Pocahontas County Local Leaders Tour Guide – Part 2

This is part two of a blog series that features local community leaders sharing some of their favorite parts about Pocahontas County. Community leaders featured in this blog are from Fonda, Gilmore City, Laurens, Plover, and Varina. If you missed part one, you can read it here!

Fonda – Gregory Fritz – Retired Manager of Rialto Theatre. I am a Deacon at the United Church of Christ in Fonda and the past President of the Pocahontas Area Rotary Club. 

• Favorite part of your community?
  • Quiet. Peaceful. Love the slow pace of life.
• Favorite place to eat in Pocahontas County?
  •  Family Table in Pocahontas
• Favorite way to spend leisure time in Pocahontas County?
  • Working in my yard and playing games.

Gilmore City – Russ Naeve, Farmer

• Favorite part of your community?
  • This is where my roots are and I hope my adult children stay in the area to enjoy the wholesomeness of Iowa.
• Favorite place to eat in Pocahontas County?
  •  Pizza Ranch
• Favorite way to spend leisure time in Pocahontas County?
  • My family enjoys Lizard Lake and I have many fond memories of it from my youth. Summer evenings at Lizard Lake are very peaceful.

Laurens – Erica Svuba, Program Director at ISU Extension & Outreach Office.  I have always found a passion in being involved in the community.  I recently hung my shirt from being on the Laurens Chamber for a decade. I loved being Vice President because that meant being involved in making a lot of things happen in town!  I was the leader of the Easter Carnival/Egg Hunt all of the years I was on board.  I was one of the three who started Young Professionals in Pocahontas County and also one of a different group of three who started 100+ Women Who Care of Pocahontas County.  I led Cub Scouts for a couple years while they were active.  Most recently I am participating in the Visioning Committee in Pocahontas County to help seek out the needs in the county.

• Favorite part of your community?
  • The favorite part of my community is how we all come together. We all know that we have to work together to survive in a small town.  The small retail businesses are always coming together and planning events together to help each other thrive and survive, not dive and die.  That is so important in a small community, and even County.  Working together helps everyone, even if you are in competition.
• Favorite place to eat in Pocahontas County?
  • My favorite place has definitely changed over the years with businesses opening and closing.  Someone could have the best food out there, but their service isn’t top notch; and the next one can have good food with fantastic service.  I’m going to pick the latter.  Picking my favorite restaurant would be Pizza Ranch in Pocahontas.  Angie Point has ALWAYS had amazing food and top notch service!
• Favorite way to spend leisure time in Pocahontas County?
  • It’s hard to say what my favorite thing to do is. It depends on what events are going on and what the weather is doing.  I love supporting whatever events I can and depending on what the weather is doing, my kids usually decide what we will be doing!  There are always plenty of options!!

Plover – Angie Point, I help manage the Pocahontas Pizza Ranch and am a Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer.

• Favorite part of your community?
  • I love the “family” feel….we are all intertwined in some way (work, school, kiddos, activities, spouses). I love how we all look out for each other and extend a helping hand at all times.
• Favorite place to eat in Pocahontas County?
  •  Well…..a little bias Pizza Ranch ….sooooo many varieties!
• Favorite way to spend leisure time in Pocahontas County?
  • I love to ride the county roads on a sunny day on my bike with my family and friends

Varina – Stephanie Archer, Varina Librarian

• Favorite part of your community?
  • I love the small town and friendly neighbors.  We have some pillars of our community (women in their 80’s and 90’s) that I love to learn from.  I have developed some wonderful friendships through coffee time at the library with many of them.
• Favorite place to eat in Pocahontas County?
  •  Hwy 7 Cafe in Fonda has some great meals!
• Favorite way to spend leisure time in Pocahontas County?
  • I have enjoyed exploring the different county parks in Pocahontas County.  Just walking the trails and kayaking to see Lily pads (Little Clear) are very enjoyable to me.