osage today 2013 spring progress edition

times and shorteningpatient breath holds, whichalso results in better imagequality, while also exposingpatients to a lower amount ofradiation than with the pre-vious model.

Brown said, adding, “Thisupgrade provides highlydetailed pictures forproviders to evaluate a widerange of conditions, includ-ing stroke and heart disease.”

According to Brown, ben-efits of the new MRI includeshorter wait times and amore comfortable exam forpatients. Additionally, thenew equipment offers ahigher level of scanningresulting in easier, moreaccurate disease diagnosisfor providers.

EEmmeerrggeennccyy MMeeddiiccaallSSeerrvviicceess CCoollllaabboorraattiioonnDuring 2011, MCRHC

expanded their paramedichours. Since that time, thedepartment has worked oncollaboration with otheremergency organizationsthroughout MitchellCounty, working together tooffer a more seamless publicemergency service.

According to Jynae

Clapper, Chief NursingOfficer at Mitchell CountyRegional Health Center,thanks to the cooperation ofthe Mitchell CountySheriff’s Department andlocal Fire Departments,MCRHC upgraded its EMSradio system resulting inbetter communication withother Mitchell Countyemergency service organiza-tions.

In the fall of 2012,MCRHC sponsored an autoextrication class for MCRHCstaff and local emergencyservices, fire departmentsand first responders. Theclass educated emergencyservice providers in MitchellCounty in auto extrication.

Mitchell County RegionalHealth Center’s EmergencyMedical ServicesDepartment recently added

an emergency responsevehicle (ERV) to its fleet ofvehicles.

“We have already signifi-cantly reduced the amountof time it takes for a para-medic to arrive on the sceneof an emergency by addingthe ERV to our fleet” Clappersaid.

Mitchell County RegionalHealth Center, located inOsage, Iowa, is a Mercy-North Iowa managed net-work facility consisting of a25-bed critical access hospi-tal and four clinics. Cliniclocations include Osage, St.Ansgar, Stacyville andRiceville. MCRHC servesthe communities of MitchellCounty as well as communi-ties located in borderingcounties and is committed toimprove the health of ourcommunities.

16C MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS, Osage, IA, Wed., March 13, 2013

SSEECCTTIIOONN CC

VVOOLL.. 114499 •• NNOO.. 1111 •• MMaarrcchh 1133,, 22001133

Pictured above and below is the newly remodeled Emergency Department WaitingRoom at Mitchell County Regional Health Center.

OOSSAAGEGE TTODODAAYY20201133

SPRINGSPRINGPRPROGREOGRESSSS

EDITIONEDITION

Construction on the $150 million Valent BioSciences manufacturing facility is in highgear this spring after a solid year of progress by the Gilbane Building Company.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 3C

MCRHC RENOVATIONCont. from page 11C

ufacturing buildings.Dozens of workers from

the Gilbane organizationin Chicago are expected toarrive on the site in thecoming months.Eventually, about 200workers will come and goover the next year. Themajority of constructionis taking place in two 10-hour shifts each day.

With supplies, materialsand equipment coming in,Acord said, there is a lot ofdaily truck and heavy-equipment traffic.

Primary constructiontraffic is being routed toenter and exit fromOrchard Road north toHighway 218.

Gilbane has leased ware-house space from A to ZDrying to store materialsand equipment for con-struction as well as for fab-rication of components.

Equipment-setting andelectrical work has beenunder way during thewinter months, with workon instrumentation, con-trols and landscapingplanned for this year.

According to officials,the new plant will be thefirst full-scale manufac-turing facility designedand constructed specifi-cally for production ofbiorational products andwill also utilize corn and

soybeans in the process.Biorationals are prod-

ucts derived from naturalor biological origins thatare highly specific in theiractivity and have lowimpact on workers and theenvironment.

While Valent will pro-duce the pesticides andbiorationals in bulk, A to ZDrying, which has beenworking with Valent sincethe 1970s, will finish theproduct as well as packageand ship it.

When completed, thefacility will hire upward of90 people full-time.

Those jobs include 12engineering, 18 quality-control, 41 production, sixadministrative and 12maintenance positions.

We have been focused onfostering partnerships to retainand attract more jobs and morefamilies with more students toour community.

I think you are witnessingthe results - enhanced employ-ment opportunities, new fami-lies, higher school enrollments,a lively Main St., and signifi-cant capital improvements tobusinesses and homes.

Our thanks go to all of thepartners: Mitchell CountyEconomic Development,Mitchell County Board ofSupervisors, Mayor Cooperand the City Council, OsagePublic Works Director JerryDunlay, all of our existingindustries, and all of the localbusinesses which have adaptedto growth and welcomed newopportunities.

The Osage CommunitySchool District continues toexcel in educating the nextgeneration. SuperintendentBass and the Board ofEducation have done a greatjob of maintaining andenhancing the physical plantsand retaining and attractingquality professionals to mentorour youth.

Mitchell County RegionalHealth Center is completinginfrastructure improvementsto insure that we have qualityhealth care and AdministratorRunolfson has assembled acompetent management teamto coordinate the care providedby our wonderful medical pro-fessionals and support staff.

MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS, Osage, IA, Wed., March 13, 2013 15C2C MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS, Osage, IA, Wed., March 13, 2013

A message from the Osage Development Corporation

bbyy KKeevviinn MM.. KKoollbbeett,,PPrreessiiddeenntt,, OODDCC

The CRC is serving allof the various needswhich the crafters hadenvisioned. Those newto the community find ithard to believe we havesuch an asset. You haveall been touched directlyor indirectly by its out-reach to the arts, history,drama, music, fitness,wellness, entertain-ment, education, cele-brations, etc.

We have the full con-tinuum of housingoptions from singlefamily homes, apart-ments, multi-familyunits, independent sen-ior housing, assisted liv-ing, rehabilitation units,and long-term carefacilities. We will needto continue to focus onmeeting the need formore single-familyrental homes and apart-ments, while at the sametime systematicallyreplacing some of ouraging single-familyhousing stock.

Our farm partnersexperienced a signifi-cant drought in 2012,but the overall prof-itability for agriculture

has recently been good.We continue to be cog-nizant of our proud agri-cultural heritage androots and mindful of thetremendous asset wehave around us in theproductive soil.

As this year unfoldsyou will continue to seenew faces, new stu-dents, new churchgoers, new neighbors,new initiatives, andsome new challenges.Embrace them withpositive attitude, warmhospitality, and a “can-do” spirit.

With your help, wewill continue to “focuson new investment, jobr e te n t i o n /c r e a t i o n ,opportunity, and serveas a resource to supportother community devel-opment initiatives thatenhance the quality oflife in Osage”.

KKeevviinn MM.. KKoollbbeett,, PPrreessiiddeenntt OSAGE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

ODC MESSAGEPlease turn to page 15C

ODC MESSAGECont. from page 2C

VALENT BIOSCIENCESCont. from page 14C

Steel workers raised beams for the framework of the massive manufacturing facili-ty. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)_

Faith HomeAssisted Living

832-2580

Established in

2006Serving the

Osage Area For7 Years

OsageMedicalMassageCenter

732-5616Established in

June 2006Serving the


NicholsonTowing &

RepairMatt & Alissa Nicholson


2009Serving the

Osage Area For

4 Years

CUSB1533 Main St.

Osage


1888Serving the

Osage Area For11 years

EichmeierRepair


2006Serving the


Apple ValleyAssisted Living


2008Serving the

Osage Area For

5 Years


bbyy DDaavviidd NNaammaannnnyyPPrreessss--NNeewwss EEddiittoorr

Workers have been busy at the ValentBioSciences construction site in Osageand are gearing up for the next phase ofthe $150 million project as springweather approaches.

Valent, an Illinois-based companywhich makes biological pesticides andplant growth regulators, is building the130,000-square-foot manufacturingfacility on 73 acres on South 13th Streeton Osage’s southeast side.

Gilbane Building Co. of Chicago is theconstruction management firm andgeneral contractor for the project,which has been under way about a year.Completion is expected in 2014.

“We have completed most of the centralutility building and all of the structuralsteel is in place,” said Gilbane construc-

VBC construction nearing completion

VALENT BIOSCIENCESPlease turn to page 14C

tion manager Jack Acord.The main manufacturing building is

also nearly completed and work isbeginning on the complex phases of theinterior

“The weather has been good and it’sbeen a decent stretch so far over thepast year - overall, we’re right onschedule or a little bit better,” he said.

Acord said at the end of this month, a500-ton crane, one of two like it in theUnited States, will put in place thefacility’s massive fermentation tanks.

“The crane is so big it will be hauledin pieces and put together on site,”Acord said. “The fermentation tankswill be lowered from the top and we willhave to take the roof off for a bit. It willbe a sight to see.”

Work will continue throughout thespring inside both the utility and man-



The $150 million manufacturing facility on South 13th Street.

Leonard Campbell, General Supervisor for the Gilbane Building Company (left) chats about the Valent BioSciences construction project with Osage Public Works Director Jerry Dunlay inside the main utilties building. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)

Cooper’sOsage Auto732-3795

Established in

1981Serving the


AdamsPainting &

DrywallInc.

732-4770 Dan & Sheila Adams

Established in

1982Serving the


Paul'sPlumbing

andHeating


1982Serving the


Dungey'sFurnitureand Gifts

732-4424

Established

1987Serving the


SubwayDarlene Huemann,

manager

732-5414

Established in

1994Serving the

BisbeeIncome Tax

& AccountingServices732-3445

Established in

1989Serving the


SubwayDarlene Hueman.

Manager732-5414

Established in

1994Serving the


OsageDental

Arts732-3293

Established in

1993Serving the


PollardPest

Control732-5728Established in

1984Serving the Osage

area for29 Years

HometownConnection

Radio ShackDealer - 732-3466

Established in

1987Serving the Osage Area

For 26 Years

US Cellular Agentsince1992

Serving the Osage AreaFor 21 Years

WeberAutoParts

732-4005

Established in

1995Serving the


KountryKupboard

732-5315

Established in

2001Serving the

Osage Area For

12 Years

STREETChiropractic PC

Dr. Aaron StreetDr. Scott Nerland

Dr. Zach Muller732-4665

Established in

2002Serving the



New construction in Osagecontinues to be strong, as a totalof 45 building permits wereissued by the city of Osage duringthe past 12 months.

The estimated value of the newpermits totaled $2,024,853.

Topping the list in construc-tion permits was the $275,000permit for a new home being con-structed on south 4th Street inOsage.

Also constructed were sevenother new homes ranging from$150,000 to $185,000 in estimat-ed value, as well as several expan-sions and additions to both resi-dential and commercial proper-ties.


Osage sees $2 million in new construction permitsSome of thenew residen-tial construc-tion underwaythis yearincludes thistwo-storygarage andnew additionat theDerrick andAngieHuffmanhome at 1030Main Street.The project isestimated at$100,000.(Press-Newsphoto byDavidNamanny)

Also on the list is a new$250,000 commercial buildingfor Osage Auto Body on landthat was recently annexed intothe City.

This new construction, saidOsage Public Works DirectorJerry Dunlay is good for thelocal tax base.

“It’s definitely good forOsage,” said Dunlay. “It showswe’re strong and growing, atrend which continues eachyear.”

22001122--1133 ZZoonniinngg PPeerrmmiittss

Tom and JoAnne Madden,828 S. 4th St., new home,

$275,000.Matt and Alissa Nicholson,

1301 Main St., sign, $3,200.Myron Baldwin, 320

Mechanic, garage addition,$3,000.

Duane Ramker, 226 N. 14thSt., new home, $150,000.


Sue & Rick Wilson, 633 OakSt., deck, $800.

Steven Braun, 814 WalnutSt., shed, $250.

Fox River Mills, 227 PoplarSt., entrance, $95,000.

Kris Kuykendall, 403 N. 10thSt., shed, $2,000.

Chuck & Kathy Mallow, 16Liberty Dr., deck, $12,253.

Dan Koeff, 1114 State St.,shed, $3,000.

Ray Smith, 316 Vine St.,garage, $5,000.

Mark Brown, 3509 GolfCourse Rd., deck, $4,000.

Tera Willamson, 1032Mechanic St., deck, $1,500.

Lynn Hemann, 904 PoplarSt., new home, $185,000.

Loren & Barb Berge, 408Pine St., shed, $500.

Ashley Bierbrodt, MechanicSt., deck, $800.

Jerry & Sandy Herrick, 418N. 13th St., new home,$175,000.

Tracey Anderson, 115 VineSt., shed, $1,600.

Andrew Hanson, 921 N. 7thSt., home addition, $35,000.

Frances Johnson, 605 N. 10thSt., home addition, $18,000.

Kurt and Sue Mills, 2021Hwy 9, new commercial build-ing, $250,000.

Rick Stevens, 1027 Chase St.,shed, $500.

Dennis Thompson, 1332State St., shed, $500.

Tyler Schwarck, 414 MapleSt., shed, $500.

Habitat for Humanity, 721Mechanic St., new home,$40,000.

Jason Swenson, shed, 602 N.10th St., $2,000.

Luke Irvin, 1103 HeritageDrive, shed, $500.

Sharon Kleckner, 811 WalnutSt., shed, $1,000.

Scott Beyer, 115 Main St.,commercial addition, $6,000.

Rob Loften, 808 Ash St.,move garage, $2,000.

A to Z Drying, 1000 WallaceRd., commercial addition,$20,000.

Troy & Ashley Hanson, 226Park St., move shed, $1,000.

Press News, 112 N. 6th St.,sign, $700.

Lynn Hemann, 904 PoplarSt., shed, $9,000.


Andrew Johnson, 815 S. 5thSt., shed, $250.00.

Joe & Pam Beyer, 315 Oak St.,garage, $10,000.

Robert & Julie Badker, 802Ash St., garage, $25,000.

Derrick Huffman, 1030 MainSt., garage, $100,000.

Carroll Bishop, 1320 ChaseSt., porch.

Duane Ramker, 214 Park St.,new home, $180,000.

Deb Rolland, 802 S. 6th St.,garage, $20,000.

Pat Forshay, 830 Main St.,garage and sunroom, $50,000.

Totals - $2,024,853 —— 8new homes - $1,340,000

BUILDING PERMITSPlease turn to page 13C

BUILDING PERMITSCont. from page 4C

New YorkLife

Don Fox, LUTCF, CLTC

732-4973

Established in

1969Serving the

Osage Area For

44 Years

FaithLutheranHome

732-5511

Established in

1967Serving the


OsageVeterinaryClinic, P.C.

732-3671

Established in

1965Under Present

Ownership Since

1992

Tony'sBody Shop732-3540

Established in

1963Under Present

Ownership Since

1995

Style-MorBeauty Salon

732-3631

Established in

1965Phyllis Levendusky,

owner, stylist,Helen Gerk, stylist

Linda Schroeder, stylist

Serving theOsage Area for

48 Years

JohnsonChemicals

Co.732-4246Established in


area for49 Years

WrightPlumbing& Heating

732-5208

Established in

1977Serving the

Osage Area for

36 Years

Mark'sTractor &Impl. Inc.


1977Serving the

Osage Area for

36 Years

KolbetRealtors

Kevin, Janean & Phil Kolbet


1977Serving the


ScharperServices

L.L.C.732-3630

Established in

1977Serving the


Larson’sHardware

Hank& Rental

732-4261

Established in

1979Serving the


MauserInsurance

732-4682800-373-6081

Established in

1981Serving the

Osage Area For

32 Years

North Iowa and the only oneof its kind in MitchellCounty,” said owner KurtMills, who noted that he wasbasically running out ofspace.

He plans to sell his formershop to another business.

According to the Millsfamily, the new shop forOsage Auto Body includesthe latest in auto body tech-nology, including all newMIG welding equipment, I-4 Prospot welder, a ChiefVelocity laser unibodymeasuring system, twoChief frame racks and twodown-draft flashbake paintbooths.

The entire system is notonly more friendly to theenvironment, but com-pletes the transition to awater-based paint systemwhich is expected to be

mandated by the govern-ment in the future.

“In this business, it’simportant to control air pol-lution, as we are dealingwith a hazardous environ-ment with the products weuse,” explained Mills. “Ournew equipment is 100 per-cent state-of-the-art andessential to switch to thewater-based system.”

Another reason for thenewly expanded facility is toincrease production andequipment space, so Millsand his five full-time

employees can better meetcustomer demands.

“This will definitelyincrease our productionlevel,” said Mills. “It’s goodfor us, good for our employ-ees, good for our customersand good for the communi-ty.”

Osage Auto Body wasoriginally established in1982, when Kurt and SueMills started the business onthe east end of town, wherethe Super 8 hotel is nowlocated. The couple boughtits current facility on the

west edge of town in 1999,and expanded it in 2002. Adecade later, they con-structed the brand newfacility.

As for the AmericInn, itnot only fills a need for thecommunity, but may spurfurther expansion in thefuture. “I think it is a greatasset to Mitchell County,”said Emerson, “It’s so greatto see people willing toinvest in Osage and MitchellCounty, and so great to seeus growing and expanding.”



The expansion of a long-time local business, as wellas the construction of a newone, has made the City ofMaples much larger in size.

More than six acres wasannexed into the City ofOsage last year to accom-modate the new $3.5 millionAmericInn on the city’s eastside, as well as a $500,000expansion of Osage AutoBody on the city’s west side.

The new AmericInn Hoteland Suites, which is now inoperation on the east edge ofOsage, was created by agroup of local investors ledby Osage businessman andentrepenuer Ken Emerson.

Long-term AmericInnpartner ApolloDevelopment, LLC ofMinnetonka, Minn., was the

main developer for the proj-ect.

The new hotel features anindoor pool, meeting room,business station and 43guest rooms and suitesoffering contemporary fur-nishings and amenitiesincluding flat screen televi-sions.

On the other end of town,Kurt and Sue Mills of OsageAuto Body constructed anew 10,000-square footfacility, as well as a 5,000square foot warehouse attheir businesses location onHighway 9.

To accommodate theexpansion and to provideneeded water and sewerinfrastructure, as well asother development incen-tives, the city agreed toannex land for the two proj-ects.

The annexations for both

Osage Auto Body andAmericInn allowed the useof tax increment financing(TIF), similar to other newconstruction expansionssuch as Adams Plumbingand Larson’s HardwareHank.

As well as a new and busyhotel which is contributingto the community throughemployment and services,the new business is provid-ing a significant amount ofhotel tax funds for the city.

Osage Auto Body’snewly-expanded business,provides a state-of-the-artfacility that is one of thebiggest and best in theregion.

“Our new shop and ware-house is one of the largest in

City annexes land asbusiness district grows

Jake Hovland, auto body technician from St. Ansgar, works on a repair job at thenewly expanded Osage Auto Body. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)

OSAGE GROWINGPlease turn to page 12C

OSAGE GROWINGCont. from page 5C

The new Osage AmericInn opened for business last summer on the east end of the city.

Over six acres added for Osage Auto Body; AmericInn

Tommy Halvorson of St. Ansgar, shop foreman andpainter for Osage Auto Body, works in the new state-of-the-art paint booth at the new facility.

Mitchell County

Press News732-3721

Established in

1865Serving the


Farmers Mutual

InsuranceAssociation

Norman E. JohnsonPresident


1874

HomeTrust

& Savings BankYour Locally Owned

Hometown Bankwww.hometrustbank.com

Established in

1899Serving the


L.R. FalkConstruction Co.

732-3789

Established in

1922Serving the

Osage Area For

91 years

OsageAuto

Salvage732-3603

Established in

1946Serving the


Jerry, Pat, John & PeeWee

RandallConstruction


1933Serving the

Osage Area For

80 Years

Roy's BodyShop,Inc.

Dave, Chris, Jared & Curt


1952Late Model

Collision SpecialistsServing the


HEARDInsurance

732-5823

Established in

1946Serving the


Mayer'sDigging

Co.732-4004

Established in

1957Serving the


StateFarm

InsuranceCraig E. Eisenman


1939Under present

management since

1999

OsageCo–op

Elevator732-3768

Established in

1945Serving the


OlsenImplement Inc.


1953Serving the

Osage Area For

60 Years

Mitchell County Regional HealthCenter looks at changes and growth asprogress not only for the organization,for the community and the friends andfamily members for which they serve.

Over the past year, MCRHC’s growthincludes a building renovation project,upgraded technology and emergencymedical services collaboration efforts.

BBuuiillddiinngg RReennoovvaattiioonn PPrroojjeecctt

In May 2012, MCRHC staff and com-munity members gathered for agroundbreaking event for theEmergency Department and Same DaySurgery Department’s renovation.

“The Emergency and Operatingrooms had been untouched since theirconstruction in 1973,” Kevin Runolfson,MCRHC CEO, said, “ with technologychanging at record speed and theatmosphere of healthcare constantlymorphing, MCRHC must change and

grow to sustain the quality of care forour patients in the future.”

According to Runolfson, both theemergency and surgery departmentshave been able to remain fully function-al throughout the renovation process.

The entire project is on schedule withcompletion anticipated for late springof 2013.

Grand opening events are slated forJune of this year.

UUppggrraaddeedd TTeecchhnnoollooggyy One significant upgrade in technolo-

gy over the past year was a new state-of-the-art high definition system MRImachine.

According to Julie Brown, MCRHCRadiology Manger, the upgradeimproved the quality of care provided toMCRHC patients by decreasing scan

MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS, Osage, IA, Wed.,March 13, 2013 11C6C MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS, Osage, IA, Wed., March 13, 2013

The new emergency room bay at Mitchell County Regional Health Center .

bbyy WWeennddyy HHeeuuttoonnEExxeeccuuttiivvee DDiirreeccttoorr,, OOssaaggee

CChhaammbbeerr ooff CCoommmmeerrcceeThe Osage Chamber of

Commerce continues topromote the community asthe best place to live, shop,dine, do business, work,play, and relax. It’s not aneasy job owning a smallbusiness in a town our sizeand competing with largercommunities close by.

Osage seems to havefound a way to do it byoffering the unique alongwith many traditional serv-ices found in a city.

With barely an emptystore front, our downtowndistrict, along with thebusinesses located on theeast end of town continueto open the doors every day.

This past year we sawnew businesses start up inOsage, some are pictured attheir ribbon cutting, andother businesses such as:Flat Pie Red Eye, DonnaBrumm Kitchens &Interiors, Frames & More,The Wash Tub, Save theDate, and Doodlers will bescheduled for ribbon cut-tings.

S h e l t e rInsurance isunder newmanagement byJ.T. Noordhoek,and VerizonWireless is nowowned by Z-Wireless, andopening soonwill be Unc’sCheesecake.

Osage offerschoices in dinning such asTres Amigos MexicanRestaurant, Flat Pie andRed Eye, Teluwut GrilleHouse & Pub, KountryKupboard, Ecky’s IceCream Shoppe, andSubway to name a few.

To improve service to analready great health clinicand hospital, the MitchellCounty Regional HealthCenter is currently under-going a major remodel ofthe emergency room. TheCenter is also home toSMART Pharmacy, whichoffers free delivery service,and Roggensack eye clinic.

Osage also has banks,investment firms, taxaccountants, insuranceagents, real estate agents,

law firms, and con-struction and con-tracting companiesto choose from, andis home to a variety ofmanufacturing: FoxRiver Mills,Milkhouse Candles,RR Donnelley, TOPS,with more on theway.

There alwaysseems to be some-

thing to do all year. On topof events throughout town,the Cedar River Complexcontinues to offer fitnessclasses, the auditorium isbeing used more frequently,and the museum has activemembers that strive tomake it an interesting placeto visit.

With all the activity it’sgreat to have more roomsfor visitors, family mem-bers, and business col-leagues and executives tostay thanks to the newAmericInn.

All this being said Osagecan only continue to grow ifthe community is loyal andtries to do business in townfirst, before going out oftown.

It’s a GREAT day in Osage! bbyy JJiimm CCrroossss

PPrreessss--NNeewwss RReeppoorrtteerrThe first two phases of the

City of Maples Trail, locatedin the southeast part oftown, are expected to becompleted this summer.

The Phase 1 portion trav-els north from the CedarRiver Complex and eastalong Chestnut Street. Thetrail will also connect withthe fairgrounds and the CRCEvents Center.

Phase 1 incorporates theuse of existing and strategi-cally placed new sidewalks,said Kate Waitek, trail com-mittee coordinator.

Sections of trail beingadded will be eight feet inwidth and six inches thick.

The Phase 2 portion trav-els a southerly route from the

CRC, down the east side ofSeventh Street, along themiddle school, continuing tothe east, and running parallelalong Heritage Drive, to apoint just south of the highschool parking lot.

“Walkability, and bike-ability is one of the big ini-tiatives in the Blue ZonesProject,” said Waitek. “Withthis project we are able toprovide safe paths to walk inthe city.”

The goal of the City ofMaples Trail committee is toloop connecting residentialneighborhoods, includingsenior living housing, to theOsage Community Schoolsand their athletic fields, theCRC, the Mitchell CountyFairgrounds and the CityPark.

Cost of Phase 1 is $36,950with $21,200 coming fromthe city of Osage through$1,200 in in-kind labor and$20,000 in tax incrementfinancing.

Other organizations con-tributing to Phase 1 includedFEMC (Foundation for theEnhancement of MitchellCounty) $5,000; Shop onState, $2,000; John K. andLouise Hanson Foundation,$5,000; Christensen TrustFund, $1,000; Osage Rotary,$750; and Osage Lions Club,$1,000.

The cost of Phase 2 is$14,688 with $5,000 comingfrom FEMC and the remain-ing $9,668 from the MitchellCounty Board ofSupervisors.

New recreation trail to be completed here this summer

Change; growth equal progress at MCRHC

MCRHC RENOVATIONPlease turn to page 16C

Heuton

Major renovation project to be completed this spring

grounds in Osage.Previously operated by the Mitchell

County Ag Society, Van Meeteren hasreconfigured the alcohol sales systemwith a new bar, ticket sales and otherfeatures.

“It’s been a smooth transition,” saidVan Meeteren. “We do quite a large vol-ume of alcohol sales and we work closelywith families and organizations to pro-vide the best experience possible.”

Alcohol or no, the rentals of the CRCEvents Center have steadily increasedover time, and this year is no exception,with the summer weeks from June toSeptember booked solid with weddingreceptions and other galas.

“Because of the large, open and invit-ing main room, the CRC Events Centeroffers guests an opportunity to trans-form the space into a unique, comfort-able gathering destination,” said VanMeeteren, “And no two wedding recep-tions are alike; each one is beautiful andpersonal in its own way.”

Van Meeteren said that those who rentthe CRC Events Center receive excep-tional customer service from the time

the event is booked to the conclusion ofthe event. “We have created a ‘hassle-free’ booking process and works withrenters while they plan their event - andwe work closely with families.”

A popular planning tool the CRC has

created is the vendor list, which outlinesproducts and services offered by localbusinesses to assist event planners intheir search for caterers, photographers,linens, entertainment and more.

“It is another way the CRC has com-

mitted to supporting other local busi-nesses,” said Van Meeteren.

The CRC Events Center is air condi-tioned, handicapped accessible, and is anon-smoking environment. A largeoverhead door accommodates access forlarge equipment, cars and other vehi-cles.

Rental of the facility includes tablesand chairs to comfortably seat guests, alarge kitchen, bar services, free use of avariety of decorations, high speed wire-less internet and a portable stage.

Of course, there are many othersbesides Van Meeteren who make it allwork. Regular volunteers includingChuch Pajer, Dave Brunner, Carol andAllyn Milton and Deb Christensen helpset up before an event and clean upafterwards.

“These people and this facility is agreat asset to the community,” conclud-ed Van Meeteren, who is originally fromCedar Falls. “In a town this size, thecommunity should be proud of this.

Van Meeteren said the CRC welcomesany event from a wedding reception oranniversary celebration to a farm equip-ment show or roller skating.

“The possibilities are endless,” shesaid.


CRC EVENTS CENTERCont. from page 9C

New subdivision fills the need of growing communitybbyy DDaavviidd NNaammaannnnyyPPrreessss--NNeewwss EEddiittoorr

The first new housing subdivision inthe local community in over a decade istaking shape in Osage this spring.

Over a year in the making, members ofthe Osage City Council late last fall gaveapproval to the final development agree-ment of Maple View First Subdivisionand annexed 8.4 acres of land to make itpossible.

One of the lots has already been sold,and according to city officials more aresoon to follow with construction to com-mence within two years.

The subdivision, created by Ed andRosie Jackson, is located on property inthe southwest part of the city at theintersection of Kirkwood Avenue and357th Street. The land was annexed bythe city last fall.

According to the final developmentagreement, the city of Osage will installwater and sewer to the property locatedat 357th Street and Clayton Boulevard.

In return, the Jacksons will pay for

paving the road as well as for the installa-tion of curb and gutter.

Initially, a gravel road will be installedby Jackson and maintained by the cityuntil 60 percent of the lots are sold or

within eight years of the date the agree-ment is officially signed.

At that time, Clayton Boulevard willbecome a concrete road.

Once a lot is sold, the lot owner has two

years to build a residential house or beassessed full property taxes as if therewas a home on the property. Thecovenant is an incentive to build, ratherthan selling lots that will sit empty.

Property owners will also be requiredto pay a $3,000 sewer connection fee anda $250 water connection fee to the City ofOsage. In addition, owners will payrequired meter and turn-on fees.

City crews and subcontractors havealready installed water, sewer, gas, elec-tric and telecom (all underground utili-ties at the new subdivision.

“We’re excited about the project andeverything is ready to go,” said JerryDunlay, public works director for the cityof Osage. “The city of Osage is runningout of lots to build on. This will not onlybe great for the city’s tax base but also forthose new people coming to town.”

Dunlay added that the new subdivisionis also good for current homeowners toupgrade to a new house, freeing up exist-ing property for starter homes for thosefamilies who are just starting out.

Emilee Van Meeteren, Events Center Manager


The Cedar River Complex EventsCenter, which opened its doors in 2008,has become a major venue in the Osagecommunity over the past five years.

From a vast array of communityevents, trade shows, banquets, skatingparties and wedding receptions, theCRC Events Center has been attractingvisitors and organizations from theheart of Mitchell County, as well asfrom neighboring towns such asCharles City, Nora Springs, Rockford,Mason City, Austin, Rochester andbeyond.

As of December of last year EmileeVan Meeteren, CRC Events Manager,has been in charge of scheduling eventsand selling liquor during weddingreceptions and other celebrations at themassive facility located at the fair-


O S A G E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E R I B B O N C U T T I N G S

CRC EVENTS CENTERPlease turn to page 10CEMERSON’S ON MAIN - From left are Jean Brumm, Diane Emerson, Ken Emerson, Nan

Jakobson and Phil Kolbet. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)BACK ALLEY AMBROSIA - From left are Jean Brumm, Diane Emerson, KenEmerson, Nan Jakobson and Phil Kolbet. (Press-News photo by DavidNamanny)

AMERICINN HOTEL & SUITES, OSAGE - From left are Paul Kirwin, Wendy Hueton,Derek Mauser, Deanna Hemann, Angie Huffman, Ken Emerson, Nan Jakobson, PhilKolbet, Gayle Melcher and Nic Larson. (Press-News photo by Jim Cross)

RENEE’S LOVING CARE - From left are Lindsay Voight, Phillip Kolbet, WendyHeuton, Jean Brumm, Renee Burdett (owner and CEO), Nan Jakobson, AmandaJohnson, Amy Montogomery, Angie Huffman, Suzanne Cooper and JanelWeaverling .(Press-News photo by Jim Cross)

CRC Events Center a major venue in North Iowa

Featuring 10,874 square feet, the CRC Events Center can accommodate more than 700 guests in a variety of settings.

grounds in Osage.Previously operated by the Mitchell

County Ag Society, Van Meeteren hasreconfigured the alcohol sales systemwith a new bar, ticket sales and otherfeatures.

“It’s been a smooth transition,” saidVan Meeteren. “We do quite a large vol-ume of alcohol sales and we work closelywith families and organizations to pro-vide the best experience possible.”

Alcohol or no, the rentals of the CRCEvents Center have steadily increasedover time, and this year is no exception,with the summer weeks from June toSeptember booked solid with weddingreceptions and other galas.

“Because of the large, open and invit-ing main room, the CRC Events Centeroffers guests an opportunity to trans-form the space into a unique, comfort-able gathering destination,” said VanMeeteren, “And no two wedding recep-tions are alike; each one is beautiful andpersonal in its own way.”

Van Meeteren said that those who rentthe CRC Events Center receive excep-tional customer service from the time

the event is booked to the conclusion ofthe event. “We have created a ‘hassle-free’ booking process and works withrenters while they plan their event - andwe work closely with families.”

A popular planning tool the CRC has

created is the vendor list, which outlinesproducts and services offered by localbusinesses to assist event planners intheir search for caterers, photographers,linens, entertainment and more.

“It is another way the CRC has com-

mitted to supporting other local busi-nesses,” said Van Meeteren.

The CRC Events Center is air condi-tioned, handicapped accessible, and is anon-smoking environment. A largeoverhead door accommodates access forlarge equipment, cars and other vehi-cles.

Rental of the facility includes tablesand chairs to comfortably seat guests, alarge kitchen, bar services, free use of avariety of decorations, high speed wire-less internet and a portable stage.

Of course, there are many othersbesides Van Meeteren who make it allwork. Regular volunteers includingChuch Pajer, Dave Brunner, Carol andAllyn Milton and Deb Christensen helpset up before an event and clean upafterwards.

“These people and this facility is agreat asset to the community,” conclud-ed Van Meeteren, who is originally fromCedar Falls. “In a town this size, thecommunity should be proud of this.

Van Meeteren said the CRC welcomesany event from a wedding reception oranniversary celebration to a farm equip-ment show or roller skating.

“The possibilities are endless,” shesaid.


CRC EVENTS CENTERCont. from page 9C

New subdivision fills the need of growing communitybbyy DDaavviidd NNaammaannnnyyPPrreessss--NNeewwss EEddiittoorr

The first new housing subdivision inthe local community in over a decade istaking shape in Osage this spring.

Over a year in the making, members ofthe Osage City Council late last fall gaveapproval to the final development agree-ment of Maple View First Subdivisionand annexed 8.4 acres of land to make itpossible.

One of the lots has already been sold,and according to city officials more aresoon to follow with construction to com-mence within two years.

The subdivision, created by Ed andRosie Jackson, is located on property inthe southwest part of the city at theintersection of Kirkwood Avenue and357th Street. The land was annexed bythe city last fall.

According to the final developmentagreement, the city of Osage will installwater and sewer to the property locatedat 357th Street and Clayton Boulevard.

In return, the Jacksons will pay for

paving the road as well as for the installa-tion of curb and gutter.

Initially, a gravel road will be installedby Jackson and maintained by the cityuntil 60 percent of the lots are sold or

within eight years of the date the agree-ment is officially signed.

At that time, Clayton Boulevard willbecome a concrete road.

Once a lot is sold, the lot owner has two

years to build a residential house or beassessed full property taxes as if therewas a home on the property. Thecovenant is an incentive to build, ratherthan selling lots that will sit empty.

Property owners will also be requiredto pay a $3,000 sewer connection fee anda $250 water connection fee to the City ofOsage. In addition, owners will payrequired meter and turn-on fees.

City crews and subcontractors havealready installed water, sewer, gas, elec-tric and telecom (all underground utili-ties at the new subdivision.

“We’re excited about the project andeverything is ready to go,” said JerryDunlay, public works director for the cityof Osage. “The city of Osage is runningout of lots to build on. This will not onlybe great for the city’s tax base but also forthose new people coming to town.”

Dunlay added that the new subdivisionis also good for current homeowners toupgrade to a new house, freeing up exist-ing property for starter homes for thosefamilies who are just starting out.

Emilee Van Meeteren, Events Center Manager

Mitchell County Regional HealthCenter looks at changes and growth asprogress not only for the organization,for the community and the friends andfamily members for which they serve.

Over the past year, MCRHC’s growthincludes a building renovation project,upgraded technology and emergencymedical services collaboration efforts.

BBuuiillddiinngg RReennoovvaattiioonn PPrroojjeecctt

In May 2012, MCRHC staff and com-munity members gathered for agroundbreaking event for theEmergency Department and Same DaySurgery Department’s renovation.

“The Emergency and Operatingrooms had been untouched since theirconstruction in 1973,” Kevin Runolfson,MCRHC CEO, said, “ with technologychanging at record speed and theatmosphere of healthcare constantlymorphing, MCRHC must change and

grow to sustain the quality of care forour patients in the future.”

According to Runolfson, both theemergency and surgery departmentshave been able to remain fully function-al throughout the renovation process.

The entire project is on schedule withcompletion anticipated for late springof 2013.

Grand opening events are slated forJune of this year.

UUppggrraaddeedd TTeecchhnnoollooggyy One significant upgrade in technolo-

gy over the past year was a new state-of-the-art high definition system MRImachine.

According to Julie Brown, MCRHCRadiology Manger, the upgradeimproved the quality of care provided toMCRHC patients by decreasing scan


The new emergency room bay at Mitchell County Regional Health Center .

bbyy WWeennddyy HHeeuuttoonnEExxeeccuuttiivvee DDiirreeccttoorr,, OOssaaggee

CChhaammbbeerr ooff CCoommmmeerrcceeThe Osage Chamber of

Commerce continues topromote the community asthe best place to live, shop,dine, do business, work,play, and relax. It’s not aneasy job owning a smallbusiness in a town our sizeand competing with largercommunities close by.

Osage seems to havefound a way to do it byoffering the unique alongwith many traditional serv-ices found in a city.

With barely an emptystore front, our downtowndistrict, along with thebusinesses located on theeast end of town continueto open the doors every day.

This past year we sawnew businesses start up inOsage, some are pictured attheir ribbon cutting, andother businesses such as:Flat Pie Red Eye, DonnaBrumm Kitchens &Interiors, Frames & More,The Wash Tub, Save theDate, and Doodlers will bescheduled for ribbon cut-tings.

S h e l t e rInsurance isunder newmanagement byJ.T. Noordhoek,and VerizonWireless is nowowned by Z-Wireless, andopening soonwill be Unc’sCheesecake.

Osage offerschoices in dinning such asTres Amigos MexicanRestaurant, Flat Pie andRed Eye, Teluwut GrilleHouse & Pub, KountryKupboard, Ecky’s IceCream Shoppe, andSubway to name a few.

To improve service to analready great health clinicand hospital, the MitchellCounty Regional HealthCenter is currently under-going a major remodel ofthe emergency room. TheCenter is also home toSMART Pharmacy, whichoffers free delivery service,and Roggensack eye clinic.

Osage also has banks,investment firms, taxaccountants, insuranceagents, real estate agents,

law firms, and con-struction and con-tracting companiesto choose from, andis home to a variety ofmanufacturing: FoxRiver Mills,Milkhouse Candles,RR Donnelley, TOPS,with more on theway.

There alwaysseems to be some-

thing to do all year. On topof events throughout town,the Cedar River Complexcontinues to offer fitnessclasses, the auditorium isbeing used more frequently,and the museum has activemembers that strive tomake it an interesting placeto visit.

With all the activity it’sgreat to have more roomsfor visitors, family mem-bers, and business col-leagues and executives tostay thanks to the newAmericInn.

All this being said Osagecan only continue to grow ifthe community is loyal andtries to do business in townfirst, before going out oftown.

It’s a GREAT day in Osage! bbyy JJiimm CCrroossss

PPrreessss--NNeewwss RReeppoorrtteerrThe first two phases of the

City of Maples Trail, locatedin the southeast part oftown, are expected to becompleted this summer.

The Phase 1 portion trav-els north from the CedarRiver Complex and eastalong Chestnut Street. Thetrail will also connect withthe fairgrounds and the CRCEvents Center.

Phase 1 incorporates theuse of existing and strategi-cally placed new sidewalks,said Kate Waitek, trail com-mittee coordinator.

Sections of trail beingadded will be eight feet inwidth and six inches thick.

The Phase 2 portion trav-els a southerly route from the

CRC, down the east side ofSeventh Street, along themiddle school, continuing tothe east, and running parallelalong Heritage Drive, to apoint just south of the highschool parking lot.

“Walkability, and bike-ability is one of the big ini-tiatives in the Blue ZonesProject,” said Waitek. “Withthis project we are able toprovide safe paths to walk inthe city.”

The goal of the City ofMaples Trail committee is toloop connecting residentialneighborhoods, includingsenior living housing, to theOsage Community Schoolsand their athletic fields, theCRC, the Mitchell CountyFairgrounds and the CityPark.

Cost of Phase 1 is $36,950with $21,200 coming fromthe city of Osage through$1,200 in in-kind labor and$20,000 in tax incrementfinancing.

Other organizations con-tributing to Phase 1 includedFEMC (Foundation for theEnhancement of MitchellCounty) $5,000; Shop onState, $2,000; John K. andLouise Hanson Foundation,$5,000; Christensen TrustFund, $1,000; Osage Rotary,$750; and Osage Lions Club,$1,000.

The cost of Phase 2 is$14,688 with $5,000 comingfrom FEMC and the remain-ing $9,668 from the MitchellCounty Board ofSupervisors.

New recreation trail to be completed here this summer

Change; growth equal progress at MCRHC

MCRHC RENOVATIONPlease turn to page 16C

Heuton

Major renovation project to be completed this spring

North Iowa and the only oneof its kind in MitchellCounty,” said owner KurtMills, who noted that he wasbasically running out ofspace.

He plans to sell his formershop to another business.

According to the Millsfamily, the new shop forOsage Auto Body includesthe latest in auto body tech-nology, including all newMIG welding equipment, I-4 Prospot welder, a ChiefVelocity laser unibodymeasuring system, twoChief frame racks and twodown-draft flashbake paintbooths.

The entire system is notonly more friendly to theenvironment, but com-pletes the transition to awater-based paint systemwhich is expected to be

mandated by the govern-ment in the future.

“In this business, it’simportant to control air pol-lution, as we are dealingwith a hazardous environ-ment with the products weuse,” explained Mills. “Ournew equipment is 100 per-cent state-of-the-art andessential to switch to thewater-based system.”

Another reason for thenewly expanded facility is toincrease production andequipment space, so Millsand his five full-time

employees can better meetcustomer demands.

“This will definitelyincrease our productionlevel,” said Mills. “It’s goodfor us, good for our employ-ees, good for our customersand good for the communi-ty.”

Osage Auto Body wasoriginally established in1982, when Kurt and SueMills started the business onthe east end of town, wherethe Super 8 hotel is nowlocated. The couple boughtits current facility on the

west edge of town in 1999,and expanded it in 2002. Adecade later, they con-structed the brand newfacility.

As for the AmericInn, itnot only fills a need for thecommunity, but may spurfurther expansion in thefuture. “I think it is a greatasset to Mitchell County,”said Emerson, “It’s so greatto see people willing toinvest in Osage and MitchellCounty, and so great to seeus growing and expanding.”



The expansion of a long-time local business, as wellas the construction of a newone, has made the City ofMaples much larger in size.

More than six acres wasannexed into the City ofOsage last year to accom-modate the new $3.5 millionAmericInn on the city’s eastside, as well as a $500,000expansion of Osage AutoBody on the city’s west side.

The new AmericInn Hoteland Suites, which is now inoperation on the east edge ofOsage, was created by agroup of local investors ledby Osage businessman andentrepenuer Ken Emerson.

Long-term AmericInnpartner ApolloDevelopment, LLC ofMinnetonka, Minn., was the

main developer for the proj-ect.

The new hotel features anindoor pool, meeting room,business station and 43guest rooms and suitesoffering contemporary fur-nishings and amenitiesincluding flat screen televi-sions.

On the other end of town,Kurt and Sue Mills of OsageAuto Body constructed anew 10,000-square footfacility, as well as a 5,000square foot warehouse attheir businesses location onHighway 9.

To accommodate theexpansion and to provideneeded water and sewerinfrastructure, as well asother development incen-tives, the city agreed toannex land for the two proj-ects.

The annexations for both

Osage Auto Body andAmericInn allowed the useof tax increment financing(TIF), similar to other newconstruction expansionssuch as Adams Plumbingand Larson’s HardwareHank.

As well as a new and busyhotel which is contributingto the community throughemployment and services,the new business is provid-ing a significant amount ofhotel tax funds for the city.

Osage Auto Body’snewly-expanded business,provides a state-of-the-artfacility that is one of thebiggest and best in theregion.

“Our new shop and ware-house is one of the largest in

City annexes land asbusiness district grows

Jake Hovland, auto body technician from St. Ansgar, works on a repair job at thenewly expanded Osage Auto Body. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)

OSAGE GROWINGPlease turn to page 12C

OSAGE GROWINGCont. from page 5C

The new Osage AmericInn opened for business last summer on the east end of the city.

Over six acres added for Osage Auto Body; AmericInn

Tommy Halvorson of St. Ansgar, shop foreman andpainter for Osage Auto Body, works in the new state-of-the-art paint booth at the new facility.

Mitchell County

Press News732-3721

Established in

1865Serving the


Farmers Mutual

InsuranceAssociation

Norman E. JohnsonPresident


1874

HomeTrust

& Savings BankYour Locally Owned

Hometown Bankwww.hometrustbank.com

Established in

1899Serving the


L.R. FalkConstruction Co.

732-3789

Established in

1922Serving the

Osage Area For

91 years

OsageAuto

Salvage732-3603

Established in

1946Serving the


Jerry, Pat, John & PeeWee

RandallConstruction


1933Serving the

Osage Area For

80 Years

Roy's BodyShop,Inc.

Dave, Chris, Jared & Curt


1952Late Model

Collision SpecialistsServing the


HEARDInsurance

732-5823

Established in

1946Serving the


Mayer'sDigging

Co.732-4004

Established in

1957Serving the


StateFarm

InsuranceCraig E. Eisenman


1939Under present

management since

1999

OsageCo–op

Elevator732-3768

Established in

1945Serving the


OlsenImplement Inc.


1953Serving the

Osage Area For

60 Years


New construction in Osagecontinues to be strong, as a totalof 45 building permits wereissued by the city of Osage duringthe past 12 months.

The estimated value of the newpermits totaled $2,024,853.

Topping the list in construc-tion permits was the $275,000permit for a new home being con-structed on south 4th Street inOsage.

Also constructed were sevenother new homes ranging from$150,000 to $185,000 in estimat-ed value, as well as several expan-sions and additions to both resi-dential and commercial proper-ties.


Osage sees $2 million in new construction permitsSome of thenew residen-tial construc-tion underwaythis yearincludes thistwo-storygarage andnew additionat theDerrick andAngieHuffmanhome at 1030Main Street.The project isestimated at$100,000.(Press-Newsphoto byDavidNamanny)

Also on the list is a new$250,000 commercial buildingfor Osage Auto Body on landthat was recently annexed intothe City.

This new construction, saidOsage Public Works DirectorJerry Dunlay is good for thelocal tax base.

“It’s definitely good forOsage,” said Dunlay. “It showswe’re strong and growing, atrend which continues eachyear.”

22001122--1133 ZZoonniinngg PPeerrmmiittss

Tom and JoAnne Madden,828 S. 4th St., new home,

$275,000.Matt and Alissa Nicholson,

1301 Main St., sign, $3,200.Myron Baldwin, 320

Mechanic, garage addition,$3,000.



Sue & Rick Wilson, 633 OakSt., deck, $800.

Steven Braun, 814 WalnutSt., shed, $250.

Fox River Mills, 227 PoplarSt., entrance, $95,000.

Kris Kuykendall, 403 N. 10thSt., shed, $2,000.

Chuck & Kathy Mallow, 16Liberty Dr., deck, $12,253.

Dan Koeff, 1114 State St.,shed, $3,000.

Ray Smith, 316 Vine St.,garage, $5,000.

Mark Brown, 3509 GolfCourse Rd., deck, $4,000.

Tera Willamson, 1032Mechanic St., deck, $1,500.


Loren & Barb Berge, 408Pine St., shed, $500.

Ashley Bierbrodt, MechanicSt., deck, $800.

Jerry & Sandy Herrick, 418N. 13th St., new home,$175,000.

Tracey Anderson, 115 VineSt., shed, $1,600.

Andrew Hanson, 921 N. 7thSt., home addition, $35,000.

Frances Johnson, 605 N. 10thSt., home addition, $18,000.

Kurt and Sue Mills, 2021Hwy 9, new commercial build-ing, $250,000.

Rick Stevens, 1027 Chase St.,shed, $500.

Dennis Thompson, 1332State St., shed, $500.

Tyler Schwarck, 414 MapleSt., shed, $500.

Habitat for Humanity, 721Mechanic St., new home,$40,000.

Jason Swenson, shed, 602 N.10th St., $2,000.

Luke Irvin, 1103 HeritageDrive, shed, $500.

Sharon Kleckner, 811 WalnutSt., shed, $1,000.

Scott Beyer, 115 Main St.,commercial addition, $6,000.

Rob Loften, 808 Ash St.,move garage, $2,000.

A to Z Drying, 1000 WallaceRd., commercial addition,$20,000.

Troy & Ashley Hanson, 226Park St., move shed, $1,000.

Press News, 112 N. 6th St.,sign, $700.

Lynn Hemann, 904 PoplarSt., shed, $9,000.


Andrew Johnson, 815 S. 5thSt., shed, $250.00.

Joe & Pam Beyer, 315 Oak St.,garage, $10,000.

Robert & Julie Badker, 802Ash St., garage, $25,000.

Derrick Huffman, 1030 MainSt., garage, $100,000.

Carroll Bishop, 1320 ChaseSt., porch.

Duane Ramker, 214 Park St.,new home, $180,000.

Deb Rolland, 802 S. 6th St.,garage, $20,000.

Pat Forshay, 830 Main St.,garage and sunroom, $50,000.

Totals - $2,024,853 —— 8new homes - $1,340,000

BUILDING PERMITSPlease turn to page 13C

BUILDING PERMITSCont. from page 4C

New YorkLife

Don Fox, LUTCF, CLTC

732-4973

Established in

1969Serving the

Osage Area For

44 Years

FaithLutheranHome

732-5511

Established in

1967Serving the


OsageVeterinaryClinic, P.C.

732-3671

Established in

1965Under Present

Ownership Since

1992

Tony'sBody Shop732-3540

Established in

1963Under Present

Ownership Since

1995

Style-MorBeauty Salon

732-3631

Established in

1965Phyllis Levendusky,

owner, stylist,Helen Gerk, stylist

Linda Schroeder, stylist

Serving theOsage Area for

48 Years

JohnsonChemicals

Co.732-4246Established in


area for49 Years

WrightPlumbing& Heating

732-5208

Established in

1977Serving the

Osage Area for

36 Years

Mark'sTractor &Impl. Inc.


1977Serving the

Osage Area for

36 Years

KolbetRealtors

Kevin, Janean & Phil Kolbet


1977Serving the


ScharperServices

L.L.C.732-3630

Established in

1977Serving the


Larson’sHardware

Hank& Rental

732-4261

Established in

1979Serving the


MauserInsurance

732-4682800-373-6081

Established in

1981Serving the

Osage Area For

32 Years



Workers have been busy at the ValentBioSciences construction site in Osageand are gearing up for the next phase ofthe $150 million project as springweather approaches.

Valent, an Illinois-based companywhich makes biological pesticides andplant growth regulators, is building the130,000-square-foot manufacturingfacility on 73 acres on South 13th Streeton Osage’s southeast side.

Gilbane Building Co. of Chicago is theconstruction management firm andgeneral contractor for the project,which has been under way about a year.Completion is expected in 2014.

“We have completed most of the centralutility building and all of the structuralsteel is in place,” said Gilbane construc-

VBC construction nearing completion


tion manager Jack Acord.The main manufacturing building is

also nearly completed and work isbeginning on the complex phases of theinterior

“The weather has been good and it’sbeen a decent stretch so far over thepast year - overall, we’re right onschedule or a little bit better,” he said.

Acord said at the end of this month, a500-ton crane, one of two like it in theUnited States, will put in place thefacility’s massive fermentation tanks.

“The crane is so big it will be hauledin pieces and put together on site,”Acord said. “The fermentation tankswill be lowered from the top and we willhave to take the roof off for a bit. It willbe a sight to see.”

Work will continue throughout thespring inside both the utility and man-



The $150 million manufacturing facility on South 13th Street.

Leonard Campbell, General Supervisor for the Gilbane Building Company (left) chats about the Valent BioSciences construction project with Osage Public Works Director Jerry Dunlay inside the main utilties building. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)

Cooper’sOsage Auto732-3795

Established in

1981Serving the


AdamsPainting &

DrywallInc.

732-4770 Dan & Sheila Adams

Established in

1982Serving the


Paul'sPlumbing

andHeating


1982Serving the


Dungey'sFurnitureand Gifts

732-4424

Established

1987Serving the


SubwayDarlene Huemann,

manager

732-5414

Established in

1994Serving the

BisbeeIncome Tax

& AccountingServices732-3445

Established in

1989Serving the


SubwayDarlene Hueman.

Manager732-5414

Established in

1994Serving the


OsageDental

Arts732-3293

Established in

1993Serving the


PollardPest

Control732-5728Established in


area for29 Years

HometownConnection

Radio ShackDealer - 732-3466

Established in

1987Serving the Osage Area

For 26 Years

US Cellular Agentsince1992

Serving the Osage AreaFor 21 Years

WeberAutoParts

732-4005

Established in

1995Serving the


KountryKupboard

732-5315

Established in

2001Serving the

Osage Area For

12 Years

STREETChiropractic PC

Dr. Aaron StreetDr. Scott Nerland

Dr. Zach Muller732-4665

Established in

2002Serving the


ufacturing buildings.Dozens of workers from

the Gilbane organizationin Chicago are expected toarrive on the site in thecoming months.Eventually, about 200workers will come and goover the next year. Themajority of constructionis taking place in two 10-hour shifts each day.

With supplies, materialsand equipment coming in,Acord said, there is a lot ofdaily truck and heavy-equipment traffic.

Primary constructiontraffic is being routed toenter and exit fromOrchard Road north toHighway 218.

Gilbane has leased ware-house space from A to ZDrying to store materialsand equipment for con-struction as well as for fab-rication of components.

Equipment-setting andelectrical work has beenunder way during thewinter months, with workon instrumentation, con-trols and landscapingplanned for this year.

According to officials,the new plant will be thefirst full-scale manufac-turing facility designedand constructed specifi-cally for production ofbiorational products andwill also utilize corn and

soybeans in the process.Biorationals are prod-

ucts derived from naturalor biological origins thatare highly specific in theiractivity and have lowimpact on workers and theenvironment.

While Valent will pro-duce the pesticides andbiorationals in bulk, A to ZDrying, which has beenworking with Valent sincethe 1970s, will finish theproduct as well as packageand ship it.

When completed, thefacility will hire upward of90 people full-time.

Those jobs include 12engineering, 18 quality-control, 41 production, sixadministrative and 12maintenance positions.

We have been focused onfostering partnerships to retainand attract more jobs and morefamilies with more students toour community.

I think you are witnessingthe results - enhanced employ-ment opportunities, new fami-lies, higher school enrollments,a lively Main St., and signifi-cant capital improvements tobusinesses and homes.

Our thanks go to all of thepartners: Mitchell CountyEconomic Development,Mitchell County Board ofSupervisors, Mayor Cooperand the City Council, OsagePublic Works Director JerryDunlay, all of our existingindustries, and all of the localbusinesses which have adaptedto growth and welcomed newopportunities.

The Osage CommunitySchool District continues toexcel in educating the nextgeneration. SuperintendentBass and the Board ofEducation have done a greatjob of maintaining andenhancing the physical plantsand retaining and attractingquality professionals to mentorour youth.

Mitchell County RegionalHealth Center is completinginfrastructure improvementsto insure that we have qualityhealth care and AdministratorRunolfson has assembled acompetent management teamto coordinate the care providedby our wonderful medical pro-fessionals and support staff.


A message from the Osage Development Corporation

bbyy KKeevviinn MM.. KKoollbbeett,,PPrreessiiddeenntt,, OODDCC

The CRC is serving allof the various needswhich the crafters hadenvisioned. Those newto the community find ithard to believe we havesuch an asset. You haveall been touched directlyor indirectly by its out-reach to the arts, history,drama, music, fitness,wellness, entertain-ment, education, cele-brations, etc.

We have the full con-tinuum of housingoptions from singlefamily homes, apart-ments, multi-familyunits, independent sen-ior housing, assisted liv-ing, rehabilitation units,and long-term carefacilities. We will needto continue to focus onmeeting the need formore single-familyrental homes and apart-ments, while at the sametime systematicallyreplacing some of ouraging single-familyhousing stock.

Our farm partnersexperienced a signifi-cant drought in 2012,but the overall prof-itability for agriculture

has recently been good.We continue to be cog-nizant of our proud agri-cultural heritage androots and mindful of thetremendous asset wehave around us in theproductive soil.

As this year unfoldsyou will continue to seenew faces, new stu-dents, new churchgoers, new neighbors,new initiatives, andsome new challenges.Embrace them withpositive attitude, warmhospitality, and a “can-do” spirit.

With your help, wewill continue to “focuson new investment, jobr e te n t i o n /c r e a t i o n ,opportunity, and serveas a resource to supportother community devel-opment initiatives thatenhance the quality oflife in Osage”.

KKeevviinn MM.. KKoollbbeett,, PPrreessiiddeenntt OSAGE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

ODC MESSAGEPlease turn to page 15C

ODC MESSAGECont. from page 2C


Steel workers raised beams for the framework of the massive manufacturing facili-ty. (Press-News photo by David Namanny)_

Faith HomeAssisted Living

832-2580

Established in

2006Serving the


OsageMedicalMassageCenter


June 2006Serving the


NicholsonTowing &

RepairMatt & Alissa Nicholson


2009Serving the

Osage Area For

4 Years

CUSB1533 Main St.

Osage


1888Serving the

Osage Area For11 years

EichmeierRepair


2006Serving the


Apple ValleyAssisted Living


2008Serving the

Osage Area For

5 Years

times and shorteningpatient breath holds, whichalso results in better imagequality, while also exposingpatients to a lower amount ofradiation than with the pre-vious model.

Brown said, adding, “Thisupgrade provides highlydetailed pictures forproviders to evaluate a widerange of conditions, includ-ing stroke and heart disease.”

According to Brown, ben-efits of the new MRI includeshorter wait times and amore comfortable exam forpatients. Additionally, thenew equipment offers ahigher level of scanningresulting in easier, moreaccurate disease diagnosisfor providers.

EEmmeerrggeennccyy MMeeddiiccaallSSeerrvviicceess CCoollllaabboorraattiioonnDuring 2011, MCRHC

expanded their paramedichours. Since that time, thedepartment has worked oncollaboration with otheremergency organizationsthroughout MitchellCounty, working together tooffer a more seamless publicemergency service.

According to Jynae

Clapper, Chief NursingOfficer at Mitchell CountyRegional Health Center,thanks to the cooperation ofthe Mitchell CountySheriff’s Department andlocal Fire Departments,MCRHC upgraded its EMSradio system resulting inbetter communication withother Mitchell Countyemergency service organiza-tions.

In the fall of 2012,MCRHC sponsored an autoextrication class for MCRHCstaff and local emergencyservices, fire departmentsand first responders. Theclass educated emergencyservice providers in MitchellCounty in auto extrication.

Mitchell County RegionalHealth Center’s EmergencyMedical ServicesDepartment recently added

an emergency responsevehicle (ERV) to its fleet ofvehicles.

“We have already signifi-cantly reduced the amountof time it takes for a para-medic to arrive on the sceneof an emergency by addingthe ERV to our fleet” Clappersaid.

Mitchell County RegionalHealth Center, located inOsage, Iowa, is a Mercy-North Iowa managed net-work facility consisting of a25-bed critical access hospi-tal and four clinics. Cliniclocations include Osage, St.Ansgar, Stacyville andRiceville. MCRHC servesthe communities of MitchellCounty as well as communi-ties located in borderingcounties and is committed toimprove the health of ourcommunities.

16C MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS, Osage, IA, Wed., March 13, 2013

SSEECCTTIIOONN CC

VVOOLL.. 114499 •• NNOO.. 1111 •• MMaarrcchh 1133,, 22001133

Pictured above and below is the newly remodeled Emergency Department WaitingRoom at Mitchell County Regional Health Center.

OOSSAAGEGE TTODODAAYY20201133

SPRINGSPRINGPRPROGREOGRESSSS

EDITIONEDITION

Construction on the $150 million Valent BioSciences manufacturing facility is in highgear this spring after a solid year of progress by the Gilbane Building Company.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 3C

MCRHC RENOVATIONCont. from page 11C

osage today 2013 spring progress edition

Documents