Albertsons hold grand re-opening

After nearly three months of construction and remodeling, the cast and crew at Albertsons in Malta welcomed over 300 members of the community for the stores grand re-opening last Wednesday, many receiving door prizes and free groceries for attending the event.

Prior to the dedication speeches, The Malta High School Choir, led by Larry Swingen, sang the National Anthem. Following the anthem, Pastor Robert Nagy gave a prayer. Prior to Store Director Cheryl Voegel addressing the crowd, Chuck Cremer, district manager of the Intermountain Division of Albertsons, said that Voegel has been an Albertsons employee for the last 30 years and thanked her for her dedication to the company.

“She spends a lot of hours here and it isn’t easy,” he said. “I just want to say thank you.”

Voegel thanked her store employees, the employees from out of town who came to the area to assist during the store's remodeling and then thanked her customers.

“I thank God for you every day,” she said. “I know it has been kind of chaotic around here so thank you. Believe me, it is worth it.”

Voegel said the store has, among the many new things, a new bakery, deli and as of Tuesday a new fresh section featuring fruit cut each day. She then called all of the store’s local employees to join her for the ribbon cutting, announcing each of them and where they work in the store.

“I’ll tell you right now that without these people here, this would not have happened,” Voegel said. “These guys have worked many, many hours and I have probably scarred them for life, I am sure. Without these guys this wouldn’t have happened.”

After her speech, Voegel said she wished Bobby Cole, a long-time employee of the store, could have been at the re-opening and thanked him for all his years of service.

Albertsons made donations to three Phillips County organizations during the re-opening dedication. Tyler Hanson of Close Up accepted a $500 check and said the money would go toward paying for students to go Washington D.C. this year. Shelby Brookie accepted a $500 check for reACT!, a group dedicated teen activists against cooperate tobacco companies targeting youth . Lastly, the Phillips County Volunteer Fire Department Chief Greg Boos accepted a check for $1,000 and thanked Albertsons for always being such a great part of the community.

“I would really like to thank Albertsons for all they have done for the local fire department ,” said Chief Boos.

During the festivities, prizes were given out and signed up for. Winners of the paintings given away were Stacy Moore, Kak Slade, Darlene Froman and Bridgett Ereaux. The winners of the kid’s toys were Winnie R. French, Karen Salsbery, Todd Boonstra, Taige Stiles, Tyler Scheffelmear, Kris LaBrie and Jalen Lamb.