn’t see Engman until he was in the roadway, and her Jeep’s front passenger corner struck Engman as he was crossing the highway

Engman was transported to Humboldt County Memorial Hospital, where he

FATAL, Page 2A

By CHAD THOMPSON

Fort Dodge, which is so awesome,” she said “We are welcoming a lot of people to Fort Dodge already and that was what some people were thinking

Williams Bend housing area ribbon cutting was April 9, 2018

Building a better block

By PETER KASPARI pkaspari@messengernews net

was that it wouldn’t bring people from out of town in, and no it is The first six offers coming in are not current residents of Fort Dodge.”

Fort

Continued from Page 1A

-Messenger photos by Chad Thompson

‘You’re not reallY a success until You share that success’

Greehey diGs in

donor turns earth for new io wa central building

By BILL SHEA

bshea@messengernews net

When Bill Greehey graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High decades ago with dreams of going to college, today’s Iowa Central Community College didn’t exist

But now his name will always be tied to the college Greehey, from Texas, joined about 150 people, including members of his family, college leaders and local officials for a Wednesday afternoon event to formally launch the construction of the Greehey Family Student Success Center on the Fort Dodge campus

A $3 million donation from the Greehey Family Foundation is helping to pay for the roughly $6 million center

“You’re not really a success until you share that success, so I’m proud that we’re able to share this success with the community college,” Greehey said

that will bear his family

foundation’s name

He is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Valero Energy Corp who established the Greehey Family Foundation, which donates between $10 million and $11 million every year to various causes The foundation has donated more than $110 million since its founding in 2006

Previously, the Foundation gave Iowa Central $1 million for a scholarship

“Today’s a landmark day for Iowa Central Community College and our region that we serve,” college President Dan Kinney said as he welcomed people to Wednesday’s event “More importantly, I think it’s a landmark for students that we serve ”

“This gift will help Iowa Central better serve our students and region by moving all of our student services to a one-stop shop,” he added The building, Kinney said, “would not have been possible without his gift ”

Mark Crimmins, president of the college’s Board of Directors, said he had been authorized by the board to express its gratitude to Greehey But he seemed to struggle to find the right words to say thank you for a gift of the

LeFt: BiLL Greehey, at right, with a little help from Tri, the Iowa Central Community College mascot, and college President Dan Kinney, at left, breaks ground Wednesday afternoon for the Greehey Family Student Success Center

BeLoW: BiLL Greehey, at right, listens as Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich reads a mayoral proclamation Wednesday afternoon during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Greehey Family Student Success Center at Iowa Central Community College

What Will the student center house?

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews net

The Greehey Family Student Success Center at Iowa Central Community College will provide a single place where students can access a variety of services

It will consolidate veterans services, enrollment services, student advising, financial aid, counseling, health care, career services, distance learning and early intervention support in one spot Now those services are spread throughout several buildings on the

CENTER, Page 2A

isP troopers share memories of coffee and comfort

Boondocks was ‘a Beacon in the middle of a snowstorm’

BY TERESA WOOD editor@freemanjournal net

-Messenger photos by Hans Madsen

-Messenger photo by Teresa Wood

along Hawkeye Avenue

/groTH/ noun the process of developing or the increase in economic value

Four-lane

20 is a reality FROM RIVER TO RIVER

A vision, energy, persistence pays off through north central Iowa

By BILL SHEA

bshea@messengernews net

For Lt Gov Adam Gregg, the completion of U S Highway 20 as a four-lane route all across northern Iowa after about 60 years of work could be summarized with a single word

“I think I can sum up today in one word finally,” Gregg told about 400 people packed into a hotel ballroom in Holstein during an Oct 19, 2018, ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly finished highway

To say that this day is a long time coming is an understatement he added

Gregg spoke before ceremonial ribbons were snipped along the side of U S Highway 20 in Holstein to mark the opening of the final four-lane section in Ida and Woodbury counties that completed a widening project started in 1958

That final section opened to traffic in October Gregg described it as a “glorious day for northwest Iowa ”

What ultimately made the finished highway possible, he said, was a 10-cent per gallon gasoline tax increase approved in 2015 that generated an additional $200 million a year for Iowa s roads and bridges

But there was also a lot of work by many people that ensured success he said We re inspired by the passion of those of you here today and also the passion of those who played a role in this project and maybe aren’t around to see it through to completion, but you know made a big, big difference,” he said

“Your advocacy made a difference,” he added

”And you know what, this project will make a difference, too We’ll be able to move our goods more efficiently and get our products to the world ” U S Rep Steve King, R-Kiron, singled out two Fort Dodge residents Floyd Magnusson and V H Buck Boekelman

Magnusson was a Webster County supervisor and president of the U S 20 Corridor Association Boekelman was a member of the association who was known for attending every Iowa Transportation Commission meeting Both men died before the highway expansion was completed

“Those two folks were with us every step of the way,” King said “They are with us in spirit today ” Other Fort Dodge residents who played key roles in pushing for the four-lane highway were former Democratic state Rep Helen Miller; Republican state Sen Tim Kraayenbrink; former Democratic state senators Daryl Beall and Rod Halvorson; Bob Singer, a

See US 20, Page 2F

-Messenger f le pho os by Hans Madsen

TOP: The ribbon for the final section of U S Highway was cut in Holstein on Oct 19, 2018 U S Rep Steve King R-Iowa, did the honors with help from Mark Lowe, director of the Iowa Department of Transportation, at left; Shirley Phillips, president of the U S Highway 20 Corridor Association; Lt Gov Adam Gregg; and Iowa Transportation Commission member Charese Yanney, at right

ABOVE: Bob Singer, first vice president of the U S 20 Corridor Association, at left, stops to talk with then-state Rep Helen Miller, D-Fort Dodge, and Sherry Washington, right, of Fort Dodge, during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the last section of road on Oct 19, 2018

Cargill acquires land from Webster County

No timetable on

By CHAD THOMPSON cthompson@messengernews net

Cargill has acquired more than 80 acres of property from Webster County as the company looks to expand its operations in the Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation ag park west of Fort Dodge.

The Webster County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the sale of two parcels to Cargill during its meeting Tuesday morning. Those two parcels used to be seven di fferent parcels, but were combined, Mark Campbell, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said

“We have been working on this for a while,” Campbell said of the transaction.

The land, located north of Cargill’s plant at1950 Harvest Ave , was sold to Cargill for a total cost of about $2,036,650.

The parcel on the east lot is 43 49 acres

Cargill paid $25,000 an acre for that property

The parcel on the west side is 40.4 acres.

Cargill paid $23,500 an acre for that property

“It’s the amount the county paid for it,” Fort Dodge attorney Steve Kersten said. “They (Webster County) will be completely reimbursed for all cost.”

Al Viaene, facility manager at Cargill Fort Dodge, said the company plans to develop the newly acquired property into a co-location.

On Tuesday, Viaene said there was no timetable or specific plans to share regarding that co-location

future development

“It depends on the size and scope,” he said “If you use CJ (Bio America) as an example, they spent $300 million and added 150 employees. Or it could be a small co-location with $50 million and 20 people It depends on which co-location we add ”

He said this type of development usually takes a couple of years to get something built from the time plans have been announced And to date, specific plans have not been announced.

Cargill came to Webster County by buying a partially built plant in 2011 and turning it into a wet corn milling facility

Construction of the current Cargill plant in the Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation industrial park was started by Tate & Lyle in 2006 But that company sold it to Cargill for $57 million in 2011 before it was completed

The new owner renovated it to create the current facility. Production there began on Oct. 29, 2013.

When operating at full capacity, the plant consumes 150,000 bushels of corn a day

From that corn, the plant produces dextrose, ethanol, feed for cattle, corn gluten meal fed to poultry, corn germ and a molasses like substance called corn steep liquor

Cargill employs about 160 people. An additional 90 people who work for various contractors are also at the site daily

Letter shows psychologist broke rules with Iowa sex predator

IOWA CITY (AP) A psychologist in charge of treating Iowa’s most dangerous sex offenders violated policies by developing an improperly close relationship with a violent predator who became obsessed with h e r , T h e A s s o c i a t e d P r e s s h a s learned.

AML Riverside is a growing local company

They also created potential security concerns for the institution, which houses about 120 sexually violent predators who have been ordered by the courts to be locked up for treatment following completion of their prison terms

took advantage of a unique, existing asset and quickly went to

cines

Shannon Smith Sanders, who directed the treatment program at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders in Cherokee, did special favors for the patient sharing secrets with him, bending the rules for him and lying to protect him, according to a Sept 16 termination letter obtained under Iowa’s open records law.

To meet the requirements of some government incentives it received, the company had to create 30 jobs by the end of 2019 It easily exceeded that figure, and now employs about 80 people

breathed new life into is a sprawling building along East Riverside

Sanders also failed to report that the patient was having personal feelings for her The letter said Sanders’ actions constituted “boundary violations,” meaning they crossed the line into unethical behavior that poten-

Riverside can’t easily set up shop in any large building But the structure on East Riverside Drive has a long history with the veteri-

That history is summed up by a big metal sign on the north wall of the building which says Fort Dodge Laboratories That company is gone, but it and its successors left a facility perfectly suited for its current occupant

Superv jail

The Webster C Tuesday on multi operations of the Supervisors ac a c o r r e c t i o n s o f resignation beco tive Dec. 1. In a separate m county accepted of Pyle as a cl county assessor’s Pyle was hire position at a rate per hour That hi tive Dec 2 M e a n w h i l e , s approved a status Renee Ryan, fro tions officer to se approved a raise $21 24 Supervisors ac Madeline Rich full-time correctio In other busine e q u i p m e n t o p e Engineer/Roads D hourly rate of $22

cluded sexual discussions. He said his client frequently sent Sanders notes written in code

its staff will The company plans to add 12 positions and about $720,000 worth of payroll

Within the building there will be some changes and equipment will be added so that the company can expand its research and development work It will be about a $6 million investment

The letter did not identify the patient But attorney Jason Dunn told the AP that it was his client, Jeffrey Goodwin, who has been locked up since committing a 1988 sexual assault in Keokuk In custody, Goodwin has a record of expressing sexually violent fantasies and threats toward female guards and assaulting other patients and staff.

Now, AML Riverside is getting ready to grow again Its building won’t be getting any bigger, but

“She had Jeff so wound up that he was willing to kill himself or someone else if he dishonored her or someone else dishonored her,” Dunn said in an interview. “He was really going crazy ”

A M L R iv er s id e d ev elo p s , licenses and manufactures products for other companies which are t h e n

AML Riverside logo on it

The Iowa Department of Human Services, which operates the program, allowed Sanders to resign in lieu of termination after a threemonth investigation into the complaint, documents show.

those companies That’s why no one ever sees anything in a local veterinarian’s office that has an

Dunn alleged that Sanders encouraged Goodwin, 55, to masturbate in front of her and that they watched pornography together at least once. He said Goodwin grabbed her buttocks a couple times and that they de-

The Fort Dodge City Council recently moved to aid the expans i o n b y f o r g i v i n g a $ 1 0 0 , 0 00 loan it gave the company in 2015 to help it get started Forgiving the loan was smart move Essentially writing off $100,000 to get $720,000 in new payroll in the community has got to be one of the better deals of recent history

AML Riverside is an existing c

more good paying professiona l jobs That’s the kind of growth we want to see in Fort Dodge It plans to add about $720,000 in payroll soon

Sanders, 38, declined to comment about the investigation’s findings or Dunn’s allegations.

Dunn recently asked the FBI to in-

ctho

TERRY CHRISTENSEN Publisher BILL SHEA Editor

The Messenger/Fort Dodge, Iowa

messengernews

nues south.

at the John W. Pray Water Facility begins running.

Here’s a summary of what was accomplished in 2020.

Streets The intersections of Central Avenue and 15th Street and First Avenue South and 15th Street were reconfigured to create turning lanes. South 15th Street between Central Avenue and First Avenue South was rebuilt to create three lanes of traffic. Additional repairs on First Avenue South, stretching all the way to Veterans Bridge, were included in the project. The work began in the fall of 2019 and continued until the fall of 2020.

Castor Construction, of Fort Dodge, had a roughly $4 million contract for the work.

South 30th Street was rebuilt between Fifth and Seventh ave-

“That road was in dire need,” said City Engineer Tony Trotter. He said the road was broken down by heavy traffic while nearby Eighth Avenue South was closed for complete reconstruction.

A culvert on North Seventh Street, north of the entrance to Loomis Park, was replaced with a new larger one to improve drainage in that area.

Sewer work Through 2020, work continued, especially on the city’s south side, on a long project to improve sewers so that homes won’t be flooded during heavy rains.

“The point behind the Community Sewer Initiative was to eliminate basement backups and eliminate the need to pump out manholes,” Trotter said.

For decades, every time there was a heavy rain, city crews had to pump water out of sanitary sewer manholes in a sometimes futile effort to prevent basement

backups. Thanks to sewer improvements completed since 2013, no manholes had to be pumped out last year and just one had to be pumped out in 2019. Historically, there were 19 locations that had to be pumped out.

During 2020, larger and deeper sanitary sewers were installed beneath 13th Avenue South between 26th and 29th streets.

Trotter said placing the sewers deeper underground helps to prevent wastewater from backing up into homes.

Larger and deeper sanitary sewers were also installed in the neighborhood surrounding Duncombe Elementary School.

Additionally, a new lift station that pumps sewage to the wastewater treatment plant was built near North 11th Street.

Water plant

In April, the reverse osmosis machinery at the John W. Pray Water Facility on Phinney Park Drive is expected to start up. When it does, the hardness of the city’s water will be reduced.

However, it will not produce true soft water.

Trotter said residents will have to reprogram their water softeners so that they will use less salt.

The effort to reduce the hardness of the city’s water was prompted by a directive from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to reduce the amount of chloride in treated wastewater discharged into the Des Moines River. There’s no way to effectively remove chloride from wastewater so reducing the amount of that substance get ting to the wastewater treatment plant became the goal. It was ob vious to engineers that the chlo rides were coming from salt used in water softeners. They turned to the reverse osmosis process to cut down the need for that salt.

The process of building an ad dition to the water plant and in stalling the necessary equipment began in April 2019.

The project cost about $20 million.

Trotter said the work was heav ily impacted by the COVID-19

THE REBUILT

pandemic. He said some workers got sick and others had to quarantine. The delivery of needed supplies was delayed because they were manufactured in states that completely shut down at the height of the pandemic.

2021 projects The debut of the osmosis system is far from the only project planned for the rest of this year. There will be an annual street repaving project, and a resurfacing job on Country Club Drive using a new method. Trotter said the existing pavement there will be pulverized and fresh asphalt will be put down on top of it. He said its an ideal method to use on Country Club Drive because it will allow access to the homes there throughout the process. Here’s what else is on tap: ∫ Completion of the sewer project near Duncombe Elementary School.

photo by Bill Shea

Tony Trotter

‘We need rainfall’

“Our trails are creating a modern transportation system connecting neighborhoods of people, business and industry and nature.”

By KRISS NELSON editor@messengernews.net

Ribbon Cutting for Corridor Plaza was June 17, 2021

— Mayor Matt Bemrich

It’s no surprise it is dry out, but just how are these drier conditions affecting the agricultural industry and what could this mean for the consumer?

Conditions

Dennis Todey, director of the United States Department of Agriculture Midwest Climate Hub, said precipitation for spring has been dramatically lower than average. For Fort Dodge, typical aver age precipitation for April 1-June 17 is 11.44-inches and during that time frame only 5.61-inches was received this year.

tation in the first part of June,” he said. “June, climatology speaking, is our peak precipitation month.”

CELEBRATING GREENBELT TRAILS

These conditions could almost be labeled unprecedented.

Todey said data compiled by Justin Glisan, state climatologist for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said it appears, so far, 2021 can be comparable to 1988 and 1933.

Weather outlook

“We have parts of central Iowa that have received no or almost no precipi

and 14th Avenue Southwest.

Fortunately, it appears temperatures will be cooler than average going into early next week and Todey said the cooldown could last through the end of the

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net

South.

St. Paul Lutheran School preschool teachers Dawn Vought and Anna Zimmermann weren’t in the school Tuesday — they were on top of it.

The two stayed on the roof on the northwest corner of the building at 1217 Fourth Ave. S., trying to raise $4,000 to pay for a classroom loft.

Building momentum

By late afternoon, they had raised about three-fourths of the needed money, according to Vought.

“People have been so nice and generous to us,” she said. “When it’s for kids, people show up.”

New streets in Corridor Plaza complex open

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

“We’re positive it’s going to work,” she added.

By CHAD THOMPSON cthompson@messengernews.net

A BEAN FIELD east of Fort Dodge is shown here. Webster County is experiencing a moderate to severe drought depending on location, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The two set up a couple of chairs and a table on the roof. Some handmade signs bearing messages asking people to donate so that they could come down from the roof were taped to the wall. A bucket tied to the end of a rope was set up to receive donations from anyone who came by.

Their rooftop vigil began at 7:30 a.m. and ended at about 7:30 p.m.

Development on the first phase of the Corridor Plaza project at the former Crossroads Mall is nearly complete after the ribbon cutting officially opening the new sections of South 27th Street and Second Avenue South on Thursday afternoon.

Lunch and supper were delivered to them.

The teachers said they had no chance to get bored because of the steady stream of visitors. They estimated that at least 200 people stopped by.

The first phase of the project included demolition of the north wing of the mall, construction of the utilities and the streets and the lots adjacent to First Ave-

nue South and Second Avenue South, said Chad Schaeffer, chief development officer for the City of Fort Dodge. Crossroads Plaza Development LLC, of Ankeny, purchased the Crossroads Mall in early 2020 for $3.3 million. The developer is making a sweeping transformation of the site, which has included demolition of the former J.C. Penney store, demolition of the former Sears store and construction of a new UnityPoint Health - Clinic

“It’s been fun,” Zimmermann said. “We both love our jobs.”

Vought added, “We love the kids. We love the parents.”

Vought has previously described the classroom loft as a “treehouse in a classroom.” It’s a structure that can be configured to be used with a variety of lessons and activities.

Donations for the loft can

Prison murder trial under way in FD

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

STREETS, Page 3A

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert

Members of the Fort Dodge community gathered along

paved stretch of trail near 16th Street Southwest and 14th Avenue Southwest on Tuesday.

surface which features

kayak portages

along

route, hasn’t always

Greenbelt Trails Project.

COL. STEVEN SATTINGER, commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, left, along with James Homann, Des Moines River Recreational River and Greenbelt program manager, and Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich prepare to cut a ribbon celebrating the completion of the Greenbelt Trails Project. The ceremony was held on Tuesday along a paved stretch of trail near 16th Street Southwest

-Messenger photos by Chad Thompson

at the

Correctional Facility, explains the layout of the

campus to the jury at the first-degree murder trial of FDCF inmate Eric Hall on

Thomas Daleske

Calcium Products seeks expansion

Webster County Supervisors support plan

By MICHAELA FRERICHS

mfrerichs@messengernews.net

Calcium Products in Fort Dodge is one step closer to expanding its facility after Tuesday’s Webster County Board of Supervisors meeting. The board unanimously approved a resolution of support for Calcium Products improvements. The Calcium Products facility is currently located on Webster County Road P59 on the southeast edge of Fort Dodge. Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance CEO Dennis Plautz said, “What’s proposed today is a $17 million expansion, which includes building, machinery, equipment and new palletizers so they can do more things than they do today and be more competitive in the marketplace.”

Plautz said the $17 million will include $7.5 million for construction, $8.1 million for machinery and equipment, and $1.5 million for the land.

Dennis Plautz

Calcium Products takes local products such as gypsum and limestone and creates soil additives. Plautz said one of their biggest customers is golf courses. “Calcium Products is an added-value company,’’ Plautz said. ‘‘With this expansion they can go after new consumers and create more development around Fort Dodge.” Plautz added that Calcium Products

continue to use its current buildings for storage and warehousing and build a new production facility on 40 acres across the

This project would also add two jobs

maintaining the current 11 positions. The two new positions are projected to pay $20.47 per hour.

The board approved the resolution of support to give Calcium Products an annual appropriation rebate equal to 70 percent of the incremental tax produced by the new project. The next step will be for incentives to be considered Friday by the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board. The state will vote to approve a

Board

“It’s

more expansion and growth in our

Campbell said. With the unanimous passing of the resolution, Plautz said, “The support of the Board of Supervisors is certainly appreciated. They’ve always stepped up to the plate and been supportive of economic development projects brought to them.”

Hurdel appeals murder conviction

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

A Fort Dodge man convicted of killing his estranged wife is appealing his first-degree murder conviction.

By CHAD THOMPSON cthompson@messengernews.net

Justin C. Hurdel, 45, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Aug. 9 by District Court Judge Christopher Polking. It had taken a Boone County jury just two hours on July 1 to conflict Hurdel of the August 2020 murder of Maggie Flint.

According to court documents, Hurdel filed his notice of appeal on Thursday. He will be assigned a state public appellate attorney to write and file the appeal to be considered by the Iowa Court of Appeals.

Flint, who was 38 when she died, was shot by the defendant with a sawed-off shotgun in a garage at 526 S. 19th St. on the afternoon of Aug. 5, 2020. She had been in the garage, which was owned by her friend, Robert Baker, to work on her pickup truck, when Hurdel, 44, came and told her he had signed their divorce papers that morning.

MICHAELA FRERICHS

plan,’’ Cosgrove side that rated relatively high was paving the trail around the lake since now there’s a paved trail coming all the

out to Kennedy Park from town.” Webster County and the City of Fort Dodge filed a joint grant application and were awarded $700,000 from the Transportation Alternatives Program; $350,000 was awarded to the county and $350,000 to the city. Cosgrove said that is federal money passed down to the

Hurdel left and returned later with the firearm. He later testified that he intended to take his own life in front of Flint, and claimed he accidentally shot her. After Flint was shot, Hurdel removed the spent shotgun shell from the firearm and fired again — this time aiming at himself.

The gun reportedly malfunctioned and left Hurdel alive, but with severe soft tissue damage to his face and nose. He then fled, leading local law enforcement on a 17-hour manhunt before he was apprehended on a property just north of Coalville on the morning of Aug. 6, 2020.

Messenger photo by Michaela Frerichs

is located on Webster County Road P59 on the southeast edge of Fort Dodge.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson IOWA STATE AUDITOR Rob Sand speaks at City Square Park Tuesday during a visit Fort Dodge as part of his 99 county tour.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert

TABITHA

-Messenger photo by Michaela Frerichs

SCOTT PEDERSON, of Nels Pederson Co., of Badger, works on enforcing the banks at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park where a new bridge will soon be installed. The banks and old bridge had been washed out with rising waters several times in the past.

game-changing’

Cargill plans $48M investment in local plant

Value-added corn production to expand

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net

Cargill Inc. is planning a $48 million project at its plant west of Fort Dodge as it continues to invest in the facility.

The project will expand value-added corn production for the company’s food ingredient market, according to the Iowa Economic Development Authority. It will include a new process building, tanks and transload capacity, the authority reported.

The project will not create any new jobs. However, current employees will be getting raises as they master the increased skills needed for the expanded production.

‘‘Since 2011, when Cargill opened the doors to its Fort Dodge biotechnology campus, we’ve made significant investments to keep the

facility leading edge, added more team members and given back to the community through volunteering and financial donations,’’ said Sydney Pokorny, the facility manager.

Dennis Plautz

‘‘We continue to explore opportunities to expand this facility as well as look for new partners to co-locate on our campus,’’ she added. ‘‘We are proud to be a part of the Webster County community, and look forward to sharing more in the future when we have more definitive growth plans.’’

Construction is expected to begin this year and be complete by the fall of 2024.

The project will come before

the Webster County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning. The supervisors will consider awarding an incentive to the company. That incentive would consist of rebating to the company 70 percent of the increased property taxes it would pay as a result of the project. That rebate would be paid over 10 years. Its estimated value is $1,127,000.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board will consider incentives for the project on Friday. The state incentives would consist of an investment tax credit of $332,500 and a refund of sales, service and use taxes paid during the project. That refund’s estimated value is $367,500.

‘‘Cargill is continuing to invest in this site to keep and maintain the

See CARGILL, Page 3

By BILL SHEA

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net

A number of are on the agenda Fort Dodge City tonight. Three of those are for major projects completed. The tract is a five-year agreement with representing police The council will 6 p.m. today in nicipal Building, Ave. S. Contracts for ects will be considered:

∫ Annual street ing. Fort Dodge the sole bidder, bid of about $1 million.

∫ Painting other markings

by Bill Shea

-Submitted photo

DURHAM, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, speaks Thursday evening at the spring banquet Gowrie Development Commission in the Heartland Community Room. She gave an overview of trends in

throughout the state.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea

SHAWN CAMPBELL, manager of the Koch Fertilizer plant in Webster County, snips a ribbon during a Thursday afternoon event marking the completion of a

million project that

the facility to produce a new fertilizer product.

STUDY CLUB FUNDRAISER

Mess

www.messengernews.net

THE SUNDAY

ON THE HARDWOOD

Decades of service

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

DUNCOMBE — Eric and Joline Klein are ready for some quiet.

The Duncombe couple officially retired from the Duncombe Volunteer Fire Department last week after a combined 62 years of service, leaving a lasting legacy in the rural eastern Webster County town.

Eric Klein’s introduction to firefighting was an abrupt one — he was outside doing yard work when his brother-in-law, who was the Duncombe fire chief at the time, came by and dragged him to a fire he needed more hands for.

That was 1987. Over the years, Eric Klein has worn many different hats for the DVFD. He’s been everything

wooden facade on the building, he discovered the original stone arches and brick facade of the 1880s storefront

Fabulous facade

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews net

One downtown store’s facelift helped Main Street Fort Dodge nab the award for Excellent Exterior Rehabilitation from the 2020 Main Street Iowa Awards earlier this month Main Street Fort Dodge nominated the Diamond’s facade restoration project by Dave Madsen for the award The building, located at 605 Central Ave , went through a major facade change last year

David Madsen Kris Patrick

The project, which actually started in the fall of 2018 and was completed in June 2019, included the removal of the old green Mattress Smart storefront When the green, wooden facade was removed, Madsen discovered the building’s original 1880 brick arches and facade underneath “We didn’t know the arches were there at all,” he said

Supervisors discuss lighting

JOLINE AND ERIC KLEIN pose in the Duncombe Fire Station in 2019. The couple retired last week after a combined 62 years of volunteering for the Duncombe Volunteer Fire Department. Eric has served as a firefighter and even fire chief. Joline was active on the EMS side, most recently serving as EMS director.

By ELIJAH DECIOUS

edecious@messengernews net

New lighting, set to be installed towards the end of this year’s project renovating the Webster County Courthouse, may have the ability to change colors for special recognitions or occasions New exterior LED fixtures on and around the building, currently in the design phase of the process, could potentially be changed for holidays, special occa-

Iowa Central to build new biofuels lab

renovate the roof and restore the deteriorating clocktower

Engineer Craig German said ShuckBritson is working now to engage and coordinate fixture work with contractors Discussions revealed that there will be between four and

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net

Iowa Central Community College will build a new biofuels testing lab on the west side of Fort Dodge using land donated by Casey’s General Stores and the owners of the former Colonial Inn site.

Construction could begin late this summer.

sitioned for the last decade to offer quality fuel testing and analytical services for the petroleum and renewable fuels industry.’’

former convenience store and the lot it sits on along A Street West to Iowa Central Community College to support the construction of a new biofuels lab.

‘‘Iowa Central Community College continues to be a leader in the biofuel testing industry,’’ said Dr. Jesse Ulrich, the college president. ‘‘The Iowa Central Fuel Testing Laboratory has been uniquely po-

Ulrich said the facility is the official analytical laboratory for the state’s Bureau of Weights and Measures. That means the lab is the place where fuels to be used all across Iowa are tested to make sure they meet state standards. The lab was started in about 2007 on the Fort Dodge campus. Federal funding

component Elanco donates testing supplies to

Standoff ends without incident

By KELBY WINGERT

By KELBY WINGERT

-Messenger file photo

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert

FDPD CAPT. DENNIS QUINN carries a bag out from the scene of a stand-off at

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert

Fort Dodge,

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea

The facaDe facelifT at 605 Central Ave won the award for Excellent Exterior Rehabilitation from the 2020 Main Street Iowa Awards When owner Dave Madsen started to remove the old,

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net

The transformation of the old Crossroads Mall site into a development called Corridor Plaza will continue with the aid of $17 million in state funding which received final approval Friday.

The money will specifically support the creation of indoor and outdoor event space, and provide a further boost to building new retail space, lodging and infrastructure.

“The award today will add enhancements to the project, enabling it to come to life quicker and include ameni-

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

Law Enforcement Telecommu nications Board saw a decrease in both revenue and operating expens es during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Revenues totaled $608,910, a 6.5 percent decrease from the pri

-Submitted image

LEFT: THIS ILLUSTRATION shows what one of the future new buildings at Corridor Plaza may look like. The redevelopment of the former Crossroads Mall site received a major boost Friday when the Iowa Economic Development Authority gave final approval to $17 million in state funding.

-Submitted photo

BELOW: THIS AERIAL VIEW shows the Corridor Plaza site, looking from northeast to southwest. First Avenue South is to the right. The UnityPoint Health — Clinic Express building is in the foreground with the remaining portion of the mall building in the background.

ties that otherwise may not have been realized for a number of years,’’ said Chad Schaeffer, the city’s chief development officer.

On Friday, the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board gave final approval to the money through the Iowa Reinvestment District Program.

“The state recognizes the opportunity that we’ve seen,’’ Mayor Matt Bemrich said. ‘‘Unanimous approval from the IDEA board is a vote of confidence for the city of Fort Dodge.’’

Fort Dodge has received a couple such votes of con-

By CHRIS JOHNSON sports@messengernews.net

fidence from the state government in the last few years. About two years ago, a $500,000 grant was awarded to help pay for facade improvements in part of downtown. Then in October 2021 another $500,000 grant was awarded for more downtown facade improvements. Friday’s vote established Corridor Plaza as a Reinvestment District. According to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the program is designed to assist commu-

lated donor may be their only chance at a cure. Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation is the most common form of collecting blood forming cells for transplants. The same blood-forming cells that are found in bone marrow are also found in the circulating (peripheral) blood. PBSC donation is a non-surgical procedure, called apheresis. The donation takes place at an experienced hospital facility that partici$17M for Corridor Plaza OK’d

Over 12,000 patients every year are diag nosed with life-threatening blood cancers. Being a blood stem donor can cut down on the stress and help save lives. UnityPoint Health-Trinity Regional Medical Central will be holding two events upcom On Monday UnityPoint will host a Be The Match (blood stem donor) event at Iowa Cen tral Community College from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ARC Commons Area.

“We will be setting up a couple of tables for individuals to get their cheeks swabbed to join the Blood Stem or Bone Marrow donor registry,’’ said Senior Marketing Communication Specialist Alyssa Stanek. UnityPoint will also host an event on Wednesday at Trinity Regional Medical Center. The event will run from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Fort Dodge, Iowa

From our files: May 2007

Nature center plans approved

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

A new Riverfront Conservation Education Center in Fort Dodge’s Central River District is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Plans for the nature center were approved by the Webster County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, allowing the project to go out to bid.

The project includes a 13,000-squarefoot nature center building featuring exhibit space, classrooms and administrative offices for Webster County Conservation. Outside, the nature center will have a natural playscape, fishing overlooks to the Des Moines River, an outdoor classroom, river access and other amenities being coordinated with the

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

Thank You!

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