The National Guard generously brought in the zip line for carnival goers to enjoy Friday evening, June 26. Joining in the fun were all the Iowa universities mascots, who also were part of the Grand Parade on Friday evening. We are told that the four mascots are only together about three times a year. Glad they were part of our celebration.

We did it! Just finished another very successful Corn Carnival 93 years and they said Corn Carnival was going to die several years ago! Terri Luehring and the Corn Carnival committee, with a lot of help from all the locals, proved them wrong again. We are already planning for the 2016 Corn Carnival to be held June 23 -26, 2016. The amusement rides are booked for the next 3 years.

We started off on Thursday night with the Kids Parade with over 100 kids going down the street along with the crowning of Little Miss Corn Carnival, Rhianna Murty and Little Mr. Corn Carnival, Kaleb Mehaffy. Tandi Davis was crowned the Corn Cob Queen. Then onto the hobby show which had a lot of nice displays.

Friday was the Grand Parade with over 200 entries from towns all around the Gladbrook area. What a lot of nice floats including 7 class floats, a lot of both local and out of town entries. Thanks to every one of you for taking the time to make this another great parade. With the construction of the new FS building, we had to do a lot of shuffling in the set up area. David McGowan and Ben Goos did an outstanding job of getting all these entries lined up and out in good order. Mark Goos and Cornell Gethmann had the job of seeing that everyone got off in the right direction at the Peach Church corner. We had everyone out in one hour and five minutes at the start. Good job guys and thanks for the help. I also want to say thanks to the great group of GR students who took part in our parade and congratulations to Zach Pierce for being selected to play in the Shrine All Star Football Bowl.

Saturday was a fun day of kids events. We started with a community breakfast, then the tractor ride followed in the afternoon by the car show and cruise with about 90 entries of some very sharp cars. Saturday night was our Gladbrook’s Got Talent Show and it was great thanks to Carolyn Groth, Heidi, Sean and Tate Williams and Quentin Mussig a great group of people and a job well done. How could you finish Saturday night off any better than with absolutely gorgeous weather and the Luethje Fire Works show! Thanks to the whole Luethje staff for your part in making Corn Carnival a great event.

We finished up on Sunday with an omelet breakfast and church service. Great weather, great friends and a great community. How can it get any better! Thank you to everyone for making Gladbrook “Alive and Growing.”

Jo and I, along with Bob and Marcy Knaack, were in Alaska for two weeks on a tour sponsored by the Grundy National Bank. What a great rip with beautiful scenery, good weather and a lot of wildlife. I’m not going into much but every town we stopped at there was a lot of lawns that were never mowed. Jo said I would be all over those people in getting there yards taken care of as there was a lot of trash saying around. It makes me so glad and proud of all our Gladbrook citizens who keep our town looking sharp and showing pride in living in our great community. Thanks to all, Gladbrook really looks nice and with all the rain we had I know that wasn’t an easy job but you all did it. Thank you!

On Friday, July 10, the Sons of the Legion, are having an “All You Can Eat” fish fry at the Memorial Building. Come and have a great meal!

The Tama County 4-H Fair starts July 15 and runs through July 19. Come down to the Fairgrounds and see what our area youth have accomplished with their projects this year. This is one of a few free county fairs in Iowa so come and enjoy it along with some great food. Breakfast, dinner and supper are served by a great group of Gladbrook young people along with some very good pie!

In closing, Jo and I would like to take this time to congratulate Larry and Shirley Miell on their 60th anniversary, Larry’s 80th birthday and the 55 years they have lived in Gladbrook. Thank you both for choosing Gladbrook as your home and the place you chose to raise your great family. And also for all that both of you do to make Gladbrook a great place to call home.

Also don’t forget the Open House for the Fire and Ambulance Building on Saturday, August 29th att noon.

Keith Sash, Mayor