Special Report Lake Mills Strong: Business community rebounds after Larson plant closing ROB HILLESLAND Summit-Tribune Mar 26, 2023 Mar 26, 2023 Updated Apr 29, 2024 0 1 of 7 The Larson Manufacturing facility in Lake Mills is pictured. Contributed Photo Local workers are shown during a luncheon at the Larson Manufacturing Lake Mills facility prior to its closure. Contributed Photo The bronze Promise of America Monument in Lake Mills features Norwegian immigrants on the prairie. Lorinda Groe The Established in 1869 Lake Mills sign. Contributed Photo The Lake Mills downtown business district is shown. Contributed Photo The Lake Mills water tower is pictured. Contributed Photo Cassie Johnson Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ROB HILLESLAND Summit-Tribune When Larson Manufacturing permanently closed its Lake Mills plant late last year, it was a big blow to the confidence and economy of the community.kAm%96 H@C< @7 4:EJ =6256CD :? E96 >@?E9D D:?46 92D 96=A65 E96 =@42= 3FD:?6DD 4@>>F?:EJ 4@>A6?D2E6 7@C E96 =@DD]k^AmkAm{2CD@? 925 >256 7:?2?4:2= :?G6DE>6?ED E92E 36?67:E65 E96 {2<6 |:==D 2C62] xE 2=D@ C68F=2C=J DFAA@CE65 4:EJ[ J@FE9 2?5 J@FE9 DA@CED 24E:G:E:6D[ E@H? 46=63C2E:@?D[ 4@>>F?:EJ AC@;64ED[ 2?5 {2<6 |:==D r@>>F?:EJ $49@@= s:DEC:4E]k^Am kAm{2CD@? 2?5 :ED A2C6?E 4@>A2?J[ u@CEF?6 qC2?5D[ 2C6 DE:== :? E96 AC@46DD @7 D6==:?8 E96 d__ {2CD@? pG6] }] >2?F724EFC:?8 3F:=5:?8 :? {2<6 |:==D] xE :D =:DE65 7@C D2=6 E9@F89 y{{ qC@<6C286 7:C> :? s6D |@:?6D[ H9:49 96=5 D9@H:?8D :? }@G6>36C 7@C :?E6C6DE65 A2CE:6D E@ E@FC E96 3F:=5:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Mason City woman injured in Cerro Gordo County crash Monday Britt man accused of pointing loaded rifle at two people gets probation St. Ansgar man convicted in sex abuse case gets probation How long will Iowa men’s basketball center Andrew McKeever be out? Iowa men’s basketball players react to slippery court in season-opener Hampton man accused of machete threat against school now charged with federal crime What will Rob Sand do as Iowa governor? His record offers clues Iowa women’s hoops newcomers McKenna Woliczko and Amari Whiting react to Carver experience Let's Twist Again: Chubby Checker to return as Clear Lake Winter Dance Party headliner In case you missed it: Mason City woman charged with financial exploitation of an older person Republican Dani Ollenburg of Clear Lake wins in House District 60 race Mason City Council considers fees for damaged carts, recycling contamination Lake Mills man gets probation in Cerro Gordo County meth trafficking case Deere will close two Iowa factories -- in Ottumwa and Clarion -- relocate production Democrat Jacob Welper wins Iowa House District 59 kAm“%96 4:EJ @7 {2<6 |:==D 2?5 E96 {2<6 |:==D r92>36C s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? 92G6 >6E H:E9 4@>A2?:6D :?E6C6DE65 :? E96 3F:=5:?8 E@ 5:D4FDD H@C<7@C46 2?5 @E96C 724E@CD :>A@CE2?E E@ D:E6 D6=64E:@?[” {2<6 |:==D r92>36C s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C r2DD:6 y@9?D@? D2:5] “%96C6 92G6 366? D6G6C2= :?E6C6DE65 A2CE:6D[ 3FE F?7@CEF?2E6=J ?@ E2<6CD J6E]”k^Am kAmy@9?D@? D2:5 E96 {2<6 |:==D r92>36C s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? 2?5 (:??\(@CE9 q6E4@ 92G6 2EE6?565 4@?76C6?46D H96C6 E96J H6C6 23=6 E@ D92C6 D:E6 :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 4@>A2?:6D D66<:?8 CFC2= >2?F724EFC:?8 DA246]k^Am kAm“{:<6 >2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 4FCC6?E=J[ E96C6 2C6 >2;@C DECF88=6D :? H@C<7@C46 2?5 9@FD:?8 E92E >2<6 :E 5:77:4F=E 7@C 4@>A2?:6D E@ E2<6 E96 =62A E@ 6IA2?5 @C >@G6[” y@9?D@? D2:5] “%96 {2<6 |:==D r92>36C s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@?[ 4:EJ @7 {2<6 |:==D[ 2?5 (:??\(@CE9 q6E4@ 2C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ H@C< H:E9 4@>A2?:6D E@ 86E E96> 244FC2E6 52E2 @? @FC C68:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 H9J E96 {2<6 |:==D 4@>>F?:EJ :D 2 8C62E A=246 E@ :?G6DE 2?5 8C@H 2 3FD:?6DD]”k^Am kAm%96 D2=6 =:DE:?8 @7 Se]h >:==:@? :D 7@C FA E@ `dc[deb DBF2C6 766E @7 3F:=5:?8 DA246 @? `d 24C6D :? 2 {2<6 |:==D :?5FDEC:2= K@?6] }62C3J 2446DD E@ &]$] w:89H2J eh 2?5 x?E6CDE2E6 bd 2C6 ?@E65]k^AmkAmp E@A AC:@C:EJ 92D 366? 7:?5:?8 2?@E96C >2?F724EFC:?8 4@>A2?J E@ =@42E6 2E E96 {2<6 |:==D 724:=:EJ[ 3FE @E96C @AE:@?D 92G6 ?@E 366? E2<6? @77 E96 E23=6]k^AmkAm“x? 2 A6C764E H@C=5[ E96 4@>A2?J H@F=5 92G6 D@F89E 2?5 =:?65 FA 2 3FJ6C 367@C6 5:DA=24:?8 E96 6DE23=:D965 H@C<7@C46 @7 23@FE a__ A6@A=6[” y@9?D@? D2:5] “&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E92E 5:5?’E 92AA6?] (6 5:5?’E H2?E @FC C6D:56?ED @FE @7 ;@3D[ 2?5 E96C6 H6C6 >2?J =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D ?665:?8 H@C<6CD[ D@ H6 E62>65 FA H:E9 E96 x@H2 (@C<7@C46 s6G6=@A>6?E 286?4J :? |2D@? r:EJ E@ 9@DE 2 42C66C 72:C @? D:E6 2E E96 {2CD@? |2?F724EFC:?8 3F:=5:?8 367@C6 E96J 4=@D65 E96:C 5@@CD]”k^Am kAm%FC?:?8 =6>@?D E@ =6>@?256[ E96 =@42= @C82?:K2E:@?D 925 =@42= 2?5 C68:@?2= 3FD:?6DD6D 2EE6?5 E@ D92C6 ;@3 :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 {2CD@? 6>A=@J66D H9@ H6C6 =@D:?8 ;@3D] %96 {2<6 |:==D r92>36C s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? >2:?E2:?65 2 ;@3 A@DE:?8 DAC625D966E] xE 244F>F=2E65 >@C6 E92? `d_ =:DE:?8D H96C6 A6@A=6 4@F=5 7:?5 :?7@C>2E:@? @? {2<6 |:==D 2?5 C68:@?2= 3FD:?6DD6D H:E9 ;@3 @A6?:?8D]k^Am kAmy@9?D@? D2:5 E96 {2<6 |:==D 4@>>F?:EJ 92D 5@?6 2 8C62E ;@3 @7 36:?8 3FD:?6DD\7C:6?5=J @G6C >2?J J62CD 2?5 ?@E65 :E 92D 2? 2C62 H@C<7@C46 E92E H2?ED E@ H@C<] $96 4:E65 A@D:E:G6 :>A24ED @7 D6G6C2= {2<6 |:==D 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am kAm“p== $E2E6D p8 !2CED[ H9@ DE2CE65 H:E9 =6DD E92? `_ 6>A=@J66D H96? E96J E@@< @G6C E96 7@C>6C rF>>:?D 3F:=5:?8[ ?@H 92D @G6C `ad 6>A=@J66D[” y@9?D@? D2:5] “s:6=64EC:4 |2?F724EFC:?8 C646?E=J 25565 2 D64@?5 D9:7E 2E E96:C >2?F724EFC:?8 724:=:EJ H96C6 E96J 3F:=5 4@>A@?6?ED 7@C >65:42= 6BF:A>6?E 24C@DD E96 8=@36 FD:?8 25G2?46 >2?F724EFC:?8 AC@46DD6D]”k^Am kAmy@9?D@? 2=D@ ?@E65 {2<6 |:==D :D 9@>6 E@ (:??6328@ r@@A6C2E:G6 %6=64@> pDD@4:2E:@?[ H9:49 D96 42==65 2? “64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E\7@4FD65 E649?@=@8J 4@>A2?J E92E 92D AC@24E:G6=J 366? =2J:?8 7:36C @AE:4 D:?46 367@C6 :E H2D 2 DE2E6 :?:E:2E:G6]” $96 4:E65 >F=E:A=6 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D E92E 92G6 492?865 92?5D :? 23@FE E96 A2DE D:I >@?E9D[ H9:49 3C:?8D ?6H =:76 :?E@ 6DE23=:D965 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am kAm“~FC =@42= J@82 2?5 7:E?6DD DEF5:@[ }p!p 2FE@>@E:G6 A2CED[ H:?6 2?5 DA:C:ED DE@C6[ 2?5 >@E6= H6C6 2== AFC492D65 3J ?6H @H?6CD[ 2?5 H6 2C6 6I4:E65 E@ D66 9@H E96J 8C@H E96:C 3FD:?6DD6D :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[” D96 D2:5] “(6 2=D@ 925 2 ?6H 2FE@>2E:4 42C H2D9 @A6? :? }@G6>36C E92E 92D D@ 72C 366? DF446DD7F=[ 6G6? :? E96 4@=5 E6>A6C2EFC6D]”k^AmkAm{2<6 |:==D’ =6256CD9:A 92D 4@?E:?F65 7F==\DA665 29625 H:E9 677@CED E@ 4C62E6 255:E:@?2= 9@FD:?8 E@ 96=A DFAA@CE H@C<7@C46 8C@HE9] %96 4:EJ :D DA@?D@C:?8 2 8C2?E 2AA=:42E:@? E9C@F89 E96 x@H2 t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E pFE9@C:EJ 7@C 2 =@42= 56G6=@A6C E@ 4C62E6 EH@ ?6H 5@H?E@H? 2A2CE>6?ED]k^Am kAm“x7 E96 4:EJ :D 2H2C565 E92E 8C2?E[ x 42? D66 E92E 6?4@FC28:?8 >@C6 5@H?E@H? 3F:=5:?8 @H?6CD E@ E9:?< 4C62E:G6=J 23@FE E96:C 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 9@H E@ 36EE6C FE:=:K6 E96 FAA6C DE@C:6D[” y@9?D@? D2:5] “{2<6 |:==D 92D 2=D@ 925 2 92?57F= @7 ?6H 9@>6D 3F:=E :? a_aa 2?5 :?E@ a_ab[ H9:49 DE2CED 2 492:? C624E:@? @7 @E96C 9@>6D @A6?:?8 7@C ?6H @H?6CD]”k^AmkAm%96 {2<6 |:==D r92>36C s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? 2?5 (:??\(@CE9 q6E4@ 92G6 H@C<65 4=@D6=J H:E9 E96 y@9? !2AA2;@9? t?EC6AC6?6FC:2= r6?E6C 2E }@CE9 x@H2 pC62 r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 E@ DFAA@CE =@42= 6?EC6AC6?6FCD] $6G6C2= {2<6 |:==D 3FD:?6DD6D 92G6 4@>A=6E65 G6?EFC6 D49@@=[ H:E9 s2G6’D pFE@ $6CG:46 2?5 }@CD6>6? %CF4<:?8 H:??:?8 DE2E6 2H2C5D]k^Am kAmy@9?D@? 42==65 :E 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C =@42= 3FD:?6DD =6256CD 2?5 6IA6CED :? E96:C 7:6=5D E@ 4@??64E H:E9 2?5 4@249 ?6H 6?EC6AC6?6FCD] (:??\(@CE9 q6E4@ @776CD D49@=2CD9:AD[ @? 2 C6:>3FCD6>6?E 32D:D[ 7@C (:??6328@ @C (@CE9 r@F?EJ C6D:56?ED E@ 2EE6?5 G6?EFC6 D49@@=]k^Am kAm“(6 @776C >2?J D6CG:46D E@ @FC >6>36CD 2?5 2C62 3FD:?6DD6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 =@H :?E6C6DE 3FD:?6DD =@2? AC@8C2>] {2<6 |:==D s6G6=@A>6?E r@CA@C2E:@?[ (:??\(@CE9 q6E4@[ 2?5 E96 4:EJ @7 {2<6 |:==D 2== @776C C6G@=G:?8 7F?5 =@2?D E@ D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D E92E 2C6 DE2CE:?8 FA @C H@F=5 =:<6 E@ 6IA2?5 E96:C D6CG:46D @C 3FD:?6DD] xE :D 2 8C62E E@@= E@ 96=A D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D C6249 E96:C 8@2=D[Q y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am kAm“x 5@ 36=:6G6 @FC 3FD:?6DD6D 2C6 C6D:=:6?E 2?5 E92E {2<6 |:==D :D H6==\6BF:AA65 E@ D6CG6 3FD:?6DD6D D66<:?8 E@ 6IA2?5 @C 6DE23=:D9 :? 2 ?6H 4@>>F?:EJ]Qk^Am Rob Hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune. He can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob.hillesland@globegazette.com. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story