Here it is the first week of April and most of the snow birds are back. Welcome home! I know it is only 76 degrees today as I am writing this and it has been as low as 45 last week(and probably will be again.) I hope that all of you can survive the bad weather. It will get better and we are really glad that you are back with us. If any of you have had an opportunity to be in town on Friday or Saturday nights of late, you have seen a full main street of cars. With the Sons of the Legion fish fry, Crayon Corner fundraiser, Spanky’s, the theatre and Hometown Foods our main street has been full of cars from the south side of the Memorial Building to the grocery store. Thanks to everyone who has come to our town to support these organizations and businesses the last few weeks. It is really great to see our main street this busy. The Saturday before Easter the Young Women of Today hosted an Easter egg hunt. There were around 125 kids there. Way to go ladies in running this great event for our kids. All of your work to keep Gladbrook Alive and Growing is very much appreciated. Thanks to all of you! Speaking of alive and growing, we have another new business in the area. Although it is not in town, it is only 3/4 mile west on Highway 96 and run by long time Gladbrook area people. The “Old Mill Road” will open Friday, April 15 with regular business hours of Wednesday – Saturday from 9AM to 5PM. The owners are Beverly Miller and Jodee Stoakes. They will specialize in antiques, repurposed items and gifts. Welcome back to our community and we all wish you the best of luck running your new business. Your city council has hired Scott Humphrey as a public works assistant to help Mark Lowry. Scott and Kathy, along with their daughter, Jenna, live next to us in the Wentzien house. Scott has started reading water meters and is busy helping Mark with street repairs. Say hi to him if you see him about! In other city business your council has purchased a street sweeper that will be here in about 30 days. This is an item we have been without for about three years. A lot of you have been asking for one to help clean up the sand and leaves in the streets. It will be put to good use. More great news – Jeff and Cheryl Bruene have once again donated a beef to be auctioned off the Saturday night of Corn Carnival. It will be sold in four equal quarters. Jeff said the animal is getting big and should weigh around 1500 lbs. It is due to be processed in June with the proceeds of the sale going to the Gladbrook Foundation. The past buyers have said this is some of the best beef they have ever had. This is hormone and antibiotic free beef and will be some of the best meat you can buy. We all owe Jeff and Cheryl a very large thank you for this very generous gift. Thanks to both of you! Next Sunday, April 10 will be the Corn Carnival fundraiser dinner at the Memorial Building. It will be turkey with all the trimmings. The money goes to help keep Corn Carnival going. Corn Carnival will be the last weekend of June – June 23-26. We are always looking for help. If you would like to volunteer, call me or Terri Luehring. Also, I am always looking for talent for Saturday night. If you know of someone, give me a call. Sheriff Dennis Kucera has told us there has been a lot of home break ins and thefts going on in Tama County. The Garwin area is being hit hard. Keep your doors locked and the keys out of your vehicles.

See you at the Corn Carnival dinner! Keith Sash, Mayor