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RECENT EVENTS:

Gordon Paulman and his fiancée Rialie Fenske, their son Owen, and brand-new daughter wielded the extra-large scissors at the official ribbon cutting for their new gym, The Proving Ground, at1067 4th St NE #150 on June 11. A crowd of well-wishers from the Byron Chamber of Commerce, the city of Byron, and gym clients cheered them on. 

The Byron Area Chamber of Commerce organizes ribbon cuttings for its members. 

Gordon explained that the gym is a 24/7 fitness facility, and it is equipped with the most up-to-date equipment and security measures. Gordon explained the economical membership rates. He said new clients receive a free one-hour diet and exercise session with him and he has a collection of explanatory videos on his Facebook page for anyone interested in learning more about his state-of-the-art equipment.

It’s been a life-long dream of Gordon’s to open his own gym and he and Rialie chose Byron from all the other small towns in our area because, he explained, “…it’s the right size, and it’s full of friendly, family-oriented people.” 

It turns out they made a good choice. 

“We have been welcomed so warmly by this community,” he told the crowd.

For more information about joining the gym, please his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557173789141.

Gordon can also be reached via email at gordon@provinggroundsbyron.com or by phone at (608)-228-4147. He’ll also be at the vendor fair during Good Neighbor Days if you’d like to visit with him.

For more information about joining the Byron Area Chamber of Commerce, visit https://byronmnchamber.com/join-us

Byron’s BrrFest 2023 hosted by the Byron Area Chamber of Commerce was a rousing success. Participants included the Community Education Center, the Byron Area Historical Society, Healing Moments Counseling, Healthy Start, Elias Construction and Completely Clean, Otto’s Bakery and the Byron American Legion, Sumner R. Hair Post 119.

The day’s festivities finished with fireworks launched from the Byron Community Recreation Center courtesy of the city of Byron, the American Legion, Tilted Tavern, and the Byron Youth Football Association.

Byron Chamber businesses participated in the Black and Orange Halloween Bash at the Byron Community Ed building. 

Byron Area Chamber members, city officials, and business leaders from Road Machinery & Supplies Co. attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 17 for the new RMS facility on the south side of Highway 14, south of the Bryon Athletic Park. The company services and distributes construction and mining equipment nationwide and this building is the company’s 14th facility.

It is a full-service branch of RMS and offers equipment sales, service, equipment rental, and technological support for RMS customers. Jeff Bistodeau, Territory Manager, and Josh Cummings, Service Manager, head up the new facility. Right now, there are five employees at the new branch and the company plans to expand in the new year. 

The new building is 15,000 square feet in size, there is a large equipment yard, four drive-through service bays, a wash bay, offices, and a state-of-the-art training facility. For more information, visit https://rmsequipment.com

Members of the Byron Area Chamber of Commerce enjoyed an over-the-top feast at a ‘Chamber after hours’ event on June 20 at the new Culligan facility at 993 Frontage Road NW. General Manager Kevin Krippner hosted the festivities and he was ably assisted by Jane Burkhardt who served drinks, Jeff Ek who grilled the delicious hamburgers and hotdogs, and Scott Proechel who also assisted during the late afternoon event.

The building is about 12,000 square feet in size and has been open almost exactly one year. Culligan provides drinking water systems, ultraviolet water treatment, water softeners, and whole home filters to its customers. 

Hours for the facility are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to noon. The phone number is (507) 405-0555, and the website is https://www.culliganwaterminnesota.com/locations/byron-mn/961

Byron Eye Care Celebrates Expanded Office with Ribbon Cutting

Dr. Wendy Kennedy and her staff at Byron Eye Care, 1067 4^th St. NE #350, hosted an open house and ribbon cutting on May 25 celebrating the expansion of the Eye Care Clinic. Dr. Wendy said she had come to Byron nine years ago and really didn’t know what to expect, but the community and the Chamber of Commerce members welcomed her and helped make her practice grow. She said she started with one employee, and she now has five people on staff.

Delicious treats and drinks were offered to those who attended, and the office was filled with well-wishers from the community during the afternoon.

The May 24 Byron Area Chamber Lunch and Learn was held at the Byron City Hall. Delicious food was provided by Wild Wood Sports Bar and Grill. Speakers included President Staci Kaltenbach who talked about the SECURE 2.0 Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act 2.0 of 2022. She said the Act contains more than 80 provisions designed to strengthen the retirement savings system. 

Byron School District Mike Neubeck brought the group up to date on the construction at the different school facilities in Byron. He said the first football game for next season will be held at the new football field Sept. 8 and Homecoming is scheduled for Sept 15.

Teresa Bahr, co-owner of Early Advantage Child Care, talked about changes made by the Minnesota Legislature this session that benefit childcare providers and parents who need help paying for childcare.

City Administrator Al Roder talked about the many construction projects throughout the city and roads leading into it. He also talked about the city’s new strategic plan. Residents will soon be asked to participate surveys, which will help solidify plans for Byron’s future.

If you’re interested in providing one of the inflatables at Good Neighbor Days coming up July 15 or if you’d like to advertise in the Community Guide which will be published at the end of the year, please contact Ben Boynton