Ashley Schackow, left, of Defiance, points out part of the grain receiving facility Thursday as she watches Josiah, Donald and Abigail Ellerbrock, all of Leipsic.
LEIPSIC - Even organizers were surprised at the turnout for a new ethanol plant's grand opening.
"We have so many people here," said Debbie Reynolds, an administrative assistant with POET Biorefining-Leipsic. "It's amazing."
Reynolds was among staff present Thursday to guide members of the community thorugh their first look at the facility.
By the hundreds, the community turned out to take advantage of that opportunity.
Plant officials did not have a final count of just how many turned out for the event, but organizers were kept busy with rotating six busses from parking sites around the area back and forth to the plant.
During the event, tours of the new facility were at the top of the agenda as the curious got their chance for a first look at the new plant.
Kalida Fire Chief Tom Rampe was among those eager for a first look. Rampe, who works in insurance in addition to his duties with the fire department, was curious about how things would work.
"Is this all going to leave here by rail," Rampe asked. "If its trucks, this affects every fire department in the county."
Rampe noted the unique characteristics of ethanol, including its ability to float on water, that might make a fire involving the fuel challenging to deal with. For Rampe, the day was a chance to find out about safety issues involving the community's newest business.
For Linda Wagner, of Leipsic, the plant's opening was exciting, a welcome addition to the economic life of her town.
"I'm glad Leipsic is getting this plant," she said.
For Wagner, the plant's opening means vitality for the school system and other public services who will benefit from the investment.
Read more about this story in Wednesday's print edition and see the Sentinel's photo essay.
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