Hard work

Carmen Mazzei, retired plant manager for the Hannibal General Mills plant, hit the nail on the head with his letter to the editor in the Tuesday, July 1 edition of this newspaper. In congratulating current plant manager, Darren Smith, on the expansion project currently under way, Mazzei noted that such growth doesn’t “just happen.” Instead, it takes hard work and dedication on behalf of staff and management. And that’s what has happened in Hannibal.
All around us, we hear of plant closures and cutbacks. Anheuser-Busch is at a critical crossroads in St. Louis, as is the future of Chrysler in that same area. But here in Hannibal, one of the biggest employers is expanding, providing employment security for so many who call the Hannibal region home.
While construction on Red Devil Road may be causing traffic snafus for some, the majority of motorists celebrate these temporary construction delays as progress. A little inconvenience today will translate into security for workers in the near future.
And while construction is in progress, the plant and its employees haven’t lost sight of their benefactor status in this community. Most recently, General Mills made a $25,000 contribution to the local American Red Cross chapter to help with flood relief.
As the holiday nears and the country is reeling from pains associated with escalating gasoline prices, we feel we would be remiss if we didn’t pause and add a congratulatory comment to Darren Smith and his crew at the Hannibal General Mills plant. Carmen Mazzei is right: This sort of progress doesn’t “just happen.”
To all involved, thanks for your hard work on behalf of the entire region.