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Editorial: Setting Small Town example
Op-Ed · July 11, 2014


Storms hit West Branch with a one-two punch June 30, clean up began the next day, July 1, and, not surprisingly, talk of weather-related damage hovered over the tables at the West Branch Lions Club meeting on July 2.


At that meeting, we also witnessed a model example of how Small Town America comes together in tough times.

Steven Grace, co-owner of Main Street Sweets, normally caters dinner for the Lions Club. A member himself, this arrangement seems logical and natural.

However, Main Street Sweets took on water in the June 30 storm, so preparing a meal in his kitchen was out of the question.

Laura Rierson, co-owner of Reid’s Beans, which also caters meals, understood his dilemma and offered to let Grace use her kitchen.

This right here shows selfless sacrifice, reminding us that businesses are not just buildings and products and offerings. Businesses are people with resources making decisions on how to use those resources. Restaurants typically have their own staff use their kitchen, but business owners can change the rules — it’s their business, after all — and that’s what Rierson did, for the benefit of the Lions Club and, of all things, a competitor.

But wait … Rierson tells us we’re wrong. There’s more to the story.

Grace thanked Rierson for her offer, but he had to give his time and attention to cleaning his restaurant, so he graciously declined. Instead, the Lions Club asked Rierson if she could, on just a day’s notice, prepare a meal for what would turn out to be about 40 members and other guests, including U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.

She agreed.

Prior to the meal, Lions Club member and retired Rev. Richard Paulus gave thanks for the meal, praying that God would help those affected by the storm; of course, that included Grace and Main Street Sweets.

This is about where Rierson corrected us.

Rierson stepped up to address the Lions Club, just in case they wondered why Grace, who was able to attend the meeting, did not prepare the meal that night.

“Small businesses — we have to stick together,” Rierson explained. “We’re not competitors, we’re compadres.”

Everyone applauded.