Mark Anderson (holding towel) of Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson was busy serving community members Thursday evening at the Community Picnic sponsored by Michel’s Pipeline. (Sheila Anderson/VCTR)

By Sheila Anderson
Valley City Times-Record

A community picnic sponsored by Michel’s Pipeline in appreciation for Valley City’s hospitality brought many members of the community together Thursday evening.
According to Mayor Mary Lee Nielson, the picnic attracted approximately 750 people. The picnic was held in the Fire Hall. Many city officials, law enforcement officials, and representatives of the city engineers Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson helped during the picnic.
The picnic became a possibility when Michel Liimatainen of Michel’s Pipeline came to Nielson asking what the company could do for the community.
Nielson told Liimatainen that a community picnic during the anniversary celebration would be nice.
“We’ve never had a community picnic,” Nielson said. “I thought it would be nice to start that tradition again.”
Liimatainen said he wanted to show appreciation to the community.
“We’ve been welcomed so much in the community,” Liimatainen said. “The whole community has been phenomenal.”
Liimatainen said the company has arrived in other communities that have not shown the same hospitality as Valley City has.
Michel’s Pipeline is based in Brownsville, Wis.,  a small town with a population of 590.