Postville Businesses Still Thriving

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: May 15, 2008 at 11:51 PM CST

Story Updated: May 15, 2008 at 11:51 PM CST

POSTVILLE - The majority of businesses in Postville say they haven't skipped a beat since Monday's raid. Thursday the Chamber of Commerce said the business district is running as usual. The true focus in town is trying to get life back to normal. One sure sign of that comes Friday when families staying here at St. Bridget's Church start moving back home. Just a few blocks from the church, people say normal never really left most businesses in downtown Postville.

Families in Postville are longing for normalcy - a return to routine. The Chamber of Commerce says the town doesn't have to look any farther than Main St.

"The town is still open for business," says Christina Drahos of the Chamber of Commerce.

Only a few of the 75-plus businesses in Postville put up closed signs. The owner of the hair salon, The Headquarters, says the town's future is not in trouble.

"We have the Agriprocessors plant and immigrants, but that does not run this town. Other businesses are thriving and keep on thriving," says Becky Monroe.

Growing a strong business district takes community support - something the chamber says is obvious throughout this diverse town. A more visible sign of this strength is wrapped around the street posts.

"At school we practice "character counts" and the pillar for caring is red," says Kassidy Cook, a Postville high school student.

It's a symbol of unity that now colors the town and decorates peoples shirts and serves as a reminder that the raid will not crumble Postville.

"Usually something of this nature makes the town stronger in the end," says Drahos.

Postville hopes that end, that return to normalcy, comes sooner than later.

For a town that has received so much state and national attention this week, unity and support seems to be a very strong message. The Archbishop of Dubuque will reinforce that message when he gathers with the community at St. Bridget's Church for mass Saturday afternoon at 4:30.

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