OTTUMWA —
I recently returned to Ottumwa on business after a 20-year absence. I was shocked by the conditions of downtown and the disappearance of nearly all of my old favorite hangouts. What has happened to this town? It doesn’t seem like the population has dropped significantly. Is it poor infrastructure? Or lack of leadership? Sure, the new events center is beautiful by Main Street now looks like it is a displaced section of a large inner-city neighborhood. For the most part, I only saw growth in the wrong places.
After spending an hour or so driving through town and checking on my old neighborhood, schools, etc., I felt as though I really needed a beer. A relative had spoken of Appanoose Rapids Brewing Company and suggested I try it out. After such a depressing exploration, I was floored that this town could offer this high quality food in such a rich atmosphere. The house brews quickly erased the negatively from my mind.
Perhaps the best kept secret in town was Joe’s Italian Grill. Wow! The Murphey pizza is heaven on Earth. Everything my colleague and I tried was wonderful, and yet I was saddened to see that business was slow. Apparently the closing of another establishment, Joe’s Family Restaurant, confused many customers. I take it upon myself to get the word out: Joe’s Italian Grill is still open, come eat here! The service is quick, the food is hot and fresh and there is something on their affordable men for everyone. I want there to be a Joe’s near me!
Ottumwa, please support these and your other local businesses. No entrepreneurs will want to invest in a city that does not support what it already has. Downtown should be a haven for small businesses to grow! Why would city leaders watch as developers moved outside the city limits? If something is not done soon, this town will be unrecognizable in another 20 years.
Ron Geriney
Ottumwa
Letters to the Editor
December 19, 2012
Town will soon be unrecognizable
- Letters to the Editor
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- Address mental health concerns for veterans Memorial Day will soon be here and we will pay tribute to our deceased loved ones. This Memorial Day, let's pay special tribute to our deceased veterans — like my dad — Don Butts, who served in World War II (Battle of the Bulge — one of the worst bat
- It's the death of a republic It's the death of a republic Our first president -- and founding father -- once said during his administration that "at best, government is a fearful master; at worst, it is a consuming fire." During the later 20th century, the number of defenseles
- Judicial system is out of whack
- LWV responds to letter The League of Women Voters — Ottumwa would like to respond to a recent letter to the editor. We will explain more about our forums that we co-host with the Chamber of Commerce every spring, specifically regarding the issue of asking Curt Hanson to
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