Mark Forseth and the Iola IGA were recognized by the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce at its annual celebration held Feb. 18.
Forseth was named Outstanding Citizen, and the Iola IGA Foodliner received the first Outstanding Business of the Year award from the I-S Chamber.
Mark Forseth
Forseth has been involved in many areas of the community and the I-S School District for a long time.
He was instrumental in starting up the Iola-Scandinavia Booster Club and was involved with the Pee Wee Football League.
He is the coordinator for the Toys for Tots Program in the I-S area, which runs through Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative. Forseth has also donated his time to delivering Meals on Wheels.
He is on numerous boards and committees. Recently, he was appointed to the Iola Old Car Show Board of Directors, and he is also the clerk for the township of Iola.
He is an active member of the Iola Lions Club.
Most recently, Forseth helped in organizing a successful fundraising event at Silver Lake Lanes for the Beauchaine family.
Other nominees for 2011 Outstanding Citizen were Ralph Bostwick and Holly and Tony Neumann.
Iola IGA
The Iola IGA Foodliner, a full-service grocery store, is an integral part of the community and the area.
Owners Doug and MaryBeth Kulinski are always willing to help out the community.
Their most notable contribution is the IGA Community Brat Stand, which gives local nonprofit organizations a fundraising opportunity during the summer months.
The IGA provides the brats, drinks and the stand; with all of the profits going to the organization working the stand.
Last summer, the chamber’s brat fry fundraiser for Vidar of Iola resulted in a final payment to the village for the carving’s cost.
The IGA contributed all of its costs from the brat fry to the fundraiser. As a result, no taxpayer dollars were used to fund the carving.