The Marshalltown Noon Optimist Club met at Y Cultural Center Thursday with Bob Beard presiding. Beard opened with the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. He updated the club on a few upcoming events and also included an announcement on community events taking place in the Marshalltown area over the next week.

The Marshalltown Noon Optimist Club will begin setting up the Marshall County Courthouse Christmas lights at 9 a.m. this Saturday on the Courthouse lawn. The 2014-15 First Quarter Iowa Optimist District Conference is taking place on Saturday in Urbandale.

Jim Grimmius introduced Todd Hindgardner, manager of the North Star Fish Hatchery in Tama. The Hindgardner name has been around the central Iowa area for a long time. The family has owned or been involved in many different industries over the years including the North Star Fish Hatchery. The hatchery produces 11 species of fish. A few species to mention include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, perch, catfish and grass carp. The hatchery’s main customers are other fish hatcheries but customers also include State Parks, Community Parks, Fishing Clubs and farm pond owners. Customers who purchase fish from North Star Fish Hatchery also receive travel and implementation services on the fish. Hindgardner explained the hatching process of the fish eggs, including the process on how the hatchery is able to maintain an adequate level of each species of fish on an annual basis. He also explained the different spawning time periods per fish and how there is always quite a lot of work to be done during the year at the hatchery to keep up with all the fish eggs being produced.

The meeting concluded with the Optimist Creed. The Noon Optimist Club meets each Thursday noon at the Y Cultural Center. Guests are always welcome. Visit the club website at www.noonoptimist.org for more information.