Chamber/CIDC Banquet Successful

VERNON SPRINGS - Who needs television when you can find better entertainment by locals that you know? 

That’s what happened on Friday, Nov. 18 when celebrity waiters were the stars of the Cresco Chamber of Commerce and Cresco Industrial Development Corporation banquet at the Country Club.

Each twosome had a theme for their two tables and dressed to match it. They represented either the Chamber or CIDC boards, as well as their businesses.

As attendees parked and passed the RV sitting in front of the Country Club, they didn’t know what they were getting into. Camp-Site RV’s Kelly McCarville played a civilized Clark Griswold, sipping his eggnog out of a moose glass as Ryan McCarville portrayed Cousin Eddie, with his cigar and sewage hose hung like a feather boa around his neck. 

From Plantpeddler, Bootie Kapler (Ambassador and Chamber Business Committee) and Joe Wacha (Chamber Business Committee) were a gangster and flapper. Who knew The Godfather was based on Bootie and Joe? And like any demure go-go girl from the 1920s, she kept her drink order pad in her clutch bag.

Regional Health Services of Howard County featured Wheel of Fortune with Jennalee Pedretti (Chamber Board), blond wig and all, and Kyle Teeling as Vanna White and Pat Sajdak. They even had a few games of the show for diners to play.

All the way from Toy Story, CUSB Bank had Alex McCabe (Chamber Board) as the front half and Katie Ferrie as the back end of Slinky Dog. Sometimes it was hard for the front half to keep the back half in line! 

Who better to play bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde than Mary Ann Neuzil (Chamber) and Andy Ludeking (CIDC) from Cresco Bank & Trust? The debonair couple basically wore their work clothes. Ludeking had his black suit with fedora, and Neuzil had on her fishnet stockings with blond wig and beret. Oh, not to mention their nice shiny pistols!

CIA Insurance’s Brian Midthus (CIDC) and Amy Bollman walked into the dining area to sounds of Bohemian Rhapsody advising everyone to “Party on!” as Wayne and Garth of Wayne’s World.

Dan Evans (Chamber) of Times Plain Dealer, dressed as a crotchety old newsman, and Hillary Zidlicky of The Shopper, dressed as paperboy, worked together to represent the local newspaper and shopper.

Also helping to wait tables were Kris Riley, president of the Chamber Board, and board member Allanda Gehling.

RHSHC received the award for best table decor. Camp-Site RV and CIA Insurance tied for best-dressed, and Camp-Site’s Clark and Eddie received the most tips, which were donated to the Chamber.

Throughout the evening, bottles of wine and liquor were given to lucky attendees.

 

CIDC

First Vice President Chuck Malek introduced the Outstanding Organization of the Year, HoCA Howard County Cancer Association. The organization began on May 28, 1993 and has given support to people who have been diagnosed with cancer. 

For nearly 30 years, HoCA has been giving grants to those living in the Howard-Winneshiek School District. That adds up to nearly 1,120 recipients. Dick Holten has been on the board since the beginning. He noted, “There is not a month that goes by that we aren’t giving a grant.”

• Dough and Joe was honored as one of two Outstanding Businesses. The bakery started in 2006, when Steve and Molly Pedretti opened the business. They have won several awards, including the latest of being named number seven of Iowa’s Top 10 Bakeries.

Steve thanked his staff and the community for its great support. He concluded by saying, “Christmas around the corner. If you are looking for a gift for someone, I suggest fruit cake!”

• SMI is celebrating 50 years in business this year. Chuck Burke, who has been with the company for 34 years and manager since 2003, accepted the award. He praised the community for being so supportive, especially after the 2011 fire.

[Editor’s note: More in-depth stories will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Times Plain Dealer.]

CIDC Board of Directors consists with President Mark Cuvelier, Malek, Second Vice President Derek Lee, Past President Jerome Waterbeck, Treasurer Scott Thomson and board members Tom Barnes,  Donna Thomas, Gary Gooder, Holten, Bob Story, Dan Huiskamp, Ludeking, Midthus, Bart Wilson, Mike Drees,  Rich McConnell (City of Cresco representative) and Pat Murray (County Supervisors representative).

 

Chamber

Awards were handed out to anniversary years to area businesses.

Five: Atomic Pizza Pub, Bath House Market, Murphy, Coe & Smith, PLLC

10: Cresco Fuels, Inc., Geothermal Eco Options, K&M Metal Designs

15: Hometown Accounting, McAllister Catering & Event Center, Don Dietzenbach State Farm Insurance

20: NICC-Cresco Center, Northeast Iowa Appliance

35: Cresco Motor Company

40: V&V Insurance, Olsgard Silo Bagging

50: SMI

60: Bob’s Electric

105: Farmers Win Coop

120: Regional Health Services of Howard County

Chamber Board of Directors include Riley, Vice President Brendon Kacher, Past President Jennalee Pedretti and board members Ryan McCarville, Hillary Klimesh, Jen Burke, Evans, Neuzil, McCabe, Gehling and Jan Carman (City of Cresco representative). 

Jason Passmore, Director of the Chamber gave Pedretti a thank you gift. He said, “When she stepped in, we got the whole family, including her kids, attending ribbon cuttings and making malts.

In addition, he noted that nearly $1 million is in use in Howard County’s Revolving Loan Fund. “Progress keeps occurring,” Passmore said.