Miracle Cornfield Landing

See updates including web links and radio clips below:



The public is invited to attend a reception to recognize the 50th anniversary of the forced landing of the Minneapolis Lakers plane in Carroll. The reception will be 50 years to the day of the miracle landing, Monday, January 18, 2010 at the Harold Bierl Community Room at the Carroll Chamber of Commerce. The reception will be from 5-7 p.m. with a short program at 6 p.m. Harold Gifford, co-pilot of the aircraft is scheduled to appear. Hear accounts from local residents and the unveiling of a monument that will later be placed in Veterans Memorial Park. Refreshments will be served.

January 18, 1960 the DC-3 left St. Louis destined for Minneapolis, carrying 23 passengers; which included the Minneapolis Lakers basketball team. As soon as they were airborne, they experienced problems. This caused them to make an emergency landing in a cornfield north of Carroll. Carroll residents came out in full force to helped the unharmed passengers through the snow storm and to the Burke Hotel where the passengers spent the night. Within a few days the plane was repaired, a bulldozer created a make-shift runway and the DC-3 returned to Minneapolis.

UPDATES

See Friday's Carroll Daily Times Herald for coverage of the 1960 events and a preview of the 50th Anniversary reception coming Monday.

Hear co-pilot Harold Gifford's account of the landing in a radio interview with KCIM 1380 in Carroll.

Read Minneapolis Laker Bobby "Slick" Leonard's recollection of the events here.

Kevin White, Omaha World Herald sportswriter, digs out even a few more details and some "small world" anectdotes.

National coverage by Associated Press Sportswriter Luke Meredith picked up nationwide. Search "The Lucky Lakers" to see where and read comments.

Carroll Mayor Jim Pedelty will read a letter sent by Los Angeles Lakers Executive Vice President Jeanie Buss. An excerpt from the letter:

"The citizens of Carroll should take pride in their role of sheltering the Lakers team so that they could become the universally known and celebrated World Champions that exist today. The Los Angeles Lakers and Carroll, IA will be bound together in history for the rest of time. Please accept our heartfelt appreciation for being there in the Lakers greatest time of need. GO LAKERS! GO CARROLL, IOWA!"

Sixty-Five attend Chamber Legislative Forum

Rep. Rod Roberts and Sen. Steve Kettering joined 65 Carroll County residents for an hour-long Legislative Fourm this morning at New Hope in Carroll. Topics ranged from the legislators take on Governor Culver's State of the State address Tuesday to the Iowa's budget woes, tax credits and much more.

Time for questions from the public in attendance are always welcome a the Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum. The next forum will be at Manning High School from 10-11 a.m. at Manning High School. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

View video of Rep. Rod Roberts visiting with attendees before the forum here

Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forums

Senator Steve Kettering and Representative Rod Roberts will attend the Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forums for the 2010 legislative session. The first forum will be held Saturday, January 16, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at New Hope Village, 1211 East 18th St., Carroll. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee Chair Gary Schroeder comments “The Chamber Legislative Committee conducts forums throughout the legislative session so Carroll County citizens can be informed of action in Des Moines and voice their opinion. I encourage everyone to attend this week’s forum at New Hope Village.”

The forum will include opening comments from legislators and ample time for questions from the audience.


Schedule of future forums
(Future forums will be held from 10-11 a.m.)


Date Location

Saturday, January 30 Manning High School Auditorium
Saturday, February 13 Carroll County Farm Bureau
Saturday, February 27 Lidderdale
Saturday, March 13 St. Anthony Regional Hospital Education Center
Saturday, March 27 Breda
Saturday, April 10 Kuemper Catholic High School

Worldcolor (Quebecor) announces Carroll Plant to close in March

Word came to City Hall and Iowa Workforce Development this morning that Worldcolor (formerly Quebecor World) will close their Carroll facility in March 2010.

Worldcolor employs 55 in Carroll. The Canadian-owned company printed short-run two-color phone books. The niche market was strong, according to information obtained from the company in 2008 through Carroll Area Development Corporation's Existing Industry Visitation program.

Clearly this is a blow to the good people working at Worldcolor and to the community. We are hopeful what with Carroll County's low unemployment rate (4.7% in November, 2009) there will be opportunity for Worldcolor employees to find work that matches their skills here.

The company name became Worldcolor in 2009 after Quebecor World emerged from bankruptcy. The company's Waukee, Iowa facility apparently was not affected by the recent developments.

Watch this post for updates.

Iowa Taxpayers Association to Conduct Pre-Legislative Forum in Carroll

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

8-9 a..m.

Carroll Chamber of Commerce

Boardroom (West Building)

407 W. 5th St.

Carroll, Iowa

Click on the image below to view flyer.

Think Carroll 1st

The Carroll Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee will be promoting Think Carroll First this holiday season in an effort to encourage consumers to shop local and discover what Carroll businesses have to offer.

Think Carroll First table tents are available to any Chamber Member. This theme applies to many types of businesses, not just retail. Stop by the Chamber office and pick up a table tent for your business.

Carroll it's All here!

Holiday Recipe Walk

The Carroll Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee is sponsoring a Holiday Recipe Walk on Saturday, December 5. While you are out shopping, stop at the participating stores and enjoy a bite size sample and pick up your FREE recipe.