"Hillsboro Industries has been such a vital part of our community for so many years, and the fact that had this not occurred, there was a good chance that business would have left town," Mayor Delores Dalke said late last week.

"I feel anytime you can retain a good, going viable business, you have done a lot more than bringing in one or two or three new businesses," she added. "We know this one works. They have supported our community over the years and we know with the group of owners that own it now, they will continue to support the community."

Following our interview with three of the four owners last week, we are confident the future of the business is in good hands. It's our impression that Phil Wyssenbach, Mike Gerken, Merle Friesen and Marv Schellenberg value people at least as much as profits, if not more. You have to believe the crew of talented employees who work for the company will respond well to that kind of support.

Even with the best of management, these are challenging times for the trailer industry, as the folks at Circle D Corp. in Hillsboro and Donahue Manufacturing in Durham can attest. We wish "the big three" well and would bet our money on their continuing success. -DR