Dairyland Peach Business Profile

USINESS B PROFILE

March 2012

Showcasing Area Businesses and the Services They Provide

DIRECTORY

Ace Hardware Sauk Centre ..................... 12 Ag Tech Drainage................ 4 Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center ............ 11 Central Minnesota Credit Union ...................... 3 Channel Marine & Sports .... 9 MBC Drainage, LLC ............ 8 Mulching Mania ................. 10 St. Benedict’s Senior Community............. 6 Transportation Resource Center................................ 2 Tri-CAP ................................ 5 Wedding & Tuxedo Connection ........................ 7

A Special Supplement to the

Also read it online at www.dairylandpeach.com

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 2

Transportation Resource Center is your one-call center in central MN Will match passengers with the most suitable transportation in their area

by Laura Bromenshenkel, Staff Writer The Transportation Resource Center (TRC), a in the area for someone needing transportation The Transportation Resource Center provides project of the Tri-County Action Program Inc., assistance. When that occurs, the TRC has the abiltransportation assistance for seniors and persons also known as Tri-CAP (see article on page 5), was ity to provide rides, such as using Tri-CAP’s services. with disabilities to get to medical or other health founded in 2008 through a federal grant and is the All passengers, regardless of which resource is being related appointments and nutrition services. central access point for transportation throughout used, are assured that every measure has been taken central Minnesota. Shannon Tietz, mobility manin making sure everyone remains safe. employers to help with transportation issues such ager at TRC, wants individuals and families in the “Every program we work with, including the Trias commuting, parking, high turnover rates due to area who are having trouble arranging rides to give CAP program, has volunteer drivers,” Tietz said. employees not being able to get to work, high gas the TRC a call.

“All volunteer drivers have had training, physicals prices and more. In late 2010, the TRC was awarded “We are a one-call center for providing transporand background checks. Plus, vehicles are inspected a grant to start a Ride Share Program that covers a tation resources,” Tietz said. “We encourage anyone and maintained to ensure safety for all riders.”

12 county area in central Minnesota. with transportation needs to contact us. We have In 2011 alone, over 40,000 rides were provided “We found that there were other transportation numerous resources available and referrals we can to seniors and individuals with disabilities to get needs out there besides getting seniors and people make for people.” them to their medical and nutrition appointments. with disabilities to and from appointments,” Tietz Tietz notes that although anybody with any There are no income limits or age requirements for said. “One of them is a gap related to employment transportation need is using the TRC or any of transportation.” eligible to call the TRC, “We are a one-call center for providing transportation their partners’ services.

The Ride Share program is the TRC’s main purresources. We encourage anyone with transportation Rides are provided at no free and is a means for people pose is to provide transcharge, although there needs to contact us. We have numerous resources to find others within their area portation assistance for is a suggested donation. available and referrals we can make for people.” whose work schedules and travseniors and persons The TRC currently has -Shannon Tietz, Mobility Manager at TRC el routes match their own. It is with disabilities to get to funding available to help an online privacy-protected damedical or other health defray costs for transportabase that configures and gives related appointments and nutrition services, such as tation for seniors and people with disabilities to their people a list of potential matchsenior dining, the food shelf and the grocery store. health related appointments, and any donations will es to form a carpool.

The TRC utilizes area transportation resources be put back into the program to provide more rides.

“The Web site is simple to to match the passenger with the most suitable transTo schedule a ride, call the TRC at 877-717-1515 use, and there are a lot of ways to use the database portation. They are partnered with several organizabetween 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. to solve transportation issues,” said Tietz. “We tions, mostly faith-based, to provide transportation A ride coordinator will take your information and encourage everyone to register and see what kind services. find the resource that best suits your needs. A 48 of matches are out there. You control the personal “When someone calls us, we’re just a resource hour notice is required. information that is shown to other carpoolers, and for those people or those families who don’t know that information does not get shared with anyone about all the resources out there,” Tietz said. until you choose to share it with them.”

TRC’s partners cover a large area of central MinInitial contact and communication begins by nesota, guaranteeing that individuals or families in e-mail, letting others know that you’re interested in any area can find transportation when they need it Ride Share. most. Those partners associated with the TRC in“The TRC does not get involved in this part of clude Foley Area CARE; Great River Area Faith the process,” Tietz said. “We just offer the services in Action (with offices in Becker and St. Cloud); Transportation Resource Center Ride Share Program for people to connect themselves and give tips and Helping Hands Outreach, located in Holdingford; etiquette guidelines for creating carpools.”

Horizon Health Faith in Action, located in Pierz The TRC is constantly looking at transportation For more information about Ride Share or to regand covering Morrison County; ROSE Center in needs and focusing on how they can more efficiently ister, contact the Transportation Resource Center at Paynesville; Rural Stearns Faith in Action which is use the resources they have to assist even more peo877-717-1515 or log on to www.TRCRideshare.org. affiliated with the Assumption Home and has severple with their transportation needs. The TRC found al offices, including their main office in Cold Spring; that assistance was needed for both individuals and and Seniors Wright at Home, formerly Faith in Action - Wright County.

“Not everyone is familiar with these resources,” Tietz said. “We will refer people to one of our partners in their area that best fits their transportation needs. Then, once they are familiar with them and have used their services, we encourage them to call our partner directly.”

Finding the right transportation resources just got easier ...

Occasionally, the TRC does not have a resource

320-257-4456 1-877-717-1515 www.tricap.org/TRC

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 3

we lend. we save. we invest.

Member Owned & Operated Since 1939

hand { } hand we save you money { } communities money we invest in communities we lend a

Our staff volunteered an average of 56 hours per person in 2011.

We save you money through lower rates and less fees.

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In 2011, we donated over $300,000 to non-profit civic organizations & schools.

Branch Locations Albany Avon Belgrade Cold Spring Freeport

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Grey Eagle Long Prairie Melrose New York Mills

888.330.8482 | myCMCU.org facebook.com/myCMCU

Paynesville Perham Saint Joseph Sauk Centre

Federally Insured by NCUA Equal Opportunity Employer

Central Minnesota Credit Union has been built from the ground up by its members since 1939. The credit union was chartered in Melrose under the philosophy of ‘people helping people’. Every member is an owner and earnings are returned through lower rates and less fees.

Your board of directors is made up of members who volunteer their time to ensure each decision benefits membership as 1972 Annual Meeting a whole.

Our Mission and Vision As a member-owned organization, our vision is enhancing the lives of members and community through strength, service and growth. CMCU has always been willing to go the extra mile and work with members’ requests. We partner with all members to make mutually beneficial decisions and are committed CMCU Rock Pickers for a Day to serving our communities by sponsoring events, volunteering and contributing to local organizations.

These commitments are the foundation of your credit union, the reason for our success and why we remain financially strong.

Old-Fashioned Values Meet Modern Technology Our values are timeless, yet we provide the technology to give our members 24-hour access to their accounts. Manage funds and pay bills anytime, anywhere with internet banking or our mobile banking apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry.

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 4

Ag Tech Drainage invests in and uses the most updated technology for drainage systems Customers reap the benefits of their investment using Ag Tech’s economical designs and top-of-the-line equipment

Ag Tech Drainage uses the best equipment and software available in the industry to ensure projects run smoothly.

by Laura Bromenshenkel, Staff Writer Brad Herickhoff, owner of Ag Tech Drainage, is in his fourth year of business and is committed to providing customers with a complete drain tile system to increase crop production and overall profitability.

“We can help farmers discover problem areas in their current drain tile systems,” said Brad. He, along with Bill Pasche, sales and design consultant, and Gene Mensen, sales and surveying, use the latest technology and GPS systems to ensure projects run smoothly and are cost effective.

With over 40 years combined experience and a strong desire to see their customers reap the Brad Herickhoff, benefits of their investment, Owner of Brad, Bill and Gene believe Ag Ag Tech Drainage Tech Drainage is a leader in their field.

“Drainage technology is continually changing as technology in agriculture evolves. We invest in and use only the best equipment and software available, plus we are doing it better and faster and with more personability than anyone else in the industry,” Brad said.

Drain tile takes excess water out of the soil, along with salts and alkali, which gives plants the opportunity to capture the nutrients and grow. Yield increases of up to 40 and 50 percent can be noted in tiled farmlands. Removing the water in heavy soil is the equivalent of irrigating sandy soil and is necessary for optimal and more predictable crop yields.

The team at Ag Tech Drainage surveys, designs and installs the drainage system with a GPS and Lidar (government data system) and also provides mapping services.

“Getting accurate information for our customers is of the utmost importance to us, so we can provide accurate pricing information as well,” said Brad.

They use the data collected by the GPS survey, along with Lidar, to give the best and most economical design possible. Since they are able to work in all kinds of weather conditions, only the size and quantity of the tile, along with the depth of installation, are factors in determining cost for their customers.

“Using tile that is too small won’t accommodate future work, and tile that is too large is unneccessary,” said Brad. “We are always keeping the best

interest of our customers in mind, and we want to guide them down the right road.”

Ag Tech Drainage offers free quotes, wants to pass savings on to their customers as well and encourages them to tile completely the first time around since prices are discounted because of volume.

“Our intention is not to oversell our customers,” Brad said. “We want to make them happy when the job is completed.”

Due to yearly price fluctuations and a limited supply, Brad, Bill and Gene encourage their customers to lock in their price as soon as they can. Once they do so, customers are given a place in the field schedule.

“We are a large consumer, but we are still able to secure the product we need to complete the installations, despite the tight supply,” Brad said.

Brad and his staff at Ag Tech Drainage believe that by putting the best equipment and latest technology in the hands of the best employees, they will acquire and keep the best customers. All of their 18 employees have more than one year of experience.

Long-term employees who repeatedly do the same work results in experienced, well-trained operators.

“We use GPS controls on our Inter-Drain plows,” Brad said. “Our plows are parallel link plows, which offer the best ability to grade with the ability to pull tile from 3-inches to 15-inch dual wall and the ability to install depths of 8-feet without cuts.” He also notes that Ag Tech Drainage’s equipment has the ability to go much deeper, and that they carry all of their boots with them to ensure that they design the system their customers need, not what is necessarily easiest for Ag Tech Drainage as contractors.

“Ask us about the new tile technology available that will help save money and increase the life of your drainage system,” Brad said. “We pride ourselves on our efficiency and ability to stay on top of today’s latest technology. Our equipment is top of the line and well-serviced, so the job we do for you can run smoothly and cost effectively.”

Ag Tech Drainage surveys, designs and installs drainage systems from start to finish.

320-351-4872

agtechdrainage.com Call today to show you what we can do for your bottom line!

Brad Herickhoff Owner 320-293-0882

brad@agtechdrainage.com

Bill Pasche Sales & Design Gene Mensen Sales & Survey 320-293-6951 • 320-986-2452 320-429-1036 bill@agtechdrainage.com

gene@agtechdrainage.com

Tri-CAP Public Transit Bus Services are safe and affordable for everyone

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 5

Low fares and varying routes offer an excellent option for travel for all ages

by Laura Bromenshenkel, Staff Writer Tri-CAP’s Transit Connection provides safe, dependable, affordable and courteous transportation services for the general public in rural Benton, Morrison and Stearns Counties. Linda Elfstrand, TriCAP’s transportation director, emphasizes the bus service is available to everyone, regardless of income or age, for any purpose.

“It doesn’t matter how young or old you are or where you’re going. We can pick you up at your door and take you where you want to go as long as the ride fits into the regularly scheduled bus route,” Elfstrand said.

Tri-CAP’s fleet of mini-buses runs Monday through Friday on varying scheduled routes, providing transportation for cities outside the St. Cloud area. Since St. Cloud has its own network of city

Tri-CAP’s bus service is available to everyone, regardless of income or age.

Tri-CAP’s bus service is a safe and convenient source for working parents to get their children to various destinations.

Call the Tri-CAP Transit Connection to make our bus your ride!

Tri-CAP’s trained and licensed drivers can assist passengers when boarding. buses and taxis, the outlying areas have benefitted greatly from the services provided by Tri-CAP. Sauk Centre and Melrose have daily bus routes and Albany has in-town service on Tuesday mornings.

Tri-CAP also offers varying scheduled routes for other cities in the area including Freeport, Albany, Avon and St. Joseph. It is a great alternative for those individuals who don’t have transportation, who are unable to get somewhere on their own, or who just don’t want to venture out in their own vehicles during inclement weather.

Tri-CAP buses transport people to area medical facilities, grocery stores, shopping malls, churches, friend’s homes, and more within its regularly scheduled routes. In addition, Tri-CAP’s Transit Connection also offers a safe, convenient and economical source for parents to get their children to and from school, dance classes and summer recreation without having to take time off work. The buses can carry 9 to 14 passengers, are handicap accessible, and have drivers who are both trained and licensed to give everyone a safe ride to their destination.

“Not only can we provide daily transportation for residents in the communities they live in, but we can also transport them to St. Cloud,” Elfstrand said.

“We don’t want to take away from local businesses, but you can’t always get the service you need or the item you need to purchase in your own community.

Tri-CAP affords you the opportunity to make those purchases or to see those specialists not available within your community,” she added.

Over the past few years, ridership has increased on all the routes, in part due to increasing gas prices, but also due to the convenience Tri-CAP’s bus service offers. People are finding that Tri-CAP is an excellent and affordable option for getting from one

Fares City: $1.25 per one way Rural: $3.00 per one way Ask about our reduced token pricing!

Call for route schedules and to make reservations!

320-202-7824 800-600-7498 www.tricap.org place to another with ease. Low fares and flexible routes bring customers back time and time again.

Bus fares cost $1.25 per boarding (one way) within communities and $3 per boarding ($6 round trip) for rural to community trips. Tri-CAP offers discounts for purchasing multiple tokens. Customers can purchase 12 tokens for $12 for city boardings or 12 tokens for $30 for rural boardings.

Reservations are required with 24 hours notice and can be made up to two weeks in advance. In addition, Tri-CAP may also be able to accommodate same day reservations if there are seats available.

For more information on routes and schedules or to make reservations call the Tri-CAP Transit Connection at 320-202-7824 or 1-800-600-7498 or visit its Web site at www.tricap.org.

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 6

Embrace the Spirit of Life, Care, LoveTM No matter what chapter of your life you are in, St. Benedict’s Senior Community is a vibrant place to help you live life to the fullest.

Our spectrum of health care and housing options include:

• Retirement Living • Income-based Apartments • Assisted Living • Home Care • Respite Care* • Memory Care • Short Stay Care* • Long-term Care* *St. Cloud location only

Call for a tour St. Cloud (320) 252-0010 Monticello (763) 295-4051 www.centracare.com

Dreams come true at Wedding and Tuxedo Connection in Richmond

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 7

The one-stop bridal boutique guides customers in the right direction for every aspect of their special day

by Amber Buermann, Peach Contributor

Located on Main Street in Richmond, Wedding and Tuxedo Connection is a one stop bridal boutique. Sue Spanier and Jennifer Mayers, owners, have created a beautiful and relaxing shop to take care of anyone’s wedding and prom needs.

They have a beautiful selection of dresses, along with all the accessories. Some of the lines they carry include Mia Solano, Davinci, Alfred Angelo for wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses and Sparkle for prom dresses.

Their tux selection is also endless, which includes Jim’s Formal Wear and Savvi. Wedding and Tuxedo Connection also offers custom floral arrangements and decorating services.

Jennifer and Sue can do as much or as little as you desire for your special event. Examples of their work can be found throughout the Wedding and Tuxedo Connection boutique. Their attention to detail is sure to make every color and style complement each other perfectly.

Stop in and check out how you can turn your dreams into a reality. Wedding and Tuxedo Connection is open seven days a week with varying hours, so the flexibility can work within anyone’s schedule.

Not only does Wedding and Tuxedo Connection offer elegant dresses and tuxedos, but it can also guide you in the right direction for every aspect of the special occasion. The floral arrangements are made in-house, but you also get an excellent glimpse at other vendors.

Bakers, photographers and dance lessons are just a few of the services Wedding and Tuxedo Connection will help you locate. Customers will also be able to purchase Mary Kay make-up out of the store sometime within the near future. Sue and Jennifer are very helpful throughout the entire planning process and have wonderful ideas and advice for each customer they work with.

Wedding and Tuxedo Connection had its grand opening in February and hasn’t stopped working since. Although a new business, it does not lack experience. Sue has been fitting Jennifer Mayers (left) and Sue Spanier in their newly tuxes and creating gorgeous opened bridal boutique, Wedding and Tuxedo Connection, floral arrangements out of located in Richmond, Minn. her home for nearly 13 years.

Sue was actually the tux and floral provider to open a second Wedding and Tuxedo Confor Jennifer’s wedding back in December of nection in Kimball this coming May. They 2008. The trust and history they have together have chosen to renovate the old St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kimball as their new store creates a beautiful partnership. Sue and Jennifer are the ultimate duo, as their passion for site. So far, they are the only two employees at Wedding and Tuxedo Connection. This new this business is clear.

“We love our customers, because we love location is sure to boast a wide selection of all helping and working with people,” Sue said the same great services they offer at their store proudly. The customers are her favorite part in Richmond. There will be more to come from these ambitious, hardworking ladies as of all of this.

Wedding and Tuxedo Connection also has they are constantly growing and changing to some excellent money saving deals. If five better meet the needs of the customers. tuxes are ordered for the wedding party, the “Everything happens for a reason and tux for the groom is free! You can also receive everything just fell into place for us. It is a 10 percent off a new prom dress if a used, great feeling to be business owners,” Jennifer said as she reminisced about her days as a law well-conditioned prom dress is brought in. enforcement officer.

Wedding and Tuxedo Connection has been a longtime dream for Sue and Jennifer, and it “We’ve been planning this for nearly four years. It was just time for this new chapter in was only a matter of time before their ambiour lives to begin,” Jennifer said. tions and plans synced. Dreaming big is nothing new for these ladies, as they are already set

Let us help you with every aspect of your special day!

36 Main Street West Box 383

Richmond, MN 320-597-8897

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 8

Photo by Randy Larson, www.candadcamera.com

Photo by Randy Larson, www.candadcamera.com

MBC

DRAINAGE, LLC

Over 100 years of experience assures you of a quality job every time!

job. Next, an owner-operated tile drainage plow, The pictures tell the story of MBC Drainage LLC. which they refer to as the heart and soul of the busiOverhead shots of a rectangular manure lagoon. A ness, lays down rows of flexible perforated tile three feedlot with a runoff pad which filters out all the feet underground, 40 to 60 feet apart. These are all sediment from the water before it runs into a ditch tracked with a GPS system and surrounding fields. A “We are in the land improvement and marked on a map so that big tile drainage plow laying they can be found if more tile down tile to drain a wet field. business. We do farm drainage, ag waste A deteriorating dam near systems, site work for farm buildings, silage is needed later.

“This dries out the ground Grove Lake replaced and a pads, as well as miscellaneous work. and gives a little longer growparking lot for boat owners We also do county, township, watershed ing season,” Howard said. installed. and soil conservation work.”

“The perfect growing condi“We are in the drainage -Dave Bailey, Co-Owner tions are one-third air, waand land improvement busiof MBC Drainage, Sauk Centre ter, and soil. When you have ness,” explains Dave Bailey, wet ground you don’t grow a co-owner of MBC Drainage, healthy plant.” located in Sauk Centre. The other owners are brothJason explains how the company filtered a feed lot ers Jason and Howard Marthaler and Karl Larson. by removing trees, leveling a 1000-foot area leading Each partner has his specialty. One or more of the from the feedlot, and creating a row of dams out of owners is on the work site nearly all the time. small rocks, similar to landscaping rock. “It dams A job such as draining a wet field begins by surveying the land with a laser, which is usually Dave’s up the water so the sediment has no choice but to settle out,” he says. “The water runs through all six dams. When it’s done, this area will have foot-tall grass.”

Another project lined a gully with nylon fabric and turned cement blocks on end in a bed of sand to produce a runoff chute to slow down erosion.

“Everything you see upstream drains through a 60 foot wide waterway,” Jason says.

“The blocks will eventually fill with sediment and grow up with grass and that in turn will Pictured on left: This drainage ditch is one slow the water down. In the old days, the gully would have been filled with rocks.” of the many projects MBC Drainage has worked “It’s all about clean water,” says Dave, who on over the past 35 years. started on his own over 35 years ago. He and Pictured on right: MBC Drainage uses an ownerfour other farmers incorporated as MBC operated tile plow to lay down drainage tile.

Drainage, Inc. in 1975, and a year later Karl

Karl Larson, Howard Marthaler, Jason Marthaler, and Dave Bailey of MBC Drainage have a combined work experience of over 100 years. became an employee. Howard and Jason joined in the 1990’s. The four became partners in 2004 when the company became MBC Drainage LLC. “The group of us has a combined work experience of over 100 years,” Dave says proudly. They plan on being in business for a long time, as more pollution control regulations go into effect and the public becomes increasingly aware of water quality problems. Dave says, “With over 2,500 feed lots in Stearns County, there will be many more ag-waste systems installed in the future.”

MBC DRAINAGE, LLC

43965 450th Street, Sauk Centre

Dave 320-352-6961 Jason 320-249-6062 Howard 320-250-2984 Karl 320-808-8012

Channel Marine & Sports saves customers time and money

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 9

It’s the ideal place to go for outstanding products and exceptional service

by Amber Buermann, Peach Contributor Channel Marine & Sports may have just re-opened in 2010, but owner, John Arndt, isn’t new to the business. John founded Richmond Marine & Sports in 1982, built it up, sold it, and purchased it again in 2010 out of liquidation. Over the past year, Channel Marine and Sports has developed and prospered greatly.

“We are looking forward to another prosperous year this year,” John said. He is continuously making Channel Marine and Sports history.

Located in Richmond on the Sauk River Chain of Lakes, Channel Marine sits perfectly on the water.

This location is ideal because if something should happen while you’re out on the water, Channel Marine’s parts and service department is right there and ready to help. The service department staff rebuilds or repairs most makes and models. Always friendly, the staff in the service department will get you back in and boating.

Since last season, the service department staff have all been re-certified and are also now a certified Minnkota repair shop. Channel Marine is certified to repair Jiffy, Strikemaster and Eskimo ice augers as well. Quality and professionalism is exactly what they offer in the service department and are proud to offer you the best service, every time.

Channel Marine is the ideal place to go. They feature a wide selection of new and used inventory to choose from, including the G3 line of boats and pontoons. The list doesn’t stop there; Yamaha and Evinrude outboards, Hewitt and Pier Pleasure docks and lifts, boat, pontoon and utility trailers create a complete inventory for Channel Marine.

New to the inventory selection this year is the Weeres Pontoons. Let’s not forget the widespread amount of fishing and hunting equipment, bait and the archery pro-shop. Channel Marine will not leave you disappointed.

Additionally, Channel Marine and Sports can take care of your boat and pontoon storage needs all year round. They offer indoor and outdoor storage during the summer months. This is an excellent service

because it cuts down on the high rising fuel costs hauling your boat back and forth to the water. This is just one way Channel Marine and Sports is saving you, the customer, Great service comes from great people at Channel Marine time and money. and Sports. Pictured (from left) are: Brian Braem, Marty Lieser, Another great service to check Joe Dockendorf, Owner John Arndt, Erik Fauskee, Casey Hopfer out is Channel Rental, owned by and Alex Feldhege.

Josh and Sabrina Kraemer. This service runs out of Channel Marine coming from Channel Marine and Sports,” John and Sports, offering hourly, daily, weekend or weekly says, as he is always planning for the future. boat and pontoon rentals. Renting exactly the boat “Every single day we strive to achieve exemplary you want, when you want it, is also another great customer service by offering outstanding products money saving technique for all boaters. and providing exceptional service. That’s my personThis spring Channel Marine will again be hosting al guarantee,” John says. their annual in-house boat show on March 17-18 and March 24-25. Free seminars are being offered this year as well as great deals and door prizes.

Free seminars will be held both days during the first weekend of the boat show. On Saturday, March 17, Pete Harsh (FLW Walleye Pro), will discuss “Advanced Walleye Tactics” at 10:30 a.m. That afternoon at 1:30 p.m., Craig Klein (owner of Fischer’s Kennels and Hunt Club, Dogtra Pro Staff) will present “Dog Training.” On Sunday, March 18, Gary Rehbein (Outdoor Logic TV) will discuss “Boat Control While Fishing” at 1:30 p.m.

The second weekend of the boat show will also have free seminars both days. On Saturday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m., Bill Orvis (Lowrance Electronics Pro Staff) will present “2012 Lowrance Product Updates/ Overview.” At 1:30 p.m., Ken Smith (Predator Guide Service) will be discussing “Muskie Fishing Tactics.”

On Sunday, March 25, Charlie Mueller (Young Custom Calls) will be presenting “Turkey Hunting and Calling Basics” at 1:30 p.m.

John encourages everyone to stop in and check out what is new this year. John would personally like to thank the community and the customers for making their first year back in business a successful, exciting year.

“Keep your eyes open for new and exciting things

2 Weekends Only!

Annual In-House

BOAT SHOW March 17-18 & March 24-25

During this huge event, we will be offering free seminars, great deals and door prizes!

•New & Used Sales •Service •Shrink-Wrapping •Winterizing •Storage •In/Out Service •Archery •Bait & Tackle

Hwy. 23, Richmond, MN • 320-597-5975 www.channelmarineandsports.com

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 10

MULCHING MANIA OWNER WORKS TO MAKE SURE HIS CLIENTS ARE HAPPY

Jason Leibold, owner of Mulching Mania LLC, with his 15,000-pound Gyro Trac that can cut and clear brush, leaving a bed of mulch, and any trees the landowner wants to keep. He and his Gyro Trac can do in a few hours what would take a property owner three or four weeks to clear.

HIS SERVICES INCLUDE: • Brush Removal • Food Plots • Trail Clearing • Shooting Lane Clearing • Lot Beautification • Low Land Willow Removal • Vegetation Reduction • Pregrading Site Prep • Buckthorn Removal • Underbrush Removal • Land Clearing • Lot Clearing • Property Line Clearing • Fence Line Clearing • Brush Pile & Dead Fall Removal • Large Scale Stump Removal • Wildlife Habitat Restoration • Pasture Cleanup • Cut in Roads • Complete Brush & Land Clearing

Jason Leibold, owner of Mulching Mania LLC, made an investment several years ago to help property owners that need their land cleared. Jason and his Gyro Trac can cut and chew up brush in a heartbeat, leaving behind a bed of mulch on the ground — and any nice trees the property owner may want to keep — a unique business in this area.

“I can clear in a couple of hours what it may take a property owner three or four weeks to clear,” he said. And property owners can trust the job will be done right, because Jason not only meets with the property owner, he is the guy who does the work — to the needs and specifications of his customer. For his customers’ convenience, Jason will meet with them anytime, “You just have to work hard days, evenings or weekends. and you have to make sure He said the work can also be people are happy.” done nearly any time of the year, “Except maybe January and February, because it’s hard to see in the snow.”

“I guarantee my work, because if my customer is not happy, I’m not doing my job,” he said.

The 15,000-pound Gyro Trac, used to clear acres of land, runs at 3.7 pounds per square inch (psi), so it doesn’t damage the earth, despite its weight. “That’s a very low psi, so it also doesn’t damage any trees that will stay,” said Jason. “We can selectively clean out brush and leave any nice trees the property owner wants to keep.” No damage is done to the earth.

In addition, Jason has added a custom made stump grinder for large scale stump removal and a 12,000-pound ASV RC-100 machine for smaller, backyard jobs.

Jason grew up in Little Falls and has loved the outdoors all of his life — and he loves this job. He gets to spend a lot of time outdoors and is able to meet many people.

Jason and his wife, Tammie, have been married for 12 years and have three children: Zachary, 9; Jacob, 7; and Nicholas, 6.

Though the company is based in Little Falls, Jason serves all of Minnesota.

All of the services, as well as a video that demonstrates how the equipment operates can be found on the Mulching Mania Web site: www.mulchingmania.com. Clients can call him anytime at (218) 316-1534.

Brush & Land Clearing

218-316-1534

MULCHINGMANIA

www.mulchingmania.com

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 11

Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center is committed to providing quality rural health care Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center (AAHMC) delivers quality health care services to the people of Albany, Avon, Holdingford, Freeport and the surrounding areas. The organization includes the hospital, medical center in Albany, and a satellite clinic in Avon. AAHMC is one of the largest employers in Albany with more than 94 employees and is part of Unity Family Healthcare in Little Falls, Minnesota. Unity Family is owned by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). CHI is a national non-profit health organization with headquarters in Denver. The faith-based system operates in 19 states and includes 73 hospitals; including 21 critical-access facilities, 40 long-term care, assisted and residential-living facilities; two community healthservices organizations; and 46 home health agencies.

CHI is the nation’s third-largest Catholic health care system and has a deep-rooted commitment to rural health care.

MEDICAL STAFF

AAHMC offers a host of primary care, urgent care and emergency care services through its medical staff.

•Dr. Daron Gersch, board-certified in Family Medicine; special interest in Obstetrics •Dr. Nathan Brever, board-certified in Family Medicine; special interest in Obstetrics •Dr. Libby Brever, board-eligible in Family Medicine, special interest in Obstetrics •Charlene Gerner, RN, PA-C, special interest: family medicine and women’s health •Teresa Hamiel, PA-C, special interest: family medicine •Eric Fly, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care •Esther Doele, CFNP, emergency medicine and urgent care •Dan Rickard, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care

Urgent care provides immediate care for acute, non-life threatening illness and injury and is a critical component of our health system. Some symptoms appropriate for urgent care include: upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, minor burns, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, acute sprains and strains. Cooperation between patients, their primary care providers, our emergency department and our urgent care team can create a network of care options that puts the patient in the right hands at the right time for the right level of care.

FOUNDATION

The mission of Albany Area Healthcare’s Foundation is to raise funds needed for the continued improvement of the services and facilities. Through donations from families, individuals and organizations, the foundation builds a partnership between the area communities and AAHMC to make it as successful as possible. Currently the foundation is working on raising $250,000 for a new radiologic unit.

SWING BED PROGRAM

Albany Area Hospital also offers a swing bed program. The transition to swing bed is after a three-day hospital stay and includes skilled nursing, physical or occupational therapy, medication administration, as well as a weekly visit by the patient’s attending provider. The swing bed program can be transitioned from any health care facility. A requirement is that the patient is actively participating in making progress towards established goals. The swing bed program allows our area residents to be close to home while patients maintain or return to their highest level of independence.

The swing bed program offers rehab services to allow patients to “come back home” near their family and friends while they recover from major illness or

URGENT CARE

Urgent care provides extended hours for acute illnesses and injuries to better serve our patients. The ability to offer extended hours — 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday — opens up access to our providers for annual physicals, well-baby and well-child check-ups, OB patients and the time needed to manage the care of each patient as well as to establish new patients.

surgery. By obtaining services locally, patients can maintain ongoing contact with their friends and loved ones. The low staff-to-patient ratio provides for more personal contact during the recovery process. Our therapy staff is highly qualified and trained and has a great reputation for an exceptional bedside manner.

HOSPITAL & CLINIC SERVICES

The hospital and emergency department are open 24 hours a day. The emergency room is staffed with an on-call provider and trained registered nurses.

Imaging and lab technologists and technicians are also available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Surgeries are performed on both outpatient and inpatient basis. General, orthopedic, obstetrical, ophthalmology, and urology surgeries are performed by surgeons from Little Falls and St. Cloud. Outreach specialty services include cardiology, stress testing, OB/GYN, podiatry, urology, orthopedics, internal medicine, gastroenterology, MRI, mammography, and nuclear medicine. Physical, occupational and speech therapies are performed by AAHMC staff.

AAHMC has a great reputation for providing high-quality obstetrical services. Obstetrical services are enhanced by childbirth preparation classes and doula services. Childbirth preparation classes cover fetal development, labor and delivery, breathing and relaxation, breastfeeding, post-delivery care of mother and baby and more. A doula is a professional labor support provider who can often enhance the quality of care and experience of giving birth. The hospital also offers newborn hearing screening to help ensure that if there is a hearing loss, that it is detected early in the baby’s development.

For more information about any of the programs or services provided by the Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center, visit our website at www.albanyareahospital.com or call 320.845.2121.

Albany Area Hospital

300 Third Ave., Albany • 320-845-2121

Albany Medical Center

320 Third Ave., Albany • 320-845-2157

www.albanyareahospital.com

Avon Medical Clinic

108 Stratford St. W., Avon • 320-356-7602

Peach Business Profile 2012, Page 12

Ace Hardware receives best of service rating for customer service It’s the ideal place to go for outstanding products and exceptional service

by Liz Verley, Staff Writer “Ace has always strived for customer service, and J.D. Powers and Associates rate major hardware stores for customer service. Ace has received the best of service rating for the past six years,” said Don Scott, general manager of Ace Hardware in Sauk Centre.

The store opened in January 2009 and is one of two Ace Hardware stores owned by Coborn’s.

Scott said, “We pride ourselves with being knowledgeable with almost everything we carry.

If not, we will find the answer.”

From “A” to “Z”, Ace Hardware in Sauk Centre is a fully stocked hardware store and carries appliances, lawn and garden supplies and has brands such as Craftsman, Stihl, Speed Queen and Daewoo. Also under consideration is an expansion in the line of appliances.

The location offers in-house repairs on small engines, factory warranty work on Craftsman and Stihl products, and window and screen repair.

It has full key duplication abilities and sharpens knives, scissors, lawn mower blades and chainsaw chains. The store also delivers larger items (such as appliances, snow blowers, etc.) without a

Sharpening chainsaw chains are one of Ace Service Representative Derek Uhlenkamp’s duties.

charge and takes away the old items for free.

Scott said, “We participate in a Mystery Shopper program. Twice a month an unknown shopper comes into the store and grades us on 25 different items such as cleanliness, service, friendliness, etc. We are the only Ace Hardware in the state to achieve a 100 percent rating nine times. Our average is 97 percent. That tells you what caliber of employees we have.”

There are 4,400 Ace Hardware stores nationwide. Each store is independently owned.

“There are no company stores and Ace is not a franchise; it is a co-op,” said Scott.

The store has nine employees. Assistant Manager Dave Sobotka said, “One of our best selling products is our paint. Ace paint is top quality, and our customers just love it.”

The facility is 10,000 square feet and includes several specialty sections.

The Battery Place carries batteries for just about anything: from car, motorcycle, cell phones, watches, hearing aids to specialty items.

It has a large variety of bird supplies including specialty feeds, houses, feeders and baths. They also carry lawn and garden ornaments.

“Throughout the year, we also carry some special items such as heavy metal wind chimes, ornate gardening hats, and fancy walking sticks,” Scott said. “We also carry educational toys for kids year around.”

A large rental department is on site. Rented by the hour or day are summer items for the yard, a brush cutter, power rakes, power edgers, cement mixer, various sanders, one-man post hole digger, floor shampooer, etc.

Sobotka, a member of the Reynolds Baptist Church in rural Long Prairie, a pulpit supply speaker for other churches and a support member of the 5th Marine Regiment out of Dana Point,

General Manager Don Scott (standing) and Assistant Manager Dave Sobotka take time to review a computer program.

The wide variety of paint serves as a background to Ace Service Representative Gary Schultz.

Calif., said, “We offer an extensive line for the fisherman, both for summer and the winter. We also carry parts and supplies for RVs.” Sobotka also has a son-in-law, Jeremy Martinez, who is a 15 year Marine serving in Afghanistan.

“Since the store opened, we have adjusted our inventory to suit the needs of the people in Sauk Centre and the surrounding community. We are proud to serve the Sauk Centre community and take pride in our employees’ knowledge and dedication to our customers,” said Scott.

Scott’s commitment to the community includes his present position serving as president of the Sauk Centre Chamber of Commerce.

The store is located at 226 12th Street, right next to Coborn’s Superstore. Its hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

226 12th Street ~ Next to Coborn’s

SAUK CENTRE • 320-352-0309 The helpful place.

Get In, Get Help, And Get On With Your Life!