Howard County Business & Tourism Banquet

CRESCO - Held at the Heritage Center last week, the Howard County Business and Tourism banquet saw and celebrated a number of leaders from Howard County. 

Sue Barnes with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, started the banquet with a warm welcome. 

Hot dinner was catered by McAllisters, serving fried shrimp, roast beef, cheesy potatoes, and more. The Times Plain Dealer then announced the awards for this year.

The Elma Community Complex Committee was chosen as the Organization of the Year for their ability to raise over 1.3 million dollars with a community of only 500 residents. The need for a larger library space, daycare, community center, and a new medical clinic was at the top of Elma’s priority list. Converting the old school gym, after the school closed in 2015, having fundraisers, and receiving grants, the Elma Community Complex Committee was able to raise all the money needed to provide these amenities to the city of Elma. Around $800,000 came from the community and residents alone, with the remainder coming from grants that were extensively researched and applied to. The Elma Community Complex Committee truly showed what coming together as town looks like, and now are able to be looked at as an example for rural communities. 

Doug Sickles was introduced as Educator of the Year due to his lifelong dedication to all of his students throughout his career. First he was a middle school science teacher, then a school counselor, and then finally the Crestwood Elementary principal. He served for a couple different school districts and is “extremely grateful” to Crestwood and Cresco. Sickles coached several sports and led the girls basketball team to state victory in 2018. He referenced all the people he worked with including teachers, students, and other staff, and that his achievements are “a reflection” of the hard work and support of others around him. Sickles will be retiring at the end of the 2024 school year and is planning on spending time with his family and new grandchildren. 

The McCarville family accepted the Citizen of the Year award on behalf of the late Steve McCarville. Steve McCarville was known for his devotion to Cresco, which was demonstrated through the many boards and committees he participated in. Building Campsite RV from the ground up, his legacy and dream is living on through his family. McCarville passed away two years ago after a nearly two year battle with cancer. A tearful Ryan McCarville recounted how every event in honor of his father has been met with heavy rain, with last Tuesday night being no exception. “I know he is here with us," Ryan McCarville said.