OFFICIAL
NEWSPAPER FOR
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NORWALK COMMUNITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Norwalk VVarrinrs
Warren
and '
News
50¢
Vol. 51 No.39 Norwalk, Iowa 50211
USPS No. 395-120
Phone 981 -0406
email: news@norwalknewspapemom Thursday, February 28, 2019
The N orwalk Shop Honored as N orwalk Chamber’s
, Business of Year
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The Norwalk Shop was chosen as the Norwalk
Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, and was
honored at the annual chamber banquet held at Echo
Valley Country Club.
A question asking what he always wanted to do
led Chad Smith to ownership of The Norwalk Shop.
Smith took ownership of the long-time Norwalk
business in August 2016 and in 2018 moved to a large
retail location at 810 Main Street.
Now customers from throughout Warren County
and beyond come to the shop for N orwalk community
school logo items and custom-designed apparel for
area schools, businesses, teams, and even family
weddings and reunions.
Smith had spent 20 years in financial services and
also covered high school sporting events for local radio
stations when his wife Mindy asked him what he
really wanted to do. At the high school events, Smith
said, he noticed many people were often not wearing
apparel that celebrated the high schools competing
in the sport. He saw an opportunity, 3 chance to do
something he really wanted to do after telling Mindy
jokingly he really wanted to design athletic uniforms.
The opportunity became a reality in 2016 when he
had an opportunity to purchase local store JJ
Designs.
“For years I saw an opportunity to create a store
that filled a need I had, and I hoped others were
looking for as well,” he said. “I couldn’t be more
thankful that my amazing wife and father-in-law also
believed in the vision and took a chance on this
venture.”
Smith moved the store from the basement of Lane
Insurance to a 2,000-square foot main floor space at
8710 Main where the chamber staged a ribbon cutting
event on August 2nd, 2018.
Thanks to a relationship with the Norwalk
Community School District to produce logo apparel,
the Norwalk Shop is a realm of purple with hundreds
of shirts in all sizes and designs, hoodies, sweats,
workout shirts, hats, stadium seats, sport drink cups,
and even onesies for infants. I
“The selection at the Norwalk Shop surprises many
people,” Smith says. “We’re a great place for gifts,
popular for folks looking for logo items for local fans.”
The Shop has dozens of logo items ready to wear and
Smith can also create silk screened special request
shirts on a quick turn-around.
Besides Norwalk logo items, Smith does gear for
other area schools as well as club and Park &
Recreation teams and special event teams like Iowa
Special Olympics and Norwalk Robo Warriors and
all sorts of special requests. An unusual 2018 request
was a T-shirt design for a fan of actor Mark Wahlberg
who was in Des Moines for the opening of
Wahlburgers restaurant. The fan who wore the
Smith-designed shirt was able to meet Wahlberg for
selfies in the shirt. .
Beyond the special request shirts, Smith and The
N orwalk Shop are a visible presence throughout the
community thanks to his commitment to be involved.
“All of this is motivated by a phrase I’ve had repeated
to me by several mentors in my life: Leave it better
than you found it,” he said. “That message is what
drives me to find a mix of projects to move the
business forward and also take on projects that allow
the Shop to give back to the community. It’s a mix
that makes my job incredibly rewarding and has
afforded opportunities to engage in people’s lives on
a level I never thoughtipossible considering we make
t-shirts.”
And more...says the Chamber in recognizing The
Norwalk Shop as Business of the Year.
Smith is shown receiving his award from Chamber
President Eric Simon.
Information for this article was provided by the
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce.
Norwalk Boys Basketball
Single Game Scoring Record
Broken After 54 Years
Written by Erik Fisher, Photo by Lynda Downs
54 years. That is the number of years that Jack
Lane had held the Norwalk Warriors Boys Basketball
single game points record. Back in 1965, Jack Lane
scored 45 points in a game. Not only was this an
amazing feat, but he did it before the introduction of
the three point line. On Friday, January 25th, in a
game against Little Hawkeye Conference rival Pella,
Junior guard Bowen Born eclipsed Jack’s record by
netting 47 points in the Warriors 83—76 win. Born
shot 15-21 on the night, including 8—11 3 pointers
and 9-11 from the free throw line. Bowen was also
playing with a heavy heart. Earlier in the week
Bowen’s grandfather, legendary girls basketball
coach Gene Klinge, passed away. Born said about
the game “I just felt like he was there watching, and
it was pretty meaningful.”
Now that is a story in itself, but it gets even better.
Jack’s great—grandson, Nate Lane, is a Junior guard
on the team and one of Bowen’s good friends. “I didn’t
know it was Nate’s great—grandpa until he told me
in Spanish class” said Bowen. Nate had decided that
Bowen was a good option to break the long-standing
record. “If anyone was going to break the record, I’m
glad it was him” said Nate.
In a ceremony before the February 1st game
against Newton, Norwalk honored both Bowen and
Jack’s accomplishments. Pictured below are Nate
Lane, Bowen Born, and Jack Lane.
MW
Norwalk Dance Marathon Will Be Held March 9th ‘
Submitted by Tessa Palmer
On March 9th, Norwalk Dance Marathon will
celebrate all the money they have fundraised for the
children fighting pediatric cancer at the University of
Iowa Children’s Hospital. Norwalk participates in a
mini dance marathon which contributes to the
University of Iowa’s Dance Marathon. This past
weekend, the University of Iowa celebrated their own
dance marathon and fundraised 2.96 million dollars!
All the money fundraised goes towards cancer research,
operating costs, and financial aid to families affected
by pediatric cancer.
The goal this year is to fundraise $10,000. Dance
Marathon fundraises in many ways: going door to door
to ask households for money, collecting money at school
events, having tables at stores, and hosting yellow out
events. Raising $10,000 is not simple. It’s a year-long
effort that requires a lot of hard work. N orwalk Dance
Marathon President, Annie Balk, had to say this about
dance marathon: “Dance Marathon does not only build
a network of young adults fighting to make an impact
but dramatically affects the lives of those who are
fighting for their lives. It has continued to create an
Marathon, Lily Quade, said “It will be a four-hour event
with lots of snacks, pizza, and fun. We will have
activities like yard games, spikeball, nine square, gaga
ball, an‘awesome DJ, and other fun power hour
activities.” If you are not a dance marathon participant,
you are still allowed to come to participate in the event
for an entrance fee.
Norwalk Dance Marathon wants all the help they
can get! A way you can spread the word about dance
marathon is by donating to or sharing the online
donation link. If you are interested in donatin to this
