About a dozen members of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce and city officials attended an invitation-only tour of Pepsi Americas Inc.’s Urbandale bottling and distribution center on Thursday, beginning with the chamber’s recognition of the plant’s 2008 performance. Mayor Bob Andeweg, City Councilman Mike Carver and state Sen. Brad Zaun were among those who toured the Urbandale facility, which earlier this year won Pepsi Americas’ 2008 President’s Club – Domestic Plant of the Year and 2008 Safety – Domestic Plant of the Year awards. The 350,000-square-foot facility, which has been expanded at least six times in its 35 years of operation, according to plant manager Dave Bramow, has a revolving stockpile of 500,000 cases of products, which is turned over about five times each month. The plant distributes nearly 25 million cases of beverages every year and has gone 18 consecutive months without a lost-time accident, he said. Pepsi Americas Inc. is the second-largest franchise bottler in the United States.

Click here to view photos from the plant tour.

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. said today that a required accounting change forced it to re-evaluate losses from investments in residential mortgage-backed securities, with net losses in investments increasing to $95.7 million from $22.8 million, with a net loss of $22.1 million from a reported gain of $4.2 million, all in the fiscal year that ended Dec. 31. The company said the impairment was related to investments in residential real estate mortgages, and that no losses were reported in commercial mortgages. The company also said it plans to seek additional guidance on the accounting requirements, which have stirred some controversy in the financial sector, and may seek a change in their interpretation.

Otter Creek Golf Course, 4100 N.E. Otter Creek Drive, Ankeny, will open to the public on Monday, June 1. Tee times for after June 1 will be available beginning Monday, May 25, by calling 965-6464 or going to the course’s Web site, www.ottercreekankeny.com.