Family and Locally Owned Business 2018

2018 FAMILY & LOCALLY OWNED

BUSINESS WEDNESDAY,

JUNE 20

ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES LEBANON EXPRESS & PHILOMATH EXPRESS

Pg. 6 Western Interlock, Inc.

Pg. 4

KGAL / KSHO

Blackledge Furniture

Pg. 2

Businesses & Dedicated Partners That Serve Our Community

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| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018

FAMILY AND LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES

MID-VALLEY MEDIA GROUP

Blackledge Furniture is an Oregon treasure

B

lackledge Furniture has been family owned and operated since 1901 when current owner Eric Blackledge’s great grandfather moved his family west from Iowa. He and his wife Judy have owned the store since October of 1970. When speaking with Judy, you get the notion that being a family business is not just a career-it’s a way of life. It’s unusual to have business longevity that is four generations (and 117 years) old, and Blackledge Furniture is not only one of the longest running businesses in Corvallis, but also the second oldest furniture store in the state of Oregon.

Through the years, Blackledge Furniture has been on the forefront of many advances in home furnishing. Judy remembers, “We were the first store in town to carry Atwater Kent radios. We carried a lot of wallpaper-particularly during the war because people couldn’t afford to do much, but they painted and wallpapered. We carried musical instruments,

Hotpoint appliances, and one of the first dishwashers in town my late motherin-law and father-in-law purchased.”

Although they haven’t carried appliances or musical instruments for many years, what customers will still find is a committed staff to help navigate their furnishing needs.

Their business caters to personal taste and the Blackledges help people get the furniture they want in the fairest way they can. Judy detailed their policy with notable pride in the integrity of their business, “We have an approval system where even special orders can be returned for refund or reselection, and do an extensive special ordering that you can do your way-you don’t have to have it the way we bought it.

We request a 20 percent down payment, and that’s pretty unique- most stores charge 50 percent (or it has to be paid in full). We wouldn’t do such a high special ordering, but you don’t want to see your sofa in every living room in town! We

couldn’t do that amount of special ordering if we didn’t do them so well, so we get high marks for that.”

The Blackledge staff strive to make everyone that walks in their door feel valued, and that means equality across the board. Customers won’t find staff participating in sale negotiations, but any price match of an identical product and terms (from another store or online) will be honored. This is just one of the many ways they have made a culture around putting their customers first. In their eyes, it seems to be common sense which Judy highlighted in saying, “I have often felt that we really only have two things of any value-one is our reputation, and one is our customers...we take very good care of both of those things. We have a very high, positive top of mind awareness in the valley and have very good associates that work with us that are so much above what a lot of people have experienced in other retail shopping.”

Although the Blackledges pride themselves in caring for their customers, they also are sure to take care of their community. Whether that looks like shopping locally, supporting many auctions a year, or partnering with nonprofits such as the Boys & Girls Club and Furniture Share, they are committed to being as deeply rooted in their community as their business is in Corvallis’ rich history.

When looking ahead at the future of their business, Judy seems to have a vision of continuity, of which she said, “Furniture doesn’t have hood ornaments, so people still want to sit and feel and see and understand what their choices are…”

So long as there is a need to make a home feel welcoming and comfortable, she says that Blackledge Furniture will be there, “Providing great brands, good prices, gigantic selection, and nice people that are just solidly committed to the valley and do believe that home and family is always going to be a core value for all of us.”

Through Six Generations, this longtime Albany Family continues to serve the needs of the Mid-Valley Community with caring, compassionate service.

Quality Products & A Whole Lot More!

Since 1982

Fisher Funeral Home has been a name the Mid-Valley has trusted for over 106 years 306 Washington St. SW Downtown Albany (541)-928-3349

since 1972

RADIO CONTROL • MODEL TRAINS PLASTIC MODELS • GAMES • ROCKETS PUZZLES • PAINTS • ACCESSORIES

Timberhill Shopping Center • Corvallis • 541.753.7540

The Woodstock’s Family (some pictured at our 40th anniversary picnic) is proud to be serving Corvallis and supporting area schools & charities since 1977. Still having fun making great pizza with your choice of crust (including GF) and many sauce & topping choices (including dairy-free/ vegan). Give us a call or come in – we’ll make your pizza!

A CORVALLIS ORIGINAL

541-752-5151 • 1045 NW Kings Blvd. • Corvallis Free Delivery (to most of Corvallis)

Local Market.

Local Products.

When you shop with us, you’re supporting a local, independent, family-owned grocer that believes in buying and carrying local foods and supporting Oregon families.

In addition to supporting food rescue programs and our customersupported Scan Program, more than 65 percent of our vendors are from Oregon – that’s 3,000 local farmers, ranchers and food and beverage producers!

marketofchoice.com | 922 NW Circle Blvd., Corvallis | Open 7 am–11 pm daily

Marni Furse is a Market of Choice Wine Steward at our Corvallis store.

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| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018

FAMILY AND LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES

MID-VALLEY MEDIA GROUP

Eads Broadcasting has rich history I n 1976 Charlie Eads left L.A. to venture north where he was hired in sales at a radio station in Bend. After a 1978 transfer to KGAL as General Manager, in 1981 he and his parents Richard and Florence took a chance and bought KGAL 920 AM after forming Eads Broadcasting Corporation. The station was a legendary rock ‘n roll station with 24 hour live DJs and tons of local contests, promotions and news coverage.

Ten years passed and the Eads family built 102.3FM and not long after sold it to operators in Eugene. In 1995, AM 1580 AM was added as the first News/Talk station in the Mid-Valley and the KGAL call letters came to life again. KGAL AM 920 had been changed to KSHO with a format of adult standards music. News/ Talk and music targeted to an older audience are formats that do very well on AM radio, according to Eads. The target audience for KSHO was adults 35 plus and for KGAL it was adults 25 plus.

The elder Eads’s retired from active involvement in the stations years ago and both are now deceased. Charlie’s wife, Mary, picked up the broadcasting bug and is now very involved in the stations. Eads took on one more great endeavor in 2017 with the addition of KSHO 94.1 FM, which duplicates the programming on KSHO 920AM. If you dial in to the station today, you’ll find true variety in the music- everything from Sam Cooke to Portugal the Man. As the announcer says “New music, classics, a few oldies and even a bit of country. It’s the music mix we put together just for you. We hope you like it. Thanks for making ksho….Your number one station for music!”

Of course no radio station would survive without great staff behind the scenes. Eads mentioned how in the past KGAL carried a large roster, but over the years he’s hewed it down to a handful of seasoned employees. They are in many ways still a family business;

Eads’ wife, Mary, is not only the producer of Valley Talk, but also a friendly voice on the morning news. The current office manager, Susie Dowding, is extended family, coming to KGAL straight out of high school and staying for 40 years so far. The sound of Jeff McMahan, Bill Diamond and Mike Mason’s talented voices are the remaining cornerstones of the KGAL enterprise as it stands today. If you listen closely though, you will hear the familiar and friendly voice of Eads himself reading sponsor ads and local announcements.

From the beginning, KGAL has aimed to excel in partnering with local organizations like ABC House, Serve Inc., Parks and Rec, and the many concert series’ in the region. The stations have long carried local high school sports. They have also committed to creating events that reach a wider audience.

Their Easter Egg Hunt hosted thousands searching for eggs while trying to avoid puddles as large as some of the children on the hunt. Others may recall Corvallis and Albany uniting in the effort to create the most unique watercraft for the UFO Slackwater Drift, which floated a mass of people down the Willamette River between Corvallis and Albany.

Though these events have since retired, the intention of embracing community remains alive within KGAL and KSHO today.

From the great honor of being named Oregon Broadcaster of the Year in 2004 to creating a successful legacy, Charlie Eads is a great example of what can come of a humble beginning and a big dream. But if you ask him, you’ll likely find that the KGAL journey has never truly been about him.

KGAL is about connecting family, radio, and the greater community in a way that has never been done here before.

Come Discover Blackledge Furniture For Yourself…

Come visit us at the corner of Knox Butte and Century Drive in Albany!

We’ve Been Furnishing Oregon Homes Since 1901

End of Spring Sale!

Sale Ends July 9th

Furniture ■ Mattresses ■ Area Rugs ■ Lighting ■ & More ■

We’re Your Complete Home Furnishings Store

www.BlackledgeFurniture.com

Wonderful Jewelry & Clothes for Women

Fun Gifts & Hats for Men Too! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

With more than 53 years of experience selling the best soil in the Valley, we are ready to help you tackle any landscaping or gardening project! In addition to our rock, bark, soil, and compost selections we offer a full line of landscape plants from perennials and herbs to shade, fruit, and ornamental trees. We also offer a wide selection of berries and unusual edibles as well as a full complement of fertilizers, tools, and pest and disease control. We are the home of the finest organic soils and compost in the valley! We are also licensed, bonded, and insured to do landscape and irrigation installation as well as certified backflow testing!

145 NW 2nd St, Corvallis 541-754-1424

40% OFF ALL VEGETABLES AND ANNUALS

25% OFF 1 GALLON PERENNIALS AND SHRUBS

15% OFF GLOVES, TOOLS AND WINE BARRELS

YOU HAUL SALE!

HEMLOCK BARK FIR BARK

Give us a call at (541)928-3448!

$ 33 PER YARD $ 23 PER YARD Bus. Lic. #5764

PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES

SINCE 1950

FAMILY & LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1981

Charlie Eads, Owner

EADS BROADCASTING CORPORATION • 541-926-8683

6 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018

FAMILY AND LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES

MID-VALLEY MEDIA GROUP

Western Interlock: A family business

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estern Interlock has always been about family. In fact, the original idea came from a trip to the Midwest in the mid-1970s. While visiting his then girlfriend, now wife Gail for the summer, founder Wyatt Pegg was introduced to the interlocking concrete paving stone, which was fairly new to North America. His father-in-law Lloyd Fullmer had begun installing paving stones as part of their family-run landscaping business in 1973. While helping to install some pavers in Ohio, a seed was planted in Wyatt’s mind that would germinate some 15 years later.

In 1988, after a stint in agriculture, Wyatt began to explore the idea of bringing paving stones to the Willamette Valley, and in February 1990, the ground was broken on a new manufacturing facility on a rural 6-acre lot in Rickreall. Consumer response was initially slow, and there were limited qualified installers, so Wyatt started his own installation company to spur public interest. In 1991, Western Interlock received its first large contract to produce and install the materials for the new Capital Mall in Salem.

Today, Western Interlock is still headquartered on the same property in Rickreall, but the facility has expanded to cover 16 acres with two manufacturing lines. It is a leader in the manufacturing of interlocking concrete paving stones and modular retaining wall units. Almost 30 years later, Western Interlock is still an independent family owned and operated business, with the second generation deeply involved in the management of the company. Wyatt can often be seen throughout the company, participating in and overseeing all aspects of production and sales with his enthusiasm clearly evident when he jumps up and clicks his heels.

Western Interlock strives to provide highquality concrete products, combined with excellent service, to both retail and wholesale customers. The company’s products are sold in Oregon and Washington through a network of distributors, and they have a second retail facility in Olympia, Washington. The Rickreall retail facility has an 8,000 square foot outdoor product display that is open to the public.

All of Western Interlock’s concrete interlocking paving stones and modular retaining wall units are made from a mixture of locally sourced materials including Portland cement, and coarse and fine aggregates.

Iron oxide pigments are used to add color.

The ingredients are combined in a mixer, along with an admix (an additive used to boost strength and reduce efflorescence),

and a small amount of water. The concrete mixture is dumped into a machine which then dispenses a portion of the mix through a feed drawer into the mold. The concrete in the mold is then intensely compressed and vibrated. The resulting paving stones or retaining wall blocks retain their shape as the mold is stripped from them. The product is put inside curing chambers that control humidity and temperature until the concrete is fully cured, which is usually around one day. After the stones are sorted for defects and packaged on pallets, they are ready for shipment.

Western Interlock’s team of friendly and knowledgeable sales staff are ready and willing to assist customers from start to finish on any paving stone or retaining wall project, including design, product selection, and delivery. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday mornings during the summer season.

Above: Western Interlock is a family affair for Wyatt Pegg, center and his sons Landon and Winston.

Left: Western Interlock employees work on the company’s first major job at the Captial Mall in Salem in 1991.

SKATEBOARDS • SNOWBOARD • ROLLER BLADES • EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

BASEBALL • FOOTBALL • SOCCER • BASKETBALL • SNOW SKIS • DISC GOLF

Celebrating 24 years…

Thank You!

We Buy, Sell, & Trade Quality New & Used Sports & Exercise Equipment

The Sather family (Al, Ron and Maureen) opened PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS in Corvallis in November of 1994 and are now celebrating 24 years serving the Willamette Valley.

We buy and sell quality new and used sports/exercise equipment.

Let our knowledgeable, outstanding staff help you with your exercise needs. A wide variety of sporting goods are available including baseball, football, soccer, basketball, snow skis, water skis, golf, skateboards, snowboards, disc golf, lacrosse, exercise equipment and bicycles.

ThE OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF ALL ThOSE WhO PLAY 1422 NW 9th St. • Corvallis 541-754-PLAY (7529)

Mon. - Fri. 10-7 • Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 12-5

2598 Willamette • Eugene 541-342-4041

BASEBALL • FOOTBALL • SOCCER • BASKETBALL • SNOW SKIS • DISC GOLF

Create your own discount, trade in your old equipment for NEW!

Mon. - Fri. 10-7 • Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 10-5

FOOTBALL • SOCCER • BASKETBALL • SNOW SKIS • WATERSPORTS • GOLF

Sound the alarm!

5th Year Celebration @ Firehouse Corner!

June 23 2018 Saturday 10:00AM to 6:00PM 4050 Old Salem Rd. NE Millersburg Oregon

Plenty of seating with many activities Planned!

BBQ, rock Painting, Bounce house, Bake walk, games, instore sPecials, raffles, dunk tank, giggleBritches the clown will Be on site to do face Painting and animal Balloons, dJ BoB f isk and comPany will Be sPinning tunes for some karaoke fun. sPecial guest: gary the conQueror from the howard stern show

L ocally O w ned and Oper a t e d S i n c e 19 8 9

Super Coupon

10

PLU 1001

40

$ 00 oFF $

Excludes Alcohol, Lottery & Tobacco

1950 Main St

Lebanon, OR 97355

00 Expires 6/27/2018

(541) 451-1300

Since our family started the nursery nurser over ver 80 years ago, four generations have poured our passion for gardening into our local community. Still family owned and operated, we are here to help you create beautiful and bountiful gardens.

5470 NE Hwy 20, Corvallis 97330 • (541) 753-6601

GarlandNursery.com

It all started here.

Paving Stone and Retaining Wall Systems Made for the Northwest.

From our groundbreaking in 1990 until today, Western Interlock has always been about family.

As a family owned company, we focus on doing what’s best for our customers. We strive to provide you with superior products and helpful, personal customer service. We invite you to come by our Rickreall retail facility to experience it for yourself.

503.623.9084 westerninterlock.com