As word spread last week that Belle Plaine’s major employer, Benco Manufacturing, was closing its local plant by December, comments from city officials ran the gamut from resignation to frustration.

City Administrator Bill Daily termed Thursday, the day employees were informed of the move “a dark day.”

Mayor Jim Daily, whose immediate family, including himself, his wife and a daughter, have a total of more than 30 years experience working at the plant, expressed some displeasure with the fact that city officials had been given no notice from the company that this move was coming.

“What we learned, we learned from the street,” Bill Daily said. The mayor added that it was only after contacting a media relations representative from the home office that he was then notified by local plant officials who confirmed the news.

Benco manufactures automotive parts for a variety of clients, both domestic and foreign. With the recent decline in the industry, city officials feared that the local plant might be in jeopardy. But they said that in speaking with local employees, it seemed that the plant was beginning an upswing. In fact, several employees that had been laid off in recent months had been called back.

But company spokesperson Tracy Furerst said corporate officials took a look at vehicular assembly volume in the Midwest and other factors in determining how operations could be consolidated.

Jon Dayton, executive director of the Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation (BPCDC) said it’s really hard to comment at this time until his group can gauge the long-term effect of the closure.

“We’ll just have to dig in and keep working,” he said. “Belle Plaine still has a lot of good things to offer.”

Benco employees were called to a company meeting on Thursday and informed of the pending closing. Tracy Furerst, a corporate spokesperson, said the company would attempt to place as many of the local workers in other Cosma facilities. The company operates several plants in eastern Iowa, including plants in Victor, Montezuma and Williamsburg. But it has long been rumored that those plants, which also make parts for the automotive industry, have had cutbacks in employment and employee hours.

She said 160 employees would be affected. But there were reports that far fewer than that number had actually been working recently. Still, the closure will have a far reaching effect on the local economy, as well as the personal future for many families, some with several family members working at the plant.

The company and the city have had a relationship that has lasted for more than 30 years and has encompassed two buildings. The company originally operated out of a facility along Eighth Street on the west side of the city. In the mid-1990s, thanks to financial help from the city in the form of a tax increment financing district, the larger current plant was constructed just west of the municipal airport.

Just as the future of many employees of the company remains uncertain, so too does the economic future of the city. Bill Daily said the city will have to re-evaluate its future priorities with the possibility of a decrease in future property tax revenues. A major streetscape project was to be funded in large part through city funds that the city council had already approved. The city is also planning to construct a new aquatics center through a combination of public and private financing.

Another major building project in the city will apparently not be affected by this news. Belle Plaine Schools Superintendent Bill Lynch said the funding is in place for the construction of additions to Longfellow Elementary and the high school.

“But I certainly don’t like to see this (the plant closure) happen,” he said.

Brad Cook is a member of the BPCDC board. He has operated Iowa Mold and Engineering in the city and in recent years, he brought a company formerly headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Metal Products, Inc. to the city.

He said if anyone was looking at Belle Plaine as a potential site for company expansion, he would tell them that this area offers a good, well-trained work force experienced in the manufacturing field. He added that the decision to relocate Iowa Metal Products was not difficult, as the emphasis on industry in Cedar Rapids has been to more specialized fields of food processing, agricultural products and chemical production rather than general manufacturing.

Dayton said that although in this economy it might seem that the outlook for filling the Benco plant with a new company might be dim, he thinks that the condition and age of the building should put it at or near the top of agencies charged with matching investors with potential locations for business.

Mayor Daily said that the economic reality finally caught up with us.

“We’ll just have to get together and work harder,” he said. “There’s no giving up now.”

After serving 19 years in the ministry in a state where the pastor’s residence was heated by wood he had to split himself, where a visit to many he ministered meant a ride in a small plane to an area where people were in a daily struggle for enough to eat, the Rev. Dr. James Campbell said it was time to come home.

Campbell recently became the pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Belle Plaine, after serving for the past 19 years as a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries, assigned to the Alaska United Methodist Conference. Before coming to Belle Plaine, he served as the pastor at Turnagain United Methodist Church in Anchorage.

Campbell replaces Rev. David Crow, who became the Cedar Rapids District superintendent for the church earlier this spring.

He and his wife, Maggie, are the parents of three adult children, twin sons David and Doug and daughter Erin. David is a pilot with the Alaska Air National Guard, flying C-17 cargo planes. Doug is a power grid engineer with the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company. Erin is the director of youth ministry at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Sante Fe, NM.

Campbell said that he and his wife were ready for a change in climate, to a more moderated light situation for health reasons, etc. He explained that Alaska has a lot of extremes in light and dark. Some days you could play baseball at midnight, but by mid-September, the darkness and light equation was closer to life in the “lower 48.” By October, each day brings five minutes less of daylight. By December, there is only about six hours of “marginal sunshine” a day and in some parts of the vast state, residents experience a month or more of total darkness every year.

Born in Council Bluffs, Campbell grew up in Colorado. He holds a BA in speech from the University of Southern Colorado and a MA in speech from the University of Illinois. He was at the University of Illinois in pursuit of a doctorate in speech in 1971 when he made the decision to enter the ministry. He went on to earn three degrees at the University of Dubuque, including a Master of Divinity in 1975, Master of Sacred Theology in 1979 and a Doctor of Ministries in 1981.

When he finished college, he first sought a position in his native Colorado. But after being told that positions were few in that state, he opted to come to Iowa, where there were several churches in need of pastors. After serving in several parishes in various Iowa communities, he felt moved to “live ministry as an adventure.” He applied to the church’s Global Ministries and was given the option of serving in Puerto Rico or Alaska. Remembering his life in Colorado, he opted for Alaska.

Campbell says that when he moved his young family to Alaska, they were placed in a parsonage that was a cabin. He looked around for the thermostat for the heating unit and was told by the church trustee that the “heating unit” consisted of a pile of wood and an ax out behind the cabin.

During his tenure in Alaska, Campbell did much more than serve one local church. He was a part-time minister at Willow Methodist Church, which is about 75 miles from Anchorage. He said Willow was “full of characters” and reminded him of the fictitious city of Cicely, Alaska, depicted in the TV series “Northern Exposure.” He spoke of the fly-in ministry he headed, where he would fly in a small plane and land on a river in the summertime and conduct services on the river bank.

By the mid-1990s, the door was opened for missions in the Russian Far East. Campbell was appointed the Council Director for the Alaska Missionary Conference and was director of the Chukotka Native Christian Ministry, which is the outreach of Alaska’s Siberian Yupik people of St. Lawrence Island to their own people in the Chukotka region of the Russian Far East.

By the time he began serving the eastern Russian people, Campbell found that the people had been given living quarters, food from Moscow and many promises from the Russian regime in an attempt to sway them from gravitating toward their Alaskan neighbors to the east. When the Soviet Union fell, just when freedom opportunities should have expanded, the aid from Moscow ended. Campbell observed that people of the region were literally starving and eating their dogs and their neighbor’s dogs. He said the children were fainting in school because of malnourishment.

The people of that region not only faced a lack of food and broken promises, each year they faced brutal weather conditions, with nighttime lows of minus 50 or below and daytime highs of only minus 25, always accompanied by a strong wind.

In 2000, Campbell was appointed director of Humanitarian Aid to the Russian Far East, for the United Methodist and Moravian Churches, which he termed a “highlight of my life.” He has stories of working with a multi-billionaire who became the Russian governor for the area to bring humanitarian aid to his constituents. This person replaced a corrupt government official. Ironically, people on the Alaskan side of the sea were dealing with a former state governor who was later accused of wrongdoing in office as well.

Campbell said the region had seen its share of missionaries representing several churches over the years. But he said the area natives sought out those who would show their love, rather than just speak of it. Forcing particular values or displaying ulterior motives wouldn’t work, he said. The most successful missionaries are those who will show their love for everyone, no strings attached.

He said that Alaskan natives observe that settlers go through a period of adjustment and also know when the “adventure is up.” For Campbell and his wife, the realization that their 19 year adventure in Alaska was coming to an end and they were looking to “come home.”

So their adventure brought them to Belle Plaine and Campbell said he and his wife have been very grateful for the kind welcome they have been given here. While serving the Christ United Methodist congregation, Campbell says he is also searching for additional ways he can serve. With his extensive counseling training, he is interested in perhaps offering counseling services to our troops serving or who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. A published author, he is also interested in continuing in that direction.

He admits that he is “obsessed” with family history and loves to travel to “off-the-wall destinations. He also said that during his brief time in Belle Plaine, the story of Jumbo Well has sparked his interest and he looks forward to learning much more about this area’s history.

One might surmise that after living in the ruggedly beautiful state of Alaska, it might be difficult to enjoy living in America’s heartland. But Campbell is looking forward to sampling locally grown produce later this summer. He moved his desk so that he can look out a window on a tree in the church yard.

“This is home,” he said.

The Benco Manufacturing facility in Belle Plaine will close by December. Company officials confirmed that employees were being informed of the closure during meetings today (Thursday).

The move will affect 160 employees, company officials said. The plant manufactures various vehicle parts for several manufacturers.

Tracy Furerst, a company spokesperson, said the company took a look at vehicle manufacturing volume in the Midwest, as well as the capacity of other Cosma facilities in determining how the operations might be consolidated.

She said the closure of the local plant will be a phased approach and the company will strive to place as many of the local Benco employees in other Cosma plants as possible.

Rumors had swirled in the city in recent months as the level of employment fluctuated at the local plant. Some had thought that the local plant might survive with the possible acquisition of the General Motors European Division by Magna International, Benco’s parent company. But that acquisition has not yet been finalized and it is still uncertain if and when that might take place.

Chase Wickwire, son of Eric and Janeen Wickwire, Belle Plaine, was the second place winner in the national Colorful Cutie and Kool Kids Contest, sponsored by professional photographers and Colormaster, Inc. to promote quality color portraiture of children.

Abbi Garling of Your Memories Photography photographed Chase and presented a $100 savings bond, 5 x 11 dry erase board, ribbon, certificate and plaque to the winner.

Seven local winners were selected first by a panel of Photographers from 1500 entries.  First place winners from the participating studios were then judged by selecting the National Winners.  The National Judges award is chosen by a Master Photographer for photographic excellence.  The children’s color portraits were judged on charm, personality, expressions, and appearance of the child as he or she appeared in the photograph.

Your Memories Photography presented several local prizes. Chase Wickwire was the grand prize winner. Other winners in various classes included: 0-6 months – Melaina Vargas; 7-12 months – Hunter Kupka; 1-3 years – Sophie Brecht; 4-7 years – Emmalee Henry; 8-12 years – Brannen Hudson; National Judges Award – Jacoby Moore; National Honorable Mention – Greysen Leonard; People’s Choice Award – Stella Rupp.

Local honorable mention went to: Alexandra Heinen, Aleya Roberts, Andrew Hudson, Braylynn Papesh, Courtney Beck, Dakota Henry, Ethan Hudson, Evelyn Faubus, Isabelle Sankot, Juliana Heinen, Kyla Roberts, Lilly Wickwire, Maesen Hann, Sam DeMeulenaere and Stella Rupp.

The People’s choice winner was awarded based on a vote hosted at MidWestOne Bank.  Cost was $1 to vote, and all proceeds were awarded to the Addison Stamp benefit.  A total of $75 was donated.

Chase Wickwire, son of Eric and JaneenWickwire, took second place in the national Colorful Cutie and Kool Kids Contest, sponsored locally by Your Memories Photography.

After his first year as owner of the Belle Plaine True Value hardware store, Brian Baumgartner said the first year has gone really well, the community has been very friendly and very helpful.

Baumgartner bought the business from Dave and Sue Riherd in 2008 after the Riherd family had operated the store for many years.

In the first year of new ownership, Baumgartner says sales have improved, with the implementation of Sunday store hours, an expanded line of home furniture and plant sales this spring.

With the increase of two income families, home improvement projects are often put off until the weekend, which has helped boost Sunday sales, he said.

“Sundays are a big deal for us,” he said.

In the past year, 80 percent of the store has been reset, the interior has been repainted and one room on the west end of the store has been turned over to the growing furniture business.

The store offers Ashley furniture and ordering direct from the Ashley company is possible, he said. He said the local store will match prices from other stores on like furniture merchandise and offers free local delivery in most cases.

Next on the improvement schedule will be renovation of the basement sleep center. The store will offer Restonic mattresses, made in a factory in neighboring Toledo.

As time permits with the growing business and continuing renovations, Baumgartner says he hopes to become more active in the community. He has agreed to allow a Walldog mural to be erected on the east side of the building and the Coast to Coast sign will come down.

A section of the expanded furniture line at True Value Hardware Store.

The first annual Belle Plaine Area Ambulance Service Sweet Corn Festival has been scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Franklin Park at the lower shelter house.

The event will include music by Frank Burr from 5-6 p.m. and the band Smooth Maneuvers will play a variety of rock and country from 7-11 p.m.

Other events during the day will include raffle prizes, golf cart races, car mash, toilet flush and a 50/50 money pot drawing. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase during the evening.

Money raised during the event will be used for improving the ambulance service. The service is a private, not-for-profit service that relies on run income and private donations to cover operating expenses and equipment costs, officials said.

“Due to the exceptional support of the citizens of our service area, we have been able to utilize the latest technology and treatment options available to expand the level of medical care provided to our patients,” according to Dan Johnson, co-director of the service. “This insures that our patients are receiving the highest quality of emergency medical care available.

“Our annual fundraiser is an opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ for your past and future support. Without you, we could not provide the service we do. We invite you to join us on July 18^th as we celebrate past accomplishments and plan for the future.”

Local residents who were in the downtown area Monday morning got a glimpse at military history. More than 75 military vehicles and support vehicles stopped in Belle Plaine on the tenth day of a 28-day trip along the original Lincoln Highway from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco.

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) sponsored the trip to commemorate the 90^th anniversary of the first military convoy to travel from coast to coast on the Lincoln Highway.

According to information on the MVPA web site, that first trip had a twofold mission of showing the country that its army’s vehicular fleet would be ready in the event of an invasion and the trip also was a lengthy exercise to determine the fleet’s readiness in traveling over rough terrain.

The first trip took 62 days to travel 3,251 miles. According to a history of that first trip, many miles of the Lincoln Highway east of the Misssissippi were paved and well marked by 1919. But west of the Mississippi, the convoy encountered any number of varying road conditions, including 100 bridges that were not strong enough for the military vehicles to cross. The heavy trucks, etc. broke through the bridges, which forced army engineers to fix them before the trip could continue.

One of the army men on that original trip was Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is widely believed that he later used the knowledge gained from that trip to advocate the development of the nationwide interstate highway system in use today.

The 2009 trip is much different. The vehicles in the convoy spanned several generations of military cars, trucks and trailers, each restored as close as possible to their original condition. Corporate sponsors are helping with the costs associated with this trip. Participants are staying in hotels and motels along the way. This time, the trip is scheduled to take just 28 days. Monday’s leg of the trip started in Cedar Rapids and was to end in Jefferson, IA., covering 156 miles, while the original trip averaged just 58 miles per day.

The convoy turned up Eighth Avenue and lined the street two-deep all the way to the top of the hill. The travelers seemed genuinely grateful for the hospitality during their brief rest stop in Belle Plaine. Representatives of the Belle Plaine Community Development Corp. and the Belle Plaine Museum handed out bags with information and souvenirs from the city.

Members of the convoy are posting a daily blog on their journey. The following is an excerpt posted the day before they arrived in Belle Plaine, which describes their experiences so far:

“Anyway, we have arrived in Iowa. Bucolic comes to mind. Green fields, happy folkthey seem anyway, could be full of axe murderers. But I don’t think so, good hearty warm people.

”Every day we are shown just what the people of America are made of. Flag waving, toe haired kids and the grandmothers that you can only dream of. I can almost smell the apple pies cooking as we go by. No seriously, this great nation is made up of the good people of the prairie, home spun optimists. All they need is a little good news, the kinda thing we help provide . Mix in a little remembering when you could tell who the bad guys were, a touch of everybody being in the big one together, a smidgen of self sacrifice and self reliance. Damn good recipe for a small town America.”

Belle Plaine won one of four in softball action last week. The following is a game re-cap:

BP 5, English Valleys 4

Kristen Bevins scattered five hits in pitching all seven innings. She struck out two. Megan Ehlen and Brenna Ford each had three hits with a double and an RBI and a stolen base. Molly O’Brien had two hits, Joy Cronbaugh had two hits with a stolen base. The Plainsmen had four errors in the contest.

English Valleys 5, BP 4

Melissa Janss had an RBI triple in the sixth inning and a stolen base. Ehlen had two hits with a double and two stolen bases. Katie Walton also doubled. Bevins pitched the first two innings and allowed one hit, striking out two. Cronbaugh pitched five innings and gave up seven hits.

Lynnville-Sully 5, BP 3

Ehlen had two hits, Bevins had two hits with a double, RBI and stolen base. Walton had two hits and a stolen base. Bevins gave up six hits and three earned runs, striking out two in seven innings.

Lynnville-Sully 6, BP 4

Cronbaugh had two hits with a double and drove in two runs. Bevins also had two hits. Ford doubled and drove in a run. O’Brien drove in the other run. Bevins pitched the first 2 1/3 innings and gave up four hits, struck out three and allowed one earned run. Cronbaugh pitched the remainder of the game, allowing three earned runs and eight hits. She struck out two.

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