PCN welcomes news writer to team

The Phillips County News proudly welcomed Iowa transplant Mark Foss to our staff on Monday, February, 22.

"Mark will be joining our team as a newswriter and will even cover some sports from time to time," PCN Publisher Pierre Bibbs said. "Though he is new to news writing, we welcome him to our team, optimistic that he will help show how great Phillips County is to our readers and beyond."

Foss was born in Bemidji, M.N., in 1971. where he lived until he was five-years-old. He then moved to north central Iowa with his parents and younger sister where he would spend the majority of his youth and young adult life. He went to elementary school in Sheffield, IA where he enjoyed playing little league baseball and swimming with his friends. His family then moved a short 22 miles away to Latimer, Iowa, where he would spend his remaining middle and high school years.

Foss said that he was a "decent student" in high school. Saying that he usually did as little as he could get away with.

He played most sports. Lettering at least once in basketball, track and golf. He was a four time letterman in both baseball and football. He also enjoyed choir and drama.

Foss went to four honor choirs and played three leads in both plays and musicals and won a national choral award in his senior year.

After high school, Foss went to Westmar College for two years on a partial scholarship for football. He had a double major in Chemistry and Biology. Not finding what he really wanted or knowing exactly what he wanted to do, he dropped out and moved to Des Moines, Iowa. He lived there for 3 years working the majority of time in doing factory work.

Soon, Foss got tired of the big city and moved back to north central Iowa where his friends and family were. He worked a few small jobs before getting into more factory work; the first five years were with Eaton Corp., making engine valves. And then 12 years with Stellar Industries where his department made tool boxes for tire service and mechanics trucks.

In his spare time, Foss enjoys golfing and going out with friends. He is a big movie buff. And is a huge sports fan. His favorite team being the "Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders" and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Several years ago, Foss got into online gaming. While playing one called Songpop, a type of name that tune kind of game. He got a random match against a girl named Raelynn Robinson of Malta. They started chatting online and eventually on the phone. After a short period of time he went to visit her, loved the Phillips County area, and fell in love with her.

He moved up to Malta, MT in February of 2013. Foss and "Rae" have been together ever since. They live in Malta with their five, yes five cats and enjoy movies, gaming, and going to music concerts any chance they can.

Since being in Malta, Foss has worked at Car Quest, Albertsons and Horizon Resources. He really enjoys the small town community feel. He also said that he appreciates how the town comes together for anyone that is in need. He also said that the one thing that he still can't get used to is the fact that he "has to drive forever to get anywhere".