Development
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Star-Herald Publication
Building pace increasing in Scottsbluff By RICK WILLIS Staff Reporter
Photo by Roger Holsinger
In what used to be the children’s portion of the old library now houses a large meeting room that will also serve as the location for the Scottsbluff City Council meetings. The room has been renamed the Jane and Chet Fliesbach Community Room.
Scottsbluff library dream of expansion realized By ROGER HOLSINGER Assistant Editor
Seven years of blood, sweat and even a few tears has provided Scottsbluff with a showcase. While there were a few delays in completing the remodeling and addition of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Librar y, the $4.2 million project is something to be proud of, according to Director Bev Russell. Of the total cost of the project, $2.2 million came from donations and grants. The fundraising started with $500,000 from the Peter Kiewit Challenge Grant followed by $100,000 from the Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Trust; $500,000 from the City of Scottsbluff, and $600,000 from the Lied Foundation Trust. Funding also came in from children, adults and members of the community, including a $100,000 donation from the late Chet Fliesbach. Russell said the large meeting room would be named the Jane and Chet Fliesbach Community Room in honor of the couple. The room will ser ve as the meeting location for Scottsbluff City Council meetings beginning July 18. On June 21, the librar y was officially dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and on July 10, the Robert W. Furnas Lodge 265 A.F. & A.M., in cooperation with the City of Scottsbluff and the Lied Scottsbluff Public Librar y, placed a cornerstone on the newly remodeled and expanded building. Construction began in Februar y 2010 with the excavation of the east end of the property that would soon be the new children’s librar y. The
Photos by Roger Holsinger
ABOVE: Prior to the remodeling of the existing library, the northwest corner of the facility in December looked a little rough. BELOW: However, five months later the corner is completed and known as the quiet reading area. Deneen Landers donated the fireplace to the library.
See LIBRARY, page 2
Scottsbluff is experiencing an upswing in construction activity, and the spike involves more than the expansion of Regional West Medical Center. All categories have increased and Gary Batt, a code administrator for the City of Scottsbluff, said the last time he saw this type of activity was in the early 2000s. “It’s been a long time, three or four years, since before the bottom,” Batt said. Batt said that construction tends to be cyclical. “We had Albertson’s, Home Depot and then Walmart starting in 2000,” Batt said. “It seems funny to see people putting things up again. They must be pretty sure they’ll get a return for their effort.” Batt said three spec homes have been built and sold in the past few months. Spec homes are houses built by a contractor without a homeowner contract at the start of the project. In a down economy, spec homes are more of a financial risk for a builder. Batt said several homes in Scottsbluff have been custom built as well. While numbers remain the comparable — eight residential permits issued this year and 2010 for $1.4 million — there were only five permits through June 2009, a rough time in the economy, with a combined value of $314,000. There are also 54 fence permits so far this year compared to only 43 last year. June had 55 roofing permits pulled compared to 106 at year-to-date in 2010. The majority of those might be attributed to the last year’s spring storms. In 2009, however, there were just 43 residential permits issued for all categories or repair, the same category as roofing. This year there were 130 such permits — a three-fold increase. Heavy constr uction leads the way. Contractors
at Regional West Medical Center are continuing to pull building permits and kick up a lot of dirt as the hospital expansion continues, but other companies are building as well, leading to the spike in commercial construction in Scottsbluff. Commercial repair or remodel building permits through June are running $3.6 million ahead of last year, the largest part of that coming from the hospital construction. To cope with the additional work, the city has hired Sheila Hort as a code administrator. For larger projects, depending on the materials used, special inspectors have to be used because Scottsbluff just doesn’t have the employees to stay on site, Batt said. Year-to-date there are eight new commercial construction projects with a value of more than $1.5 million, versus none for the same period in 2010. Maverick’s gas station and convenience store accounts for $900,000 of that number. As with any construction project, the code administrators bear the brunt of frustration when contractors or architects miss something in their plans. The officials are there to ensure the contractors are doing what they are supposed to do. Batt said that most contractors will work with the city when the codes can be spelled out from the code book. The rules give minimum rules that provide for the safety, sanitation, structural strength, light, ventilation and protection from fire and other hazards. The International Residential Codes standards book is about two inches think. He pointed out that he has two other two-inch thick books as well. Those books interpret the rules in the codebook. “Sometimes you have to be the bad guy,” Batt said. “Contractors are open for suggestions. When you can quote from the book, they comply.”
Three major projects under way on Regional West campus By MAUNETTE LOEKS Staff Reporter
Construction activity at Regional West Medical Center has been building. Currently, three construction projects are under way at the regional hospital. Regional West is also in the second phase of expanding its St. Mary Plaza, a $2.8 million project. The second phase of the project entails remodeling and reconstruction in the west wing and central core area of the hospital. The expansion will create new spaces for the community health and American Red Cross, which will continue to be located on the ground floor of the hospital. For hospital operations, a library and patient access services, which includes billing, scheduling and other areas, have now been housed in the newly renovated areas. About 300 Regional West employees are expected to be moved into the facility once the second phase is completed. It also houses the hospital’s Inn Touch facility, which provides room services to patient families, hospital staff and nursing students. The facility, built in 1947, has
long been a community treasure. “A few years ago, we looked at what to do with the St. Mary Hospital, whether it needed to be updated or torn down,” Regional West Medical Center chief finance officer and vice-president of finance David Griffiths explained. “When comparing to build new, we found that it was just as cost effective to remodel the facility. It is a very well-constructed building and it will probably outlast most of the buildings in the community.” The hospital is trying to preser ve much of the hospital’s charms, but director of facilities John Ferguson said the project brings unique challenges as contractors try to modernize the facility. The project includes asbestos abatement, and each wing has been gutted during the reconstruction effort. The electric services in the facilities are being updated from a 220-volt system to a 480-volt system. Walls in the facility are 18 inches of brick, and windows have also been updated. “It has been a challenge to take care of demolition and bring the facility up to modern code,” Ferguson said. “We always have plen-
ty to do here at the hospital.” A third phase is also planned, which should complete the moving of administration and medical administration functions to the facility. Moving administrative functions to the St. Mary Plaza will allow North and South Plaza space to be used for physician practices. Construction on re-routing Avenue B began in spring and will continue through the summer. The $2.7 million project will allow the hospital to expand its campus. The project is aimed at providing the hospital with room to expand the western end of the current hospital. David Griffiths, vice-president of finance and chief finance officer at Regional West, calls the hospital “landlocked” in its options to expand other directions and the effects on proximity to other services offered within the hospital. Expanding to the south, where the hospital built a new main entrance in recent years, wouldn’t be easy to tie into, Griffiths has said. Expanding to the east would be difficult because of medical office buildings and the north parking lot would be eliminated if the hospital chose to construct on that end. The hospital is focusing on ex-
Photo by Maunette Loeks
The ascent begins for a MRI scanner earlier this week as it is lifted through a skylight at Regional West Medical Center.
panding its surgical and radiology departments, which Griffiths cited as revenue sources for the hospital. “(Expanding to the west) gives us future expansion capacity,” Griffiths said. “We will also see an improvement in employee safety, as we have many employees crossing Avenue B between the hospital and its parking lot. Patient flow will also be improved as we will be able to move the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) back near the emergency room.” This week, part of the Avenue
B project included the relocation of the Apria building. The building is now located south of Regional West Medical Center. The hospital has set its sights on expanding surgical suites to bring them up to current national standards. The need for expansion is driven by advancements in medical technology, with ceiling booms and other equipment updates growing in size, as well as capabilities. See HOSPITAL, page 2
Development
2 SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011
A Star-Herald publication
Photo by Maunette Loeks Photo by Maunette Loeks
Regional West Medical Center Information Systems help-desk employees are front and center in their new digs in St. Mary Plaza. The plaza is in the second phase of renovations.
The heart of the hospital – or at least of its computer operations – is now housed at Regional West’s St. Mary Plaza. A special floor to hold the weight of the large data center’s equipment was part of the retrofits to the 1940s building for modern technology.
HOSPITAL: In the second phase of expanding Mary Plaza Continued from page 1 Constr uction on that project has not yet started, though construction is nearly complete on Regional West’s MRI unit. The MRI expansion has been slated at $4.2 million, with $2.3 million of
that cost going toward the purchase of a new MRI. The new MRI was installed earlier this week. Sharon McKinney, director of imaging ser vices, said, the shorter length of the new MRI will allow patients to be scanned head
or feet first. “Either way, patients can see out of the scanner, so they are less likely to become claustrophobic.” Also, a tranquil SkyFactor y ceiling, simulating a scene of a patient looking from a forest floor
through trees, plants and flowers to a view in the sky will provide a serene atmosphere. The Siemens Aera 1.5(T) MRI scanner will also have a larger table, allowing patients up to 550 pounds to be evaluat-
ed. McKinney called the scanner the latest in technology, saying that it will be the newest MRI scanner within a large geographic region. The two-bay MRI unit is outlined with a full cooper shield, about 1,000 square
feet. The cooper shield ensures that magnetic flux lines from the MRI are contained inside the room. A physician’s open house will be scheduled in September to showcase the MRI unit.
LIBRARY: Construction started February 2010 Continued from page 1 new addition gave the librar y 9,000 square feet to work with, and once completed, it not only provided space for children to read and check out books, but also an area for children to meet and watch movies, as well as a corner dedicated to teenagers. The design of the new addition is accentuated with large east windows that offer an abundance of natural light. The new space also includes offices, restrooms and areas designed to entertain and inspire young minds. Once the new section was completed, it was used as the main librar y
as the existing structure was gutted down to the concrete walls. Some of the redwood from the original librar y was used in the remodeling project. In addition, the original pillars were cleaned up and like the community, continue to support the librar y. The remodeled portion of the librar y has approximately 13,100 square feet and includes new carpet, lighting, walls, electrical, and a new heating and cooling system including a boiler for heating during the winter and a cooling tower that works to keep the building cool in the summer. Russell said the heating and cooling sys-
tems are operated from Omaha by computers. The entrance also received a major facelift that of fers an enclosed area for people entering the librar y. Scatter ed along the sides of the entrance ar e tables and chairs that offer patrons a place to sit down, have something to eat and drink and read. Russell said upgrades in technology dominate the “new” part of the librar y including new computers. She said selfcheck machines will be implemented later this summer. Overall, Russell said some of the biggest improvements were made in
the children’s area and a place for teenagers to meet, read and study. The Ethel S. Abbott Heritage Room is also new and offers visitors a place to research local histor y and genealogy. T wo new group study rooms were also added, and the quiet reading area complete with a fireplace is located in the northwest corner. “It tur ned out better than I ever thought it could, and I am amazed at
how well it all came together,” said Russell. While the majority of the project is complete, Russell said there is some exterior work that needs to be completed. She said while ther e ar e some funds remaining, she anticipates some fundraising will be needed to complete the work on the Learning Garden — the area that used to known as Constitution Park. A few years ago she said they estimated $40,000
URGENT CARE 3011 Avenue A B
|
would be needed, but now she estimates $60,000 will be required to build an outdoor theater area, a green area for visitors along with flowering plants and native grasses. On the east end of the new str ucture, Russell said the librar y staff and others along with Spencer Lake are working to design and build a rain garden. Russell said Lake will be doing the work as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Ultimate Casement Windows
308.632.2215 308 632 2215
N
Convenient, immediate, compassionate health care ffor serious but not life-threatening f g injuries j or illness.
ours! H w 7:30 e Monday thru Fridayy 78:30a.a.m. . to o 5 p. p.m. . Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. m. l Su m Sunday 1 to 5 p p.m. p.m Introducing Marvin’s Ultimate Casement collection. The most innovative and highest performing casements on the market. The difference is C.L.E.A.R.
Countless design options Large size – ultimate performance. We have developed the most durable hardware in the industry which ensures easy opening and smooth operation over the life of your window. Features a Design Pressure Rating of 50.
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
New products & services including: Wine Tastings on Friday & Saturday Microbrew Tastings Mix & Match 6 Microbrew Packs Specialty Cheeses Specialty Chocolates High Quality Cigars Accessories & Gifts
Ease of Installation. Removable interior covers and pre-drilled jamb holes make installation simple and provide a clean, finished appearance.
Any application for use in nearly any new construction,
A great choice for new contruction as well as remodeling, with traditional style.
remodeling, or replacement application.
Revolutionary wash mode allows access to both sides of the glass from indoors. 1725 East Overland, Scottsbluff, NE 308-632-2105
1701 Main Str., Torrington, WY 307-532-2614
401 South Beltline Hwy West, Scottsbluff
www.centurylumbercenter.com
A Star-Herald publication
Development
SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011 3
WELCOMING WALKUPS Photo by Chabella Guzman
Photo by Maunette Loeks
Construction on the Household Care Center in Scottsbluff, located on the Residency campus, has now moved to the interior of the building with the finishing touches being completed. The center is expected to be complete on Aug. 1 and an open house for the facility will be held in September.
New facility changing face of nursing home care By MAUNETTE LOEKS Staff Reporter
A new skilled nursing facility in Scottsbluff will be unveiled in recent weeks as construction nears completion. Nor thfield Retirement Communities Inc. is constructing a 16,000 squarefoot facility on the Residency campus, Curt Copple, chief executive officer of Northfield Retirement Communities said. Construction on the $3 million facility began in September 2010. T h e f a c i l i t y, c a l l e d Household Care Center, will embrace a new model of care at skilled nursing homes. Copple said Northfield Retirement Communities Inc. is following a national trend of making nursing homes feel more home-like for residents. The facility is in the finishing stages, with a scheduled completion date of Aug. 1. “We are moving along quite well,” Copple said. “It is a beautiful facility.” Copple said that studies show that many seniors do not want nursing home care as it is now known, an acute-care, medical model managed by physicians and nurses. Instead, seniors needing long-term care have expressed that they want a chance to control their settings, with a focus on maintaining individuality and continuing their own personal lives and activities. Along that line, the Rober t Wood Johnson Foundation has driven forward an initiative, called “green house projects,”
Not a
through grants that promote a more home-like atmosphere in nursing home facilities. Nor thfield Retirement Communities will implement a similar concept, calling it “household care.” “It is a place that focuses on life, and its heart is found in the relationships that flourish there,” Copple said. “This is a radical departure from traditional skilled nursing homes.” At the Household Care Center, 23 private rooms, with private bathrooms, were planned for construction constructed. Each of the rooms are made to feel like a smaller, intimate version of a home, with residents allowed to move in their own fur nishings. Rooms will include a fireplace, open floor plan, warm wood finishes and residential-style fixtures and details. The design of the facility will allow a “smaller intimate setting” that facilitates staff and residents to communicate and develop a connection that will help promote individualized care. Residents will also be able to cook and bake foods in kitchens, as well as participate in gardening, socializing and other activities in areas to be set aside for those activities. Copple said the only facility modeled similarly exists in Lincoln, making the Household Care Center a unique facility in western Nebraska. An open house is expected to be held in September. Copple said further details would be announced in the near future.
Star-Herald subscriber?
Call 308-632-9010 to sign up.
What’s in your windows? DRAPERY CENTER Call or stop by today
635-0812
217 East 16 th Street • Scottsbluff
Gen-Flex Varsity Award since 1998 Carlisle Centurion Contractor since 1990 Carlisle Champions Club 2005 & 2006 Tamko Certified Applicator since 1985 GAF Master Select Applicator Owens Corning Preferred Contractor • New Roofs • Reroofing • Asphalt & Cedar Shingles • Roof Maintenance, Repairs & Inspection • Single, Double & 4-Ply Systems
With Over 50 Years Of Service, You Can Count On Us For A Job Done Right! www.twincityroofinginc.com
Rosa and Angel Fernandez, owners of La Bamba at 721 East Overland in Scottsbluff, put up an awning on the west side of their building recently. The awning shelters the door where people walk in and makes for a shady spot for lunch-goers who buy from the lunch wagon. Angel said his son, Ulises, built the awning and then they added picnic tables for the community to relax and have lunch under the awning.
Flood sends company packing across river By RICK WILLIS Staff Reporter
The floodwaters this spring not only deposited mud and flotsam in floodways, but also moved Midtown Building Supplies north, across the river. Midtown is now located at the corner of Broadway and 14th Street in Scottsbluff after leaving its Gering home of more than a decade. “Our building was so low, we started getting groundwater in May,” said Liz Heckenlively, sales clerk and bookkeeper. “The city of Gering told us (because of anticipated flooding) we had to start looking for something else.” The new building is just south of the Star-Herald offices and just north of the railroad tracks in Scottsbluff. There’s a sign on Crescent Road in Gering redirecting current customers to the new location. While the Midtown trade area includes parts of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming, the two employees have noticed some new faces coming in
through the doors. Heckenlively said the previously somewhat-hidden location and gravel road could have discouraged some people. Seberyn agreed. “I think we’ve seen some different people,” Seberyn said. “Our customers are the homeowners, the farmers. We can guide them along and get them what they need.” The company specializes in windows, cabinets and building steel. Midtown buys in bulk and passes savings on to customers. Rows and rows of windows, storm doors and specialty windows line the walls of the new location’s warehouse. “We get a lot of windows made for jobs that people end up not taking,” Heckenlively said. “We have about 1,500 windows in the warehouse, but we can special order.” Larry Seberyn has been working at Midtown for about 14 years and enjoys working with the people who come in. “People come in looking for ideas,” he said. “It can be overwhelming,
they don’t know how many windows we have.” Harvey Schleve, of Morrill, came in looking for a window for a bathroom remodel. He knew the minimum dimensions of the window he needed and was in and out within ten minutes. Heckenlively said people who come in should first measure the dimensions for their windows. “We have big windows and we have little windows,” she said, gesturing with her hands. “There is no such thing as a standard window.” Seberyn said some people don’t know exactly what they want, but know it when they see it. The flood of 2011 moved Midtown to a new town, but time will tell if the relocation is permanent. But for now the inventory is safe and the company has more visibility. “We were back on the river and hard to find,” Heckenlively said. “When we left the building looked like it was surrounded by a moat. Hopefully, we’ll stay here.”
Development
4 SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011
Star-Herald
Positive development stories found throughout the region By KATIE BRADSHAW Staff Reporter
The economic development picture in the Panhandle might best be summed up in a quote from Sidney’s city manager and development director, Gary Person: “Despite a down economy, we’re hanging tough.” Among the positive economic developments are stories coming out of Cheyenne, Dawes, Box Butte, Morrill and Garden Counties and Goshen County, Wyo. Sidney has had a very good year, with $10 million in new projects. One of the biggest economic news items was the merger of Tyco Electronics and ADC Digital to form TE Communications. Person said the merger created a multi-million-dollar expansion and new product lines in Sidney, resulting in 50 new jobs. “Ver y good jobs,” Person added. “The kind of jobs you want to see happen in a community.” Other additions to Sidney’s business scene included a new 80room Hampton Inn, a $600,000 downtown development project and 10 new downtown businesses and several new or relocated transportation service businesses adjacent to I-80. Since the planned Heartland Expressway to connect Denver, Colo., and Rapid City, S.D., via Torrington, Wyo., Kimball, Scottsbluff, Alliance and Chadron has not yet materialized, railroad connections remain important for many communities in the Panhandle. Deb Cottier, executive director of the Nebraska Northwest Development Corporation in Chadron, explained her excitement about a rail line rehabilitation project in Chadron. “Transportation is a big challenge,” she said. “We’re not on the interstate.” A big economic news item in Chadron is the $4.9 million federal grant the Nebraska NorthWestern Railroad received to rehabili-
Photo by Chabella Guzman
While the new distribution center for Pepsi was still a shell, Randy Wallace, general manager, John Maser, warehouse manager and Jana Sherlock, administrative office assistant, looked around at what would be the area where their new offices would be located.
tate the Chadron rail yard and 7 miles of track and bridges to Dakota Junction. The repair work has created about a half-dozen new jobs. The operational track will likely create several more jobs through expanded locomotive and rail car repair business. Another new development on Chadron’s economic development horizon is a new platted multi-lot retail development. Construction has begun on the first store in the development, a Maurice’s clothing store, which is expected to open this fall. Alliance also had an important new railroad-related development, according to Chelsie Herian, executive director of Box Butte Devel-
opment Corporation. West Plains Grain has broken ground on a multi-million-dollar intermodal facility, which will facilitate the transfer of goods between trucks and rail cars. Another development Herian highlighted was the new Pepsi
Cola Bottling Co. facility, housed in a new 63,000-square-foot building visible from Highway 385 on the west edge of town. When Andrew Plummer, vice president of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, was asked about recent business developments in Bridgeport, he ticked off a list of new and renovated businesses, including a tax service, law office, photography business,
coffee shop, screen printer and several agriculture-related businesses, but two developments rose to the top of his list. One was the spring merger of Bridgeport’s 21st Century Equipment with Kay Jan of Fort Morgan, Colo. The merger expanded available inventory and access to services at the Bridgeport location. The other item Plummer highlighted was the construction that has begun on a new bar and grill by Lisa and Troy Weborg, owners of The Steel Grill restaurant in Gering. The new Bridgepor t restaurant, called Bar 64, is expected to open in October. “That’s kind of a big deal to
everybody,” Plummer said. Another “big deal” to communities in the eastern Panhandle was last summer’s centennial celebration in Garden County. Debbie Feller, director of Grow Garden County, an economic development alliance of nine entities, said the celebration of the 100th year of Garden County’s founding injected new energy into the county’s citizens as well as the economy. She pointed to a new Grow Garden County website as well as her own job as an example of the positive trend, noting that her parttime position represents the first time an executive has been appointed to promote economic development in the county. Another positive development she cited was the grant funding that allowed Garden County High School students to partner with business mentors and explore paths to employment close to home. Some new businesses in the county in the past year included a used car dealer and a mechanic shop in Lewellen and an antique shop, insurance office and mini-mall in Oshkosh. In eastern Wyoming, Lisa Johnson, executive director of Goshen County Economic Development Corp., was pleased with the county’s trends in job growth and business expansion plans. Johnson highlighted a major boost to the region’s economy with the recent surge in oil companies’ interest in drilling into the Niobrara formation underlying the county. The mineral leases signed over the last year injected a significant amount of cash into the local economy and allowed landowners to make purchases and tackle deferred maintenance projects. She expects that drilling operations will continue to boost local businesses, such as those included among the 54 companies in the Oil and Gas Field Service Directory on the GCED website. “Overall, our economy is improving,” Johnson said.
Just Us Kids expands operation, building receives new look By ROGER HOLSINGER Assistant Editor
Kare Heilbrun, owner and director of Just Us Kids learning center, said her business is much more than a daycare facility. “Our goal is to inspire children to learn through using small groups. We engage that learning with hands-on activities and our expansion will allow us to spread that learning out in order to meet the social and educational needs of our students,” she said. The business, located at 624 W. 20th St., opened its doors in October 2008 with approximately 35 students from 18 months to 4 years old. The business began with about 2,500 square feet. Approximately six months later, the business expanded to care for infants and added another 500 square feet. At that point, Heilbrun said, an infant area was designed that included a washing, sleeping and play area. Heilbrun, who had previous daycare experience, said she decided to open Just Us Kids in order to spend more time with her son. “Kellen (Hayes) had developed some health issues and we had some changes in our family and this allowed me to spend more time with him. “I had visited other daycares and I felt what was needed was more of a focus on education, and starting that at an early age,” she said. Once the business got rolling, Heilbrun said she and her staff incorporated a structured curriculum and began using that model with infants. As her clientele increased, so did the need for additional space. She said they began using a garage area as an indoor gymnasium and classroom space, but the need for more educational space dictated the remodeling of the gym area into office space and classrooms. “We have more than doubled our size in less than three years,” Heilbrun said. “We are not babysitters but a hands-on learning experience with daycare services.” The latest remodel changes the location of the gymnasium and adds bathrooms, educational areas and office space. She said that “daycare” has changed significantly over the years as the demand for more education is sought by parents. “We also work in collaboration with other centers as
each of us do things differently while maintaining our own strengths. Something we’re working on right now is an outdoor/agriculture-learning element. We have talked with people at the college (Western Nebraska Community College) and other centers have had inquiries,” Heilbrun said. She said as part of that element, a farm has been set up at her home in Gering. “Ted and I have five different types of chickens that are at various growth stages, six Alpacas, two llamas, four miniature horses and some sheep. “We have taken the students out and let them see something different. It allows them to experience the outdoors and gets them away from the TV. At least one day a week we incorporate an element of nature to their experi-
ence. We believe that child and animal interaction is not only educational but therapeutic,” Heilbrun said. Staci Castro, assistant director, said that in addition to the educational improvements and interior remodeling, the outside of the str ucture is being improved. “The improvements being made outside are not only going to make the building look better, but will also make the building more energy efficient. We have reduced the size of the windows, added stucco and some manmade stones will be the finishing touch,” she said. She added that once the remodeling work is completed, the center would have a new entrance with a receptionist along with a new sign. Castro, who has worked for Heilbrun since the cen-
Photo by Roger Holsinger
Just Us Kids learning center is undergoing a major renovation at its location in Scottsbluff. Here, Staci Castro, assistant director and Kare Heilbrun, owner/director stand in the new gymnasium. Heilbrun said the remodeling and addition represent a significant investment in the business.
ter opened, said there are approximately 115 students – six weeks to 13 years – enrolled and that their ca-
pacity is 85 per day. She schools to the center. said they also offer an after For more information school program that trans- about the learning center, call p o r t s s t u d e n t s f r o m 308-632-6074.
Development
A Star-Herald publication
SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011 5
Taqueria brings fresh look and taste to East Overland By CHABELLA GUZMAN Staff Reporter
Francisco Panduro has always been in the restaurant business. As a boy he worked in Mexico at his father’s restaurant before moving to California to work for his uncle, Hugo Panduro. “My uncle owned a catering truck that he sold tacos out of and my dad helped him,” said Lorenzo Panduro, manager at Taqueria Mexicana. “He sold the business to my father after three years and he (Francisco) moved here.” After working out of the catering truck for 15 years Francisco decided he wanted to put down roots and began looking for a lot on which to build his family business. He wanted to have a
small restaurant with two more spaces to rent out. “Dad wanted to make it like a little shopping area,” said Lorenzo. “We have the restaurant here and a little shop with accessories next door.” The little shop next door is called “La Poblanita” owned by Maria Ordoñez. She had always wanted to own a small business and believes she has the right location, as business has been good. Taqueria Mexicana offers a variety of dishes that include tacos to seafood. “Right now the favorites are quesadillas and caldo 7 mares,” said Lorenzo. “We Photo by Chabella Guzman travel to Denver to get our Lorenzo, left, and Francisco Jr. assist their father, Francisco Panduro, owner of Taqueria Mexicana at 312 East fish so it is fresh, like all of Overland in Scottsbluff. The restaurant anchors two smaller stores, one that sells gifts, music and DVDs and our ingredients.” another that is yet to be rented. Francisco would like to see a few more buildings go Overland and believes the area for future businessThe restaurant is open day 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and ofup. He enjoys being at East more people should look at es. Wednesday through Mon- fers catering.
Groundbreaking planned for RDC this fall By ROGER HOLSINGER Assistant Editor
Due to a number of delays, groundbreaking for the Riverside Discover y Center has been placed on hold until this fall. However, Tony Kaufman, president of the Riverside Discover y Center Board, said work is currently being done to ensure that construction on the $2.8 million project begins. Kaufman said that because of the flooding caused by groundwater and high water in the North Platte River, the groundbreaking that had been planned for this spring had to be postponed. Another delay was caused by legal paperwork as finalizing the merging of the three non-profit groups involved — Riverside Zoo, Wildlife World and a children’s museum — took more time than originally anticipated. Kauf-
man said the RDC just recently heard of the approval from the Nebraska Secretary of State and the Attorney General’s office. “We wanted to make sure the end result of the organization was what it was intended to be when we began this process,” Kaufman said. He added that when the process began the board wanted to ensure that the project would be sustainable for the next 20 years. “The last thing we wanted to do was build another facility that we had to close our doors in three years and then there is just one more big building to do something with in the community. Before we merged everybody, we wanted to make sure this was definitely a realistic goal,” Kaufman said. He said the next step will be to begin working with the contractors and local vendors to move forward
on the project. Kaufman said the project has a tentative start date for construction this fall, with completion of the Riverside Discovery Center museum and education center set for 2012. Anderson Shaw has been named as the general contractor for the main building, which will be approximately 17,000 square feet. Kaufman said it will take about 12 months to construct the building, which will house some of the displays from Wildlife World and a children’s museum. The center will also have classrooms, a fully functioning kitchen, meeting areas, and gift shop. Kaufman said that fundraising has gone well, but is still short of the goal. “We have some work to do on that ($2.8 million), but we are over $1 million, about $1.2 million,” he said. Kaufman said that the center is operating at a low-
er cost than when the zoo was run by the City of Scottsbluff, but said having to close for a month due to the flooding hurt the facility financially. But he added that support from community in various fundraisers helped to offset that loss and that the board is encouraged by the community support it’s seen since the RDC took over the facility. For more information about the center, to make a donation or volunteer, contact the center at 308-6306236.
MODEL
Photo by Roger Holsinger
The Riverside Discovery Center is expected to open sometime in 2012. The center will feature a children’s museum, Wildlife World and Riverside Zoo. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2.8 million.
CASH PRICE
John Deere 315 45HP, 1,500 Operating Capacity, 3,000 lbs. Tipping Load, CALL! 60” Dirt Bucket. Several attach. available
2008 John Deere 332 Cab 84” Bucket, C005876
2007 John Deere 332 Cab 84” Bucket, C005873
$29,950
Call your 21ST Century Equipment Professional today! Offer expires August 31, 2011. Prices & model availability may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Available at participating dealers.
$35,900
Making Farming Easier
ALLIANCE
BRIDGEPORT
GORDON
Hwy 385 & 10th St.
9738 US 26
6742 State Hwy 27
1001 Hwy 61
101 Road, East 80
1901 Link 17J
308-762-5870 888-762-5870
308-262-1110 800-682-5121
308-282-0665 800-535-4450
308-882-4326 800-525-4934
308-284-4049 800-658-4227
308-254-2511 866-233-2511
IMPERIAL
OGALLALA
SIDNEY
WWW.21STCENTURYEQUIPMENT.NET
Excellence In Orthopaedic Care Local consultation l Local surgery l Local follow-up Regional West Physicians Clinic-Orthopaedics offers comprehensive orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care for arthritis, reconstructive surgery, hand disease, hand trauma, sports medicine, overuse disorders, arthroscopic surgery, pediatric musculoskeletal diseases, and trauma. To schedule an appointment please call 308.635.1414 or toll-free 888.635.1114. No referral necessary.
Timothy Friedlein MD, FAAOS
Gregory Harbach MD
Physicians Clinic ORTHOPAEDICS
Steve Miller MD
Anthony Sanchez MD Trisha Lacey PA-C
Two West 42nd Street | Suite 120 | Scottsbluff, NE 69361 | www.PhysiciansClinic.net
Abbie Cross PA-C
Development
6 SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2011
A Star-Herald publication
Mitchell Market ringing up grocery sales By KATIE BRADSHAW Staff Reporter
MITCHELL — The necessities of life include shelter, clothing and food. When Mitchell’s grocery store closed in November 2010, area residents faced a tougher time obtaining the latter. Though Dollar General stepped up to offer more food items, community members missed their grocery store. Mitchell residents are once again able to shop at a full-service grocer y store in their town. Mitchell Market opened for business June 30 in the former Food
Pride building. In response to numerous requests, Lloyd Bairn, who owned the Village Foods grocery in Morrill for 25 years, partnered with Josh Dykes, who started working for Bairn in high school, to open Mitchell Market. Community members have taken an active role in the grocery store’s success. About a dozen people helped clean up the store on May 7 to prepare for opening day. “We certainly appreciate them,” Bairn said. On the first day the reorganized grocer y store was open, customers offered support that sent
Barin to “cloud nine.” “It was a ver y emotional day,” he said, adding that numerous customers have firmly told him, “we’re not going to lose this store again.” Amanda Rodriguez, working the checkout on Tuesday, said that many people comment about the spacious feel of the reorganized store. One of Tuesday morning’s customers, Kay Flowers, said she had planned to drive to Scottsbluff to do her grocery shopping. When she found out Mitchell Market was open, she shopped there instead. “It’s so nice to have it open again,” Flowers said.
Local restaurant adds contemporary interior
Photo by Katie Bradshaw
Kay Flowers was one of the shoppers at Mitchell Market on Tuesday, not quite two weeks after the grocery store opened in the former Food Pride building.
Bairn said Mitchell Market was store’s phone number: 308-623able to keep the former grocery 1511.
WESTCO EXPANSION
By CHABELLA GUZMAN Staff Reporter
Patrons of Rosita’s Restaurant will notice upgrades to the interior of the restaurant. Restaurant owners began with the movement of the door to the east side of the building last year, then proceeded to interior painting and the addition of a lounge. “We wanted to update the look a little,” said Rosemary Lerma, co-owner of the restaurant, “to give it more of a modern feel.” Lerma said the old entryway had wasted space that could be used for more than just customers waiting to be seated. “Now if customers are waiting to be seated they can go on to the lounge,” she said. Her son, Evan, helped with choosing of colors for the lounge and the restaurant area. Lerma had ordered a new hood system for the restaurant and was told it would take a full day to install the system. Rather than waste a day, she decided to paint the interior. “We went through color selections up to the last minute,” she said. “We based the colors off the red chili and toned down many of them.” It took them a full day,
Photo by Rick Willis Photo by Chabella Guzman
Rosita’s Restaurant recently did some remodeling, included adding a lounge. Evan Lerma and Rosemary Lerma show off the area that includes a bar, tables and TV. Rosemary and her husband, Paul, own Rosita’s.
from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., to get all the painting done so the restaurant could open without losing a day of business. Evan chose darker colors for the lounge to make it more of a relaxing and cozy area for couples or people
just wanting some quiet time. Lerma wasn’t able to get all of the remodeling done and is still looking to add an outdoor patio. “We like being part of East Overland and making it look good,” she said. “Everyone seems to enjoy
The Westco Dry Fertilizer facility in Gering was completed in March. It holds 5,700 tons of fertilizer for area growers. Paul Reed, the general contractor built the 184-foot by 80-foot dry fertilizer building using more than 1,450 cubic yards of concrete.
Let us help with your advertising needs. Call 308-632-9020 for assistance.
Carr-Trumbull Lumber is your one stop shopping for all your Cambria Quartz and granite needs. As a full service fabrication and installation shop we are able to handle any project large and small. We bring in raw slabs and cut, profile and polish to your specifications. So whether it is a residential project of tops for your kitchen or commercial projects in the office or workplace we can provide you with the stone products you need to make whatever project look great. Stop in see our great selection of remnant pieces for an economical solution to small projects too.
Our 3200 square foot fabrication shop can accommodate all of your store fabrication needs.
Carr-Trumbull Lumber
632-2143 1-800-446-7147
1310 Circle Drive, Scottsbluff
M-F 7:30-5:30 • Sat 8:00-2:00