Mike Ladehoff

RAGBRAI

Unless you live under a rock, you should know that RAGBRAI is coming to town this coming Wednesday, doubling our population for one day. There will be some street closures so if you are working, leave a little early. The Marshalltown RAGBRAI group is still looking for volunteers. This means YOU! To sign up, go to Marshalltown RAGBRAI.com.

Bikers from all over the world will be here, so let’s put our best foot forward. We are PROUD of Marshalltown and our progress the past few years. Let’s smile and wave, ready to answer questions about all things Marshalltown.

The amount of work the Chamber, Marshalltown Central Business District, The City of Marshalltown, Businesses and all other groups and individual volunteers have put in is tremendous. The number of people it takes to pull this off right is astounding. Please join us, you’ll be glad you did!

Emerson Bridge/Ann Kaiser Bike Trailhead

I stopped by the Emerson Bridge while the construction crew are getting details finished up. This is at the entrance of the 6th Street Ball Diamonds. The lighted, colored panels on railing are being installed. Keep your fingers crossed that it is done by Wednesday next week.

It will be very close.

Looking at the design of the railing and colored panels, it occurred to me how much creativity has gone into not only this project, but the Water Plaza center sculpture. All brought to us by Hilde Debruyne Designs who was chosen as the artist. We chose well. Truly mind boggling designs!

Main Street

The block in front of the Courthouse is DONE! You know how you can look at a picture or design and think, neat! But seeing it as a real place to be is next level! The plantings, the brickwork, seating on cement work, the lights on poles or strung overhead is stunning.

You can see how the whole design pulls everything together with all the details. I bet Henry Anson is grinning at what is being accomplished in his town.

Quarterly Marshall County Mayor’s Group meeting

Even though Marshalltown is by far the biggest city, it is interesting that most problems we talk about are the same no matter what size you are. The latest property tax legislation by the state, trying to build community pride, community clean-ups and local festivals occurring. Honestly, we need to work together. We need them for labor in Marshalltown businesses, and they need us for income into their smaller communities. I think we work very well together.

WHEN THE SPIRITS ARE LOW, WHEN THE DAY APPEARS DARK, WHEN WORK BECOMES MONOTONOUS, WHEN HOPE HARDLY SEEMS WORTH HAVING, JUST MOUNT A BICYCLE AND GO OUT FOR A SPIN DOWN THE ROAD, WITHOUT THOUGHT

ON ANYTHING BUT THE RIDE YOU ARE TAKING.

-ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Kid’s Quote heard repeatedly at the Apgar Water Plaza- “AAAAAAEEEWOOOOOOOHOOOO! SQUEAL!!! SQUEAL !!!!”

Mike Ladehoff is the mayor of Marshalltown.