U.S. Representative for Iowa’s Third District Cindy Axne made a couple visits in the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area Thursday.

As part of her monthly 16-county-tour, Axne visited the Saints Center for Culture and the Arts in Stuart. The tour was led by Saints Center Board members Dick Doherty and Tom Smull and volunteers Dodie Korradi and Becky O’Brien. Doherty shared the history of the former Catholic church-turned-community center, and him and Smull shared their thoughts on the future of the building and how it can spur more economic growth for the community. They also shared The Learning Museum for Religious Tolerance, two interactive kiosks located in the center that explain the world’s religions, in response to the arsonist whose intolerance of religion motivated the former All Saint Church’s fire nearly 25 years ago.

Axne said this center gives two main components: economic and community vitality and promotion of understanding all people’s beliefs, “I came away from this visit understanding how much economic impact the Saints Center has in this community, that they need some help with it making sure that they have the funding to continue to operate. That they are great leaders when it comes to teaching folks about being thoughtful and respectful of others in this world and to respect others’ religions, and I think at this point in time in our country that’s a really important message.”

Axne also visited the Adel Historical Museum Thursday, and will be returning to Washington, D.C. Monday for Congress to reconvene after August’s recess.