Predictions 2009: Where will we be this year?

After a year when 401k reports were as dour as the news reports, and when about 11 months of television were dominated by presidential campaigning, 2009 smells fresh.

We asked people around Le Mars and Plymouth County what their predictions are for the new year. Here's what they said.

The economy

If only we all had a dime for every time that word was used this year. Yes, the economy is at the center of most people's predictions for 2009.

Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff said he hopes the nation will get to the bottom of the recession in the new year.

"Then it'll start coming back. I don't think it will be fast; it's going to take some time," Kirchoff said.

Plymouth County Supervisor Jim Henrich, of Akron, said he also hopes the economy straightens out in 2009.

"All in all, we've been really fortunate," he said. "I think we've really been lucky. Our three-state area has been pretty isolated from it. Hopefully we won't see the severe problems other areas are."

In general, he predicted that the economy will probably turn worse for a while until it turns better.

"But that's just a guess," he said.

In the meantime, Hardware Hank owner Mike Guertel, said the tighter economy will shape 2009.

"It's going to be a year of back to the basics," he said.

And that applies to people like him who own a retail store, he added.

"You gotta go back to what got you here -- take care of the customer," he said. "Retail is people business."

President and gas prices

Matt Middendorp, owner of Le Mars' Pizza Ranch, said he was pretty optimistic for the year to come.

"I'm excited to see what (President-elect Barack) Obama's going to do," Middendorp said. "Whatever changes come, we make the best of anyway. As business owners, we take changes as they come."

He also predicted gas prices would rise from their current low of less than $1.50.

"I think we'll see gas prices go back up, maybe in three or four months, especially toward spring and summer when people start traveling," he said.

Mary Reynolds, Le Mars Main Street Director, shared Middendorp's optimism about the new year.

"I predict Le Mars will stay healthy and strong, and the downtown will stay stable with growth," Reynolds said.

Nationally, she predicted, the stock market and gas prices will continue to be in flux.

"I think part of that is the national media is constantly focusing on stories on the unstable economy, making people wary," she said. "Here in Le Mars, were a bit insulated from that, and I think there's a large difference in what we're feeling and facing."

Local budget

Mayor Kirchoff, though, predicted that local governments like the City of Le Mars will feel the economic pinch in 2009.

"We're going to face a tough economy, no question about it," Kirchoff said. "We'll continue to try to operate the city on efficiency and productivity, on a business-like basis."

Budget time is coming up for the city, he said, and budgets across the board will be scrutinized.

"We're well aware that grant funds (from the state and federal government) have tightened up, so we'll go accordingly on projects," he said.

Changes in the new year for Le Mars will include the new Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) planned to open in July.

At the hospital, Administrator Mike Donlin had this prediction:

"Floyd Valley Hospital, along with Medical Associates, will have recruited two outstanding physicians," he said.

Currently a doctor shortage is making for long wait times at the local medical center.

In the field

For farmers, 2009 might be bumpy, starting in the spring.

That's the prediction of Joel De Jong, Iowa State University Extension field agronomist.

"It's going to be a slow start putting the crop in the ground because we've already got a lot of water right now," he said. "It's going to be a challenge getting all the field work done in the spring."

In general, 2009 will likely be tougher financially, De Jong predicted.

Input costs, like fertilizer, are up, he said, but the price producers are paid for their harvest are not.

"Commodity prices are lower now than what they have been most of the year," De Jong said. "It doesn't look to be quite as rosy as 2008. It could be tougher on producers in 2009."

Screen time

In the entertainment world, the economy is also a factor heading into 2009.

Patrick Johnson, who manages the Royal T III movie theater, said the movie industry is sort of "hanging on the cliffside."

Still, he's predicting some summer blockbusters including "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" which will tell the back story of the X-Men character Wolverine, and "2012," the story of the apocalyptic prediction based on the Mayan calendar.

"And there's a bunch of movies they've been hinting about that look really good," Johnson said.

He also predicted that independent films will be big next year.

"There's been a lot more interest there," he said.

As far as video games, Johnson isn't predicting any new game systems coming out in 2009.

"People are having a good time with what's out there," he said. "But there will be a lot of new titles with video games."

New ballgame?

On the sporting side, Daily Sentinel Co-sports Editor Jesse Geleynse is predicting the Yankees will win the World Series.

"They spent $423.5 million in the past month -- they signed three free agents," he said. "They better win after that."

His other prediction: Michael Bick will get released from prison and join the Canadian Football League.

Who knows? It's a new year after all.