Small Town News

Carter Enterprises opens in Walnut Grove

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Steve Carter opened towing service in former Koblegard Auto building

WALNUT GROVE -- Steve Carter, a 1987 Walnut Grove graduate, has come full circle after having a towing business in Tracy for several years, opened a towing business in Walnut Grove.

After graduation Carter has worked in various occupations from roofing to home construction. He also worked in road construction for several years.

The last ten years he had worked as a job supervisor for Veit Company of Rogers. The company specializes in environmental earth projects doing hazardous waste cleanups, and building sanitary landfills all over the country.

Carter said, "the year 2000 was a big change for me, I got married and bought my first tow truck." He and his wife Deanne have four children (two from a previous marriage).

He operated his sideline towing business while working with Veit. About three years ago he decided it was to much and sold the towing business.

Then this past year the tug of family and his heart brought him back to his home town. "It was hard watching my kids grow up over the cell phone," he said.

Carter had been talking with his friend Mark Koblegard of Koblegard Auto for about a year. Mark told him that he should consider coming back to town with his towing business.

Carter told about the day he opened his lunch box at work and found a stick drawing that his six year old daughter Maranda had put in tshere. "I stopped and after being choked up, I calked Deanne and told her we're gonna do it," he said.

He was working on a project at Grand Forks, North Dakota at the time. He called his boss in November of last year and told him he was leaving to start a business back home. He told his boss he would complete the job he was working on before he left.

That's when he made a deal with Koblegard to buy the building. Koblegard has since moved his used car business next door with his office in the building which Jossies Photography and Junk with Purpose is located.

In addition to the towing business Carter will be setting up a full service body shop complete with a new spray booth. He said he would be hiring a full time body man to run the shop.

They will also be doing oil changes, selling Interstate batteries, interior detailing, and doing some light mechanical work. They want to compliment what they already have in Walnut Grove.

Carter said, "this year the towing business has been very busy, there were days when I answered calls 24 hours straight," he said.

Chad Cooley also occupies space in Carter's shop with a frame straightening business.

Carter plans on having an open house sometime later in March.



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© 2010 Sentinel Tribune Westbrook, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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