Good to see the community growing and thriving
Published on April 26, 2022 at 4:29pm EDT | Author: Chad Koenen
0From my desk
Bob Williams
One of the first questions I got from someone outside of the Frazee-Vergas area after taking over editor duties here was, “There can’t be a lot going on over there to report on, is there?”
On the contrary, there is plenty to report and one thing that has really stood out to me in three weeks was growth in both communities on the business side.
It takes time to catch up to what has been going on at city council meetings, but many of the changes and upgrades need only be witnessed by driving down either town’s main drag.
The Altona Square project is changing rapidly between my visits to Vergas. The Summers Construction Design Center really stands out on the other end of the block.
Lots of new incoming residential parcels make Vergas a welcoming place for people who prefer small town living and it’s great that the business district is trying to get ahead of any coming expansion.
Frazee Family Foods was another big surprise bringing back a laundromat to town for the first time in a decade and adding the first electric car charging station in town.
Like many people, I’m still pretty hooked on my non-electric car.
I finally gave into driving a vehicle made in this century and accepted Gasoline Direct Injection after years of driving old cars that were repairable without a computer. It’s going to take a while for me to trade in my new car for something electric, but one cannot ignore how electric cars are trending in the marketplace and kudos to Family Foods for looking to the future.
That charging station is another reason for road trippers to take the exit off highway 10 and make a stop in Frazee.
This week, I will be checking in at the new fitness center and nutrition store going into the former bowling alley building, as well as making stops at both area nine-hole golf courses. Mother Nature has not been kind to golfers or course management this year.
Both Vergas and Frazee need incoming business and I look forward to featuring those willing to take the chance on improving our small towns.
It takes guts to try to make a go of business in smaller communities. These new stores and our existing businesses need local support to thrive, and in turn, help our communities grow. The newspaper is no different.
We need our subscribers and advertising dollars from local businesses to continue our efforts.
One of our biggest jobs is to feature businesses, the people behind them, and just people, in general.
I encourage our subscribers to send any story ideas my way, whether it be an individual or group doing something inspiring or a business that has something to feature. Email those ideas to news1@loretel.net and thanks for reading.