Star-Herald Pride 2014

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Pride

Good eats Brighten your day at Curtis Corner

Business

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A STAR-HERALD PUBLICATION

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Powering up

The good ol’ days

Family business

Life in the fast lane

Staying connected

Harnessng the power of the sun

High Plains Homestead keeps Old West fires burning

Growing a business with deep roots

Miller Brothers stay involved in nearly half-century of racing

Social media consultants help businesses ‘plug in’

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Reversing the brain drain

By MARY WERNKE For the Star-Herald

Photos by Joe Dutton

Sam & Louie’s owners Eric and Melissa Schneider stand in front of their family-owned business with their children Paige, center, and Aria, lower center. The Schneiders started their piece of the Sam & Louie’s franchise after remodeling the former Bentley-Donovan Jewelry building and have had continued success since opening last June.

Sam & Louie’s owners bring a slice of New York to Scottsbluff

By JOE DUTTON Staff Reporter

Starting a new restaurant wasn’t an easy process for one Scottsbluff couple, but now the benefits have become endless with support from local residents.

When Sam & Louie’s owners Melissa and Chad Schneider opened their doors for business last June, they brought a new style of restaurant to the Scottsbluff community. This effort didn’t come easy for them, but it was an opportunity they couldn’t resist.

Melissa and Chad got their first taste of Sam & Louie’s when they were visiting Sidney a few years ago. One of Chad’s friends recommended that the Schneiders meet him at a nice pizza restaurant downtown.

“We went in there and ate and the food was fantastic,” Chad said. “We didn’t even think about it at that point because then we didn’t know it was a small chain, we were just like, ‘Wow, they did an awesome job.’”

Three months later the Schneiders returned to the same Sam & Louie’s location after Christmas shopping and this time they saw a flyer advertising the chance to own a part of the franchise, which sparked their interest.

“She (Melissa) called them and the next thing you know, we were doing this,” Chad said.

After buying into a part of the franchise, the Schneiders went searching for their perfect location up and down the downtown streets of Scottsbluff.

The couple then found the old Bent-

Scottsbluff residents Elizabeth Converse and Sean Cargile enjoy the best of both worlds as they dig into their freshly made half-and-half pizza at Sam & Louie’s.

ly-Donovan Jewelr y building and decided to move in. They spent three months remodeling the building and opened in June last year.

“It was kind of funny, it was one of those things like ‘why would we do this? ’” Melissa said. “ Then the plans started falling into place and everything just kept kind of inching us in the right direction and I was like, ‘Well I guess this is what we’re supposed to do.’”

Chad said they could have built anywhere in town, but their goal was to add something nice to the downtown Scottsbluff area since Italian-style restaurants and restaurants in gener-

al were lacking there.

“The downtown from two years ago to now is so much better,” he said.

“You go to a big city and where do you go? You generally try to get downtown because that’s where the character is.”

Their decision to locate downtown has also been well received by the communit y. Melissa said her first attraction to Sam & Louie’s as a franchise was that the corporation gave them the ability to tweak the menu, host community fundraisers and have a few other freedoms, which is rare in most franchise businesses.

SAM & LOUIE’S, page 2

An improved economy in Nebraska, especially the ag and railroad economies in western Nebraska, may have led to what some describe as a reversal of the longtime brain drain problem often plaguing small Panhandle towns. From 2008-10, the state saw a net increase of more than 2,500 college graduates and during the first decade of the 21st century, the Panhandle’s percentage of college grads rose by 4 percent.

In Alliance and Hemingford, Box Butte Development Corporation Director Chelsie Herian said she has seen a definite increase in the number of young adults, including those college grads, returning to the communities where they were born or raised to start careers and, in most cases, start a family.

“We are seeing many of our youth returning to Box Butte County to either raise their families or take advantage of the lower cost of living and doing business,” Herian said. “It is good to see so many coming back to either start a business or work to someday take over a business.”

Brooke (Vogel) Shelmadine, 28, is the Box Butte Health Foundation director at Box Butte General Hospital in A lliance. A graduate of Hemingford High School, Shelmadine attended college at Wake Forest University in North Carolina and returned to Nebraska for law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Shelmadine sa id she lef t her hometown of about 800 people in 2004 with the typical 18 -year-old Brooke attitude of, “I’ve got to get out of Shelmadine here and I’m never coming back.”

However, a social entrepreneur class study at Wake Forest woke her up to the problems surrounding the rural flight phenomenon.

Described in a Princeton University study as “the migratory patterns of peoples from rural areas into urban areas, rural flight often occurs in modern times, following the industrialization of agriculture when fewer people are needed to bring the same amount of agricultural output to market and related agricultural services and industries are consolidated. Rural flight is exacerbated when the population decline leads to the loss of rural services such as stores and schools, which then leads to greater loss of population.”

“Rural flight is still affecting me (and my job) every day,” Shelmadine said. “As I work to build the endowment for the hospital, I see the money made in Box Butte County is leaving the area with the next generation. It’s sad. Some of that money should stay here.”

In law school, Shelmadine said she started thinking about marriage and family — she wanted to raise her children with the values she learned in a small community. The young attorney is already the mother to three children — two teenage stepsons and a 20-month-old daughter with husband Tim. The flex-time available with her job at the hospital allows Shelmadine to spend more quality time with her young family than a traditional 60-hour-plus position in the city would have, she said.

Since Shelmadine was already certain she didn’t want to practice law, she had started to look for work with a nonprofit when the position at BBGH became available. In addition to the personal reasons she chose to return to the area, Shelmadine said working for a nonprofit offers additional incentives in school loan forgiveness.

Shelmadine said a lot of her high school class has decided not to set down roots in western Nebraska.

She doesn’t fault them. “It may not be the best place for single people,” she said. “But if their primary reason for returning is a career move, I believe it’s a good one.”

NEBRASKA, page 3

Fred A. Lockwood & Co. celebrates 50 years

By BRANDON NELSON Staff Reporter

A local accounting firm is celebrating a landmark anniversary this year.

Fred A . L ock wood & Co. (FALCO) has served the financial needs of the region for the last 50 years and has weathered t he ma ny cha nges t hat have occurred within the industry in that time.

From their four locations in Scottsbluff, Chadron, Mullen and Gordon, FA L CO’s accountant and consultant team has served individuals, businesses and governmental entities throughout rural western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, southern South Dakota and northern Colorado.

Company Founder Fred Lockwood said the last few decades have seen the company expand from its humble beginnings and become a well-oiled machine, cover ing hundreds of clients within a 240-mile radius.

With its roots stemming from a rural area, the firm naturally gravitated to agriculture as a primary niche, but not its only

Photo by Brandon Nelson

The Fred A. Lockwood & Co. Scottsbluff office is located at 1110 Circle Dr., Suite 100. The company has four locations altogether, including offices in Chadron, Mullen, Gordon and Scottsbluff.

one. Presently, the firm prepares 2,000 tax returns, of which 500 are agricultural related.

“It ’s a pleasure,” L ockwood said about working with a variety of clients. “You get to see people on a fairly regular basis, about

four or five times a year depending on what you’re doing with them.”

FALCO’s legacy traces back to 1964, when Lockwood at the age of 23 acquired a small accounting firm in Mitchell from Felix Tay-

lor for $20,000. Lockwood said he soon moved the company to Gering, becoming the city’s first certified public accountant.

Lockwood formed the partnership Fred A. Lockwood & Co. in January 1977 with his wife, Car-

ol, who joined the firm in 1973 and stayed on as a partner for 30 years before retiring.

FA LCO remained in Gering until 1999, when the company FRED A. LOCKWOOD & CO., page 2

2 Saturday, March 8, 2014

Pride

Star-Herald

SAM & LOUIE’S: Owners bring a slice of New York to Scottsbluff Continued from page 1 “We’re not just a cookie cutter template. They give us a nice base that’s there, but we can do what we want to do and make it fit our town and our personalities, which is really, really nice,” she said.

Melissa said they had so many great people come to work for them when they first hired their staff. Some had little or no food service experience, but given only a few days to prepare for the grand opening, everyone involved came through and did a good job in helping the restaurant take off. The employees still impress the Schneiders with their work today.

“We have an awesome staff. Really good cooks, really good waitresses and we have been extremely lucky with how well that’s turned out,” Chad said.

The Schneiders even set a few company milestones after opening their store. Chad said out of all the stores that Sam and Louie’s stores have opened, the Scottsbluf f location broke the record for one - day sales, highest daily average sales in the first month and possibly the first three months, too.

“For the first two months we were busy from when we’d open until we’d close,” Melissa said.

This influx of business led to the new owners quickly finding answers to keep up with the demand. Chad said they had to buy more freezers and since they were running out of food during the first month, they had to order in two truckloads a week. Chad added that it was a good problem to have, but it was a learning experience.

Sam & Louie’s offers an environment that is family friendly and Melissa said the best part of owning her own restaurant is the people that come in and the employees.

“I love just getting to see the people every day,” she said. “I love working for our staff. It’s really nice to have a crew of people and you go back there and they’re all singing and they are happy. Not every day, but most of the time there’s a real positive vibe and it’s great to be a part of it.”

When it comes to memorable moments for the owners, they said the grand opening was crazy, but the fundraiser they had for the United Way of Western Nebraska in January was not only a great event, but it was a large step for them in handling large events compared to when they opened.

“The team really came together and we had a lot of fun and it was fun partnering with the United Way and the people they brought in,” she said. “It was a great day all around.”

Melissa said they didn’t know much about the restaurant business when they went into it, even though they have ran other small businesses before.

Their advice for others looking at going into the same type of business is to not be afraid to take a risk.

“What made it a little bit easier was there aren’t a lot of Italian restaurants in town and I’ve been saying for years that it would be great to see something like this downtown. I never thought I would be the one to do it,” she said.

Chad said there is a lot of pride in the business and it is a community involved business since it takes everyone to help support it and their fundraisers.

“If you do that, the area will generally support you back. It’s a nice two-way street. We give back to the community somewhat and the community seems to do that same right back,” he said.

Melissa said they are always looking to have more fundraising opportunities with other nonprofit organizations, valley schools and anyone that is in need.

Chad added that they are very lucky to have such great service people and if they continue to do that, then the business will continue to be successful.

“It has been a lot of fun,” Melissa said. “I won’t lie, there were days where I went to training and I was like, ‘Wow I’m so scared, I have no idea how this is going to work,’ but I come in here and I find myself having a hard time leaving sometimes because it’s really fun to be here and I hope other people feel that way and I really enjoy it a lot.”

Sam & Louie’s is a Nebraska-based franchise that started in Omaha in 1994 as a small, family-owned pizzeria and has grown to 20 franchises in many other towns across the state and has even crossed the border into other states, including Iowa, Kansas, Montana and Wisconsin. Melissa said in any industry

Courtesy photo

Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karen Anderson, left, presents Fred A. Lockwood & Co. Founder Fred Lockwood with a certificate recognizing his company for 50 years in business. The company began when Lockwood purchased Felix Taylor’s accounting firm in Mitchell for $20,000. The firm now assists hundreds of individuals, businesses, and governmental entities in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Colorado.

Photos by Joe Dutton

Sam & Louie’s cook Eric Sabala slides a hot pizza straight out of the oven and into a box to be sliced and sent to their awaiting customers.

Sabala flips pizza dough into the air as he prepares to make a fresh hand-tossed pizza for a customer order.

and especially in food service, there is feedback of all kinds. She added that the town of Scottsbluff has been very good and she can’t even count how many times people have said thank you for opening a business downtown and enjoys hearing that praise from the community.

“I just can’t say enough for Scottsbluff,” she said.

“I really enjoy living here and I feel privileged to be a part of the community and to have something like this here.”

FRED A. LOCKWOOD & CO.: Celebrating 50 years Continued from page 1 moved across the river and set up shop in its current location at 1110 Circle Dr. in Scottsbluff.

An operation that began with only six employees p roc es si n g about 10 0 ta x returns has steadily matured into a 22-person sta f f meeting the needs of more tha n 25 0 cus tomers through a range of ser v ices, including accounting, bookkeeping, ret irement a nd est ate planning, IRS representation, payroll, sales tax and audit services and financial planning. A lso, FA LCO’s revenue has grown from $7,600 in its first year to $2.4 million in 2010.

Lockwood said FALCO s t a f f h a ve hone d t he i r met hods a nd g r adua l ly widened their scope of expertise to keep up with the ever-changing times and technology. Upgrading to a cloud computing system is one of the most recent technological jumps FA L CO has made, he added.

Each company location also has high-speed Internet access and the ability to transfer information between the locations.

“When I started, the Xerox machine had just come out. We were working on t y pew riters,” L ock wood said, of fering some perspective. “So much is automated now.”

Acquiring and merging with other tax and accounting practices has contributed to FALCO’s continuous growth and success. From the early 1970s through the 1990s, the firm has teamed up with other practices in Scottsbluff, Chadron, Kimball and Torrington, Wyo. FALCO has also joined

forces with the BDO Seidman Alliance, a nationwide association of independently owned local and regional CPA firms and businesses that prov ide assura nce, tax, financial advisory and consulting services to public and private companies.

A s a n allia nce member, L ockwood said the company is able to enhance its client services and broaden its overall capabilities by having access to the industry’s most up-to-date technical information, participating in the latest training programs and establishing ke y b u s i n e s s c o n t a c t s throughout the U.S. Through the years, the firm has made a pointed effort to integrate itself into the community.

Lockwood said that FALCO staff are active in local chambers of commerce, Business & Professional Women groups, Adopt-ASchool programs, Crime Stoppers, United Way and H a b i t a t f o r H u m a n i t y.

Lockwood himself served as a Scotts Bluff County Commissioner for 12 years, and in 1990, he pursued a congressional seat with the hope of representing his home state of Nebraska in Washington, D.C. FALCO has been a member of the Scottsbluff-Geri ng Un ited Cha mber of Commerce since 1985, and on Jan. 9, the chamber celebrated FALCO’s 50 years in business with a Business After Hours and a special ambassador presentation.

“It’s been a good run and it’s been a great experience having the support of the com mun it y,” L ock wood said. “ We do tr y to give back in as many ways we can.”

Pride

Star-Herald

Saturday, March 8, 2014 3

NEBRASKA: Reversing the brain drain Continued from page 1

Photo by Bart Schaneman

Bill Johnson, left, CEO of Northfield Retirement Communities and Kirk Hayes, sales and marketing coordinator, both have passion for their job.

Northfield Retirement keeps community active as it ages

By BART SCHANEMAN Assistant Editor

T he fol ks st ay i ng at No r t h f i e l d R e t i r e m e n t homes a re act ive. T hey golf, take college classes, t ravel, work f ull -t ime i f they want to, and even hit the casino.

They get to do what they want to. “ We w a n t p e o p l e t o k now we are promot ing a n a c t i ve c o m m u n i t y,” said Kirk Hayes, sales and marketing coordinator for Northfield.

Between two campuses, the Villa and the Vista in Gering and the Residency in Scottsbluff, they have 137 people living in their facilities.

Bill Johnson, chief executive officer for Northfield, emphasized that the caregivers want their residents to stay in motion.

“The more socialization you have, the younger you stay,” Johnson said.

Hayes agreed, adding “ We have some 92 -yearolds here who would run circles around me.”

One of Northfield’s biggest selling points is something they have ter med “life care.”

According to Northfield, life-care entrance fee is a unique way to control cost.

Clients pay a one-time fee upfront to secure a residence, then go on to pay monthly at a considerably lower cost.

According to Johnson, Nor thf ield of fers one of only four tot al li fe care facilities in the state and the only one in western Nebraska.

“It’s a way for people to protect the wealth they worked so hard for,” Hayes said.

But it’s not only wealth protection. There’s also a tax benefit.

Both Hayes and Johnson wanted to emphasize that their community is not just for the wealthy.

“The truth is, you just have to have done a decent

job of sav ing for ret ire ment,” Hayes said.

Johnson said you don’t have to be a doctor or a lawyer to get in. “ We h a ve a w h ol e cross-section of life here,” he said. “It creates a nice atmosphere.”

Nor thf ield Retirement Communit y is a not-forprofit organization.

The business is a 501(c) (3), with no parent company and is governed by a board of directors. Johnson said that because they aren’t a corporate business, NORTHFIELD, page 4

Jadda Tyler, 27, is the human resources representative and manages billing at Progress Rail Services, just east of Alliance.

Progress Rail works in the rail industry and recycling, primarily refurbishing and repairing rail cars in the Alliance area.

Born and raised in Bridgeport and Alliance, Tyler said her decision to return to the area was also a personal decision, Jadda Tyler based on a job move for her boy f riend. W hile the relationship ended, her career took a definite upswing when she took the position with Progress Rail.

After years of bouncing from one retail job to another, the young woman finds small town living and professional employment extremely liberating. Tyler credits the lower cost of living in a small town to her ability to become more financially solvent.

Another young attorney, Nathan Jaggers practices law with the firm of Curtiss, Moravek and Curtiss in Alliance. A 2001 g raduate of A l l ia nce High School and a 2005 Creighton Universit y g rad, Jaggers bega n work on his master’s in social work at the University of Texas in Austin in fall 2006.

“I didn’t know what I wanted, but I assumed it Nathan had to be in a big city,” Jaggers Jagger said. “I wanted a ‘proper job’ and at the time, I didn’t know they were available in rural settings.”

At U T, Jaggers was assigned to a practicum with the Downtown Community Court, an interdisciplinary team in downtown Austin working to help solve problems with the homeless people in the predominantly retail area. His car was broken into on his first day of grad school and he didn’t enjoy hearing variations of the same story over and over again. “I felt like I wasn’t applying myself,” Jaggers said.

“The social ills in Austin were so very different than what I was used to in Omaha,” he added. “Panhandlers are in your face and I was neck deep in the social problems of these poor, sad folks — all day, every day.”

A career re-evaluation sent Jaggers back to law school at UNL, where he graduated a semester early in December of 2009. A coincidental meeting with Terry Curtiss in the halls of UNL’s law school led him back to Alliance. Acknowledging the glut of attorneys in major metropolitan areas, Jaggers said he was still concerned about earning a living in a small town described as “underserved” by legal professionals.

Having worked with the low-to-no-income individuals in Austin and doing pro bono work during law school, Jaggers was not

averse to some reduced fees, but needed to support himself, as well.

“Even though I was from here, I had to build the awareness, trust and confidence of people in the community just like somebody who wasn’t from here,” Jaggers said. His last name may not be notable to those who aren’t longtime residents of the community, as his mother, stepfather and maternal grandparents all have a different last name. His father relocated and his paternal grandfather retired years ago.

But those parents and grandparents are another big reason Jaggers chose to return to Alliance. “I like being able to help my grandparents — helping my one grandpa with physical therapy or watching the other grandparent’s dog,” he said.

Jaggers said he also enjoys being an influence on his younger brother, still a student at Alliance High School.

Still single, Jaggers said he’s an introvert who prefers sports and the news to the bar scene or cultural highpoints like museums and art galleries. Outside of his legal practice, he serves as a member of the Alliance Public Schools Foundation and as a TeamMates mentor.

Heather ( Steggs) Jensen, 28, is a third-generation real estate agent in Alliance. Graduating from Alliance High School in 2003, Jensen attended UNL and pursued a career in massage therapy in Omaha and Lincoln before returning to college in Scottsbluff, where she joi ned t he national championship volleyball team at WNCC in 2007.

Heather She worked briefly for Jensen Mane Street Studio in Alliance, but was again drawn to volleyball, serving as a coach at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo., for two years. Jensen received her Associate of Arts degree at LCCC, but the pull from her hometown drew her and husband Chris Jensen back again in 2011.

She set to work to gain her real estate license — a career goal reached in January 2013. Just a year later, in January 2014, Steggs Real Estate — a company manned by her grandfather Harold Steggs and father Larry Steggs before her — merged with Western Nebraska Real Estate. Steggs is now a full-time real estate sales person with WNRE and continues to work part time at Mane Street Studio.

“We wanted to raise our family here around our parents and other family members,” Jensen said. “I like that I was born here, raised here and know everyone,” she said. In a real estate career that relies on relationships, local networks are a plus. Jensen is also a volleyball coach for the junior high and freshman teams in Hemingford.

“My friends in the city think I’m crazy, but we both like living here,” she concluded.

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Star-Herald

Brighten your day at Curtis Corner

By SANDRA HANSEN Ag Editor

MITCHELL — “Friends, Family, Fun,” is the motto of Dave and Tara Curtis. The words dominate the wall of their young business, Curtis Corner, located at the intersection of Center Avenue and U.S. Highway 26 in Mitchell.

Travelers can’t help but see the yellow building on the northeast corner of the main intersection.

Curtis Corner began as a lemonade stand, but since summer 2012, it has evolved into a bustling, customer-friendly place to get an ice cream cone or a quick homemade meal. A jolly yellow lemon-man, decked out in cowboy hat and boots, and a smiling ice cream cone with long eye lashes decorate the outside of the building.

The new venture began two years ago when Dave and Tara Curtis found themselves with a lot of lemons left from a lemonade stand following an event in the Mitchell city park. What to do with the lemons that would go bad before the next big event?

After talking to city officials, the couple decided to set up a lemonade stand in front of their newly acquired property on the corner of Center Avenue and Highway 26. They’d sell lemonade until they ran out of lemons.

“It started out as something to do after our regular jobs,” Dave explained, carrying baskets of cheeseburgers and trimmings to customers seated at a table.

“A fter work, we’d come home, drag out everything and set up in front. Then at 10, we’d drag it all back in.”

The rest of the summer was a busy one, with customers starting to ask for ice cream treats.

The couple responded by buying more equipment and renovating the interior of the commercial space at the front of their home.

Ta r a had or ig i na l ly t hought about turning it into a small gift

Photo by Sandra Hansen

Dave Curtis and Brett Wiegand, 3, discuss issues of the day while waiting for his mother, Marcene, and another friend, Jake, to finish the supper. The sign in the background, “friends, family and fun,” are key elements of the Curtis business philosophy.

shop, but, responding to popular demand, the pair decided to open their own ice cream parlor.

In April 2013, they began their remodeling project, and the creation of their logos. Bill Snocker, a family friend and Dave’s fellow musician, stopped by one day, and while Dave was working on the dry wall, Snocker sketched a jolly bow-legged fellow, who was painted over. But Dave took

a picture of the drawing “just because” and a few days later, Bill arrived with a color version of the figure. It now graces the west side of the yellow building, and is joined by a happy ice cream cone lady above the dark green front door.

On July 14, 2013, they opened t he new business. L ines of customers st retched in bot h directions from the shop, and

free kiddie ice cream cones and doggie cones were handed out.

There were even movie characters, when youngsters came to the shop dressed in their “Despicable Me” Halloween costumes.

“We never owned a restaurant or an ice cream shop,” Dave explained. “We just guessed what we needed by what we’d seen.”

Tara said they evidently guessed right because by the end of that

summer, people were also asking for food items, such as hot dogs and nachos. But they also wanted to visit the Curtis hang out during the winter. “ Well, lemonade, ice cream, and hot dogs and nachos weren’t going to be enough to make a living, so we decided to do daily specials,” Dave said. The change also meant that Tara and Dave CURTIS CORNER, page 5

NORTHFIELD: Keeps retirement community active as it ages Continued from page 3 they can be quick to re spond to clients’ needs.

Life-care retirement living first came to western Nebraska in the 1970s when the late Dr. Max Gentr y brought it to Gering. Northfield Villa started in 1974, the Vista in 1987 and the Residency in 1992.

“It ’s been pretty much the same offering for the last 40 years and it’s still here,” Hayes said.

According to literature prov ided by Nor thf ield, one-third of those turning 65 will need nursing home care in their lifetime. The average length of time a person needs assisted living is 27 months.

In 2011, the first members of the baby boomers reached age 65. According to Northfield, because retirement-aged people are increasing in numbers and living longer, the United S t a t e s i s e x p e r i e nc i n g greater need for retirement services.

Independent living includes life care and apartment rentals. Those choosi n g t he a s s is t e d l i v i n g option stay on-average 27 months. Those selecting t he c a r e c e nt e r op t ion t ypically stay around 23 months.

H aye s ha s b e en w it h Northfield for about five years. He’s a Scottsbluff native.

“It ’s just ended up the Johnson came here in neatest job I’ve ever had,” 2012 from Colorado and he said. “Time just flies.” before that, Iowa. He said His grandparents both the community here has lived in Northfield. “ We’re bel iever s ,” he said.

Hayes said they see a lot of repeat family clients.

“You join our family and you stay with our family,” Johnson said.

Johnson pointed out that a lot of the people who came in here and need care are the people who helped create these communities.

Northfield sees itself as a functioning part of families, particularly the children of the residents.

“It’s truly a gift to their kids,” Hayes said.

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probably the friendliest people he’s ever met.

“I feel we’re lucky to be in this community,” Johnson

said. “We’re an asset to this community and this community is an asset to us. We work hand in hand.”

Pride

Star-Herald

Saturday, March 8, 2014 5

CURTIS CORNER: Brighten your day at Mitchell business Courtesy photos

Continued from page 4 were launching a full-time op er at ion , so t hey qu it their jobs and jumped into independent ownership.

In addition to the earlier items, they now offer daily specials, including pulled pork, ribs, cabbage burgers, bread pudding, loaded baked potatoes and others, as demand requires.

Hamburgers, g y ros and other favorites, are also on the menu during business hours, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the winter, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the summer. T hey are open every day except Sunday.

Dave laughs, noting the business is k ind of like running a dairy farm. The work continues on a daily ba sis , whet her s er v i ng c u s t om e r s o r c l e a n i n g and preparing for the next week. It never stops, he said.

While their efforts have built a steady clientele, the Curtises have also been rewarded with a new circle of friends. “We really didn’t p l a n t he w hol e t h i n g,” Dave said. “But the community is happy to have us here, and we’re happy to be here.”

Because of their dedication to customers, Tara sa id Cu r t is C or ner has become a special place.

People celebrate birthdays a nd hol idays here, a nd receive special treatment for various occasions, such as winning ribbons at the fair. Customers are likely to find Dave and his musical friends strumming out a few tunes on a quiet evening.

According to Tara, their v ision was to prov ide a place where people come to ha ng out a nd have a good time, and so far, it seems to be successf ul.

She said people appreciate the homemade food, the fresh bakery goods each day, and the warm, homestyle atmosphere. Smiles greet customers and an e a s y c h a i r e nc ou r a ge s long visits.

After living on Sunflower Road for 12 years, Tara and Dave are both excited to have become part of the Mitchell community.

“Little did we know that we’d become part of the Mitchell cult ure,” Dave said, in between waiting on customers. “Some of the elderly come not just for a hot meal, but also for the company. They love to visit.” “ We ’ v e m e t s o m a n y people, and they’re friends

LEFT: You never know who you will find at Curtis C o r n e r. Th e s e c h a r a c t e r s f r o m t h e m o v i e “Despicable Me” joined the open house celebration last July. Inside the costumes are Donte, Cylie and Rodney Jr. Brink.

BELOW: Crowds line up outside Curtis Corner during the summer for a favorite ice cream treat, a cooling lemonade, or a quick sandwich.

now,” Dave said. “It’s getting out of hand, actually.

We can’t keep enough food in here. It is just great to have a profitable business and so much community support in a small market like this.”

T heir market is growing, though, with customers coming from Harrison, S cot tsblu f f a nd other ne i g hb o r i n g Neb r a s k a communities, as well as Torrington, Wyo. “ We j u s t f e e l w e ’ v e

been blessed,” Dave said, looking to Tara standing behind the order counter while he relaxes against a t all stool at the lunch counter.

“It’s important when you start a business to focus on the customers, and not just to make money. That’s why we’ve always sa id we’re here for f r iends, fa mily and fun.

“If your customers are your friends, the rest will take care of itself.”

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6 Saturday, March 8, 2014

Star-Herald

Building a new venture near Hemingford

By MARY WERNKE For the Star-Herald

The steel frame towers more than 40 feet over the snow- swept prairie, just north of Hemingford. Still dwa r fed by t he soa r ing grain elevators to the south, the frame for the new Prairie Sky Seed cleaning and conditioning plant provides little shelter yet for grain or the livestock feeding on the north side.

W it h i n mont hs , huge semis and small far m trucks loaded with wheat, triticale, oats, seed corn, s u n f l owe r s a n d a l f a l f a should start rolling in on the east side of the plant.

More than 600,000 bushels of wheat are contracted for production in Box Butte, Sher ida n, S cot tsblu f f, Dawes and Morrill counties, with smaller amounts in Wyoming. Those locally grown grains will become certified, registered and foundation seed for other fa r mers purchasing the Syngenta line.

Prairie Sky Seed is a new venture by Brad Hansen, Greg and Margaret Hansen, Tim and Deb Kumpf, Charles and K ay Specht — a lineup of longtime area farmers and seed dealers to provide a large new seed clea ning a nd condit ion ing plant in the area. The Hansen brothers were first approached by Syngenta as the corporate seed giant was looking to narrow down t hei r dea lership roster, while expanding the market area for the few dealers that remained.

The $7.5 million project would require a four-year commit ment to a new hybrid wheat, a new seed conditioning facility and major upgrades in equipment. The project was too big for them to handle, Brad Hansen said, so they spoke to their stepbrother Tim Kumpf and his father-in-law Charles Specht about becoming involved. With the assistance of Bank of the West, Farm Credit Services and dozens of producers, economic developers, rural utilities and federal agencies, the dream is quickly becoming a reality. “We have the cool nights, water and the right ele vation,� Tim Kumpf said, to raise the right seed for many other farmers. “We’ve cut back on some high water use crops, but with six to 10 inches of water usage,

these grains are as good as beets and potatoes for an alternative crop.� “The secluded, arid area helps keep us free from the diseases the south winds bring here from Texas. We don’t have the problems with rust that others do,�

Greg Hansen added. “Most of the seed will go out of the area — seed sold to Texas, Indiana, Washington and Montana, with oats going to South America that used to be sold to the dairy belt on the East Coast,� Brad Hansen said. “Forage crops are now a big thing on the West Coast with dairy cattle.�

The three younger men, the Hansens and Kumpf, are still looking for more acres of production. They have cont rac ted 10,0 0 0 acres of wheat, 1,000 acres of o a t s , 1 , 8 0 0 a c r e s of winter triticale, 400 acres of spring triticale and 260 acres of forage wheat. Their market price uses the local elevator’s offering, plus a dollar to $1.25 bonus. The market window for the seed is from Oct. 1 to Aug. 1.

Kumpf has been selling beet seed for 24 years. The Hansens have been in the seed business for 20 years. “We started with peas as a good, alternative crop,�

Brad said. “We completed a feasibility study on a pea spl it ter a nd processi ng plant, but the project stalled out there.�

Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association, headquartered in Alliance, is helping the group research USDA grants to complete the facility with storage and office space.

Joni Jespersen with Hemingford Telephone Compa ny worked on L B 8 4 0 funds — the Alliance City Council is considering expanding the scope of their LB840 fund to include projects outside the city.

The project has already passed the local L B8 4 0 committee’s scrutiny and will come before the city council soon. LB840 funds are designed to generate new jobs in the commun i t y. P r a i r i e S k y S e e d will employ six full-time e m ploye e s ye a r - rou nd , doubling that number seasonally.

Brad Hansen is the operating officer, Tim Kumpf is the sales manager and Deb Kumpf is the financia l of f icer for t he new venture. Greg Hansen will

Photos by Mary Wernke

The Prairie Sky Seed facility north of Hemingford is 80 by 130 feet and 40 feet tall at the eaves. Contractors have worked at the site through polar vortex conditions — cold, high winds and snow hampering the job, but the owners expect to begin receiving grain this summer, with a completion date of July 1.

Brad Hansen, Tim Kumpf and Greg Hansen review marketing information for the grains they plan to buy and sell from the new Prairie Sky seed facility a quarter-mile north of Hemingford beginning this year. The partners have been selling seed in the area for nearly a quarter-century, but recently were invited by Syngenta to become part of a smaller, select sales force that required the new grain handling facility.

continue to manage D&S Farms, where the Hansens ex p e c t t o ex p a nd t hei r facilities east of Hemingford, as well. The Hansens, Kumpfs and Spechts are very active in the community and serve on a variety of professional and civic community boards.

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Star-Herald

Saturday, March 8, 2014 7

Harnessing the power of the sun

By BART SCHANEMAN Assistant Editor

A ll of the coal, oil and g a s k now n t o e x i s t o n earth has the same amount of energy as what the sun shines on us in 20 days.

So how to do we t ur n that energy into electricity?

Enter Larry Cooper and Nebraska Wind and Solar. “ Nebr a sk a ha s re a l l y good solar potential,” Cooper said. “We’ve got great wind and sun.”

Accord i ng to C ooper, t he sola r energ y in t he Panhandle is better than in Florida, the so - called Sunshine State. Western N e b r a s k a a i r i s c l e a r, with low humidity, which means the air has less particulate matter to ref lect the sun rays.

The majority of Cooper’s customers are people who are concerned about energy use.

“From the ver y beginning, my job has been to educate people about renewable energy,” he said.

“I try to give them all the knowledge I got.”

He focuses on teaching people to see how, if they invest in their own energy systems, usi ng w i nd or sun, it saves them money in the long run.

“The cost is going to go up,” Cooper said, explaining that as energ y rates rise, the power a customer generates f rom a home solar or wind system will steadily become more valuable.

People get used to paying their bill month after month, Cooper said, but they could have their systems generating electricity that could eventually be paying them back.

Some of Cooper’s cus tomers want to be able to eliminate their electricity costs altogether.

Cooper has his own solar system in his backyard in Scottsbluff.

He said he has always had an interest in renewable energy, beginning in the late ‘70s when he got involved in a recycling program here.

A S c ot t s bl u f f n a t i ve , Cooper attended Western Nebraska Community College before spending a few years working for nuclear company Kerr-McGee in New Mex ico, where he saw the innerworkings of the energy industry.

Cooper doesn’t see much of a future for nuclear energy. With the stringent regulations, power plants take too long to build.

He started this business in 2008 and is partnered with Dave Becker, also interested in renewable energy. Cooper has also taught wind-technician courses at WNCC. In 2009, Nebraska Wind a nd S ol a r c om p l e t e d a small private wind project i n G er i ng, nor t h of t he golf course. On a 5 -acre property, they installed a wind turbine, rated at 2.4 kilowatts, which generated about half of the customer’s electricity at 300-400 k i low at t s a mont h t hat year.

Cooper said his custom-

er wanted to be self-sufficient. They worked with a local electrician to set up the turbine so it could still generate power to the property owner if the power went down. Most private power-generating systems are wired to shut down if the power goes out, mainly for safety reasons. If power is sent back to the main power grid while someone is working on it, they could be injured or worse.

But Cooper sa id his company engineered the private system so it worked on a separate circuit from the main power system.

“It’s kind of like being off the grid,” Cooper said.

Nebraska W ind a nd Solar has set up wind generators at both K imball and Crawford high schools as par t of the Wind For Schools program.

T hey ’ve also inst alled turbines all over the Panhandle as well as in Torrington, Wyo., and South Dakota.

T ha nks to Nebraska pas si ng a net- met er i ng law in 2009, anyone who wants to can put up small ( less than 25 kilowatts) power generation systems for their home, far m or ranch. And if you generate more power than you use, you get credit toward your power bill.

“People need to think about how to use less electricity,” Cooper said.

Nebraskans could use a little help.

For average households, our state is about 10 percent over average in power use. Cooper said part of that is because of older homes that aren’t as efficient. Homes that use too much power can cost up to a few hundred dollars a month in energy.

Cooper said insulation is important. Make sure to check windows, use modern lights and update your home.

By weather proof ing a hous e , you c a n re duc e energy usage by 10-15 percent, he said.

“The less electricity you ne ed , t he sm a l ler you r renewable energy system should be,” Cooper said.

In terms of small solar energ y s yst ems ver s us small wind systems, solar has gotten cheaper over the past five years.

A 3kw small wind generator cost s $18 ,0 0 0 to $19,0 0 0 inst alled, while a 3kw solar system costs $9,000 to $10,000 installed.

O ve r t i m e , w i n d h a s remained the same price as solar has come down, owing to better solar panel prices and improved technology.

Modern solar systems are adjustable to follow the path of the sun.

T he Nebraska Energ y O f f i c e of fe r s l o a ns for renewable energ y a nd renewable energy systems are eligible for a 30 percent feder a l t a x c red it u nt i l 2016.

Cooper ’s nex t project is helping Habitat for Humanity. He’s in discussions with them to put solar panels on a new house to help with energy costs.

Courtesy photos

ABOVE: Larry Cooper works on a solar panel for a customer.

LEFT: Cooper’s home solar system.

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1st Presbyterian ChurchScottsbluff 1st United Methodist Church-Gering 1st United Methodist Church-Scottsbluff 23 Club Baseball Adopt a School Westmoor Albin Community Center Alliance Chamber of Commerce Alliance High School Alliance High School-FFA Alliance Public Schools Foundation Assumption- Greek Festival Banner County High School Banner County High School Foundation Banner County High School FFA Bayard High School Bayard High School FFA Bethel#12-Jobs Daughters-Kimball Boy Scouts Longs Peak Council Boy Scouts-Troop 3 Spaghetti Feed Box Butte County 4-H Council Box Butte County Ag Society Box Butte County Livestock Sale Box Butte Development Corporation Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce Bridgeport Ducks Unlimited Bridgeport High School Bridgeport High School FFA Broadwater VFD Burns High School Burns High School FFA Bushnell Lions Club Carpenter Center CASA of Scottsbluff Cedar Canyon School Booster Club Central Church of Christ-Gering Cheyenne County 4-H Council Cheyenne County Livestock Sale Christmas in the Valley Community Christian School Congregational Church of Torrington Cooperative Ministries-Back Packs Dalton Fall Festival Ducks Unlimited Eastern Wyoming College Eastern Wyoming College Lancer Club Eastern Wyoming Foundation Emmanuel Congregational-Scottsbluff Faith Luthern Preschool-Gering Farmer’s Day Golf Tournament-Kimball Farmer’s Day Hamburger Feed-Kimball Farmer’s Day Pancake Breadfast-Kimball Farmer’s Day Off Golf Sponsor FCA Western Nebraska Festival of Hope Foster Grandparent Program-CAPWN Foster Parent Program Friends of the Midwest Theater Geil Elementary-Gering Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau Gering GO Baseball Gering High School Gering High School Booster Club Gering Legion Baseball Gering Wrestling Club Gering Zion Church & Joyful Noise Day Care Get Fit Challenge Girl Scouts Golden Halo Foundation Goshen Cattle Women Goshen County 4-H Councill Goshen County 4-H Foundation Board Goshen County Chamber of Commerce Goshen County Development Corp Goshen County Fair Association

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Goshen County Livestock Sale Green Nebraska Towns-Scottsbluff Heartland Pulling Association Hemingford Bobcat Wrestling Hemingford Chamber of Commerce Hemingford High School Hemingford High School-FFA Hemingford Pheasants Forever JC Pilkington-Miss Nebraska KCMI Radio Keep Kimball Beautiful Keep Scottsbluff Gering Beautiful Kids Explore Kimball Banner 4-H Council Kimball Banner Chamber of Commerce Kimball Banner County Livestock Sale Kimball Concert Association Kimball County Ag Society Kimball High Booster Club Kimball High School Kimball High School FFA Kimball PRCA Rodeo Queen Knights of Columbus Land of Goshen Ministries-Torrington Laramie County 4-H Council Laramie County Livestock Sale Leadership Scotts Bluff Leadership Scotts Bluff Hoops for Heros Legacy of the Plains Museum Leyton High School Lied Scottsbluff Public Library Lied Scottsbluff Public Library Bucks for Books Light of Hope Breakfast Life Change Connect Lincoln Elementary School-Torrington Lincoln Heights Elementary Lingle Fort Laramie Lingle/Ft Laramie Schools Longs Peak Council Boy Scouts Mary Lynch Elementary-Kimball Meals on Wheels-Scottsbluff Minatare High School Minatare High School-FFA Miss Alliance Pagent Mitchell High School Mitchell Schools Foundation Monument Bible Church Morrill County 4-H Council Morrill County Fair & Rodeo Morrill County Hospital Foundation Morrill County Livestock Sale Morrill High School Morrill High School-FFA Morrill Lions Booster Club Morrill Public Schools Nebraska Agri Business Association Nebraska Coop Manager Association Nebraska Cooperative Council Nebraska Cooperative Council-Foundation Nebraska Lead Program Nebraska Safety Council Nebraska Special Olympics Nebraska Sugar Beet Growers Nebraska Water Balance Association

Star-Herald

Nebraska Wild Turkey Federation New Hope Assembly of God Church-Kimball Next Young Professionals North Platte Water Association Oregon Trail Community Foundation Oregon Trail Days Panhandle Humane Society Panhandle Rock & Gem Club Panhandle Worksite Wellness Coalition Pine Ridge Ducks Unlimited Pheasants Forever Platte Valley Human Resources Plymouth Congregational Church Regional West Foundation Riverside Discovery center Rocky Mountain Agri Business Association Rocky Mountain Trackers S/G Ambassadors S/G Chamber Ag Business Committee S/G Chamber Valley Visions S/G United Chamber of Commerce Salvation Army Bell Ringing-CAPWN SB Volunteer Center Snow Angels Scotts Bluff 4-H Council Scotts Bluff Ag Society Scotts Bluff County Livestock Sale Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center Scotts Bluff 4-H Trap Club Scottsbluff Firefighters Union Scottsbluff High School Musical Scottsbluff High School Booster Club Scottsbluff High School-FFA Scottsbluff Gering Bowling Team Scottsbluff Gering Lions Club Scottsbluff Noon Kiwanis Club Scottsbluff Noon Kiwanis Golf Sponsor Scottsbluff Gering Rotary Club Scottsbluff Wrestling Club Senior Friendship Center-Torrington SeptemberFest-Torrington Sioux County 4-H Council Sioux County High School Sioux County High School-FFA Soroptomist International Southeast FFA Southeast Goshen Elementry Southeast High School-FFA Southeast Wyoming Search & Rescue St. Agnes Elementary School St. Agnes Penny Carnival St. John’s Lutheran Church Sugar Valley Rally Summit Bible College Thanksgiving in the Valley Theater West Torrington High School Torrington High School-FFA Trail Elementary Schools Twin Cities Development Corp Twin Cities Zephers & Express Baseball United Way Golf Tournament United Way of Western Nebraska Duck Race United Way of Western Nebraska Valley Christian School-Torrington Wee Pals Preschool Westmoor Elementary Running Club Westmoor Elementary School WNCC Atheletics Sponsor WNCC Foundation WNCC Foundation Marathon & Fall Frolic WNCC Vocal Music Gala Wyoming Medium Correction Prison Wyoming Wheat Growers YMCA-Scottsbluff Zion Evangelical Church-Scottsbluff

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Star-Herald

Saturday, March 8, 2014 9

High Plains Homestead keeps Old West fires burning

By BART SCHANEMAN Assistant Editor

Visitors often aren’t prepared for how black the sky can get. “ It ’s da rker t ha n t he inside of a cow out here,” s a i d M i ke K e s s e l r i n g, owner of the High Plains Homestead.

A 12 mile drive north of Crawford, Kesselring’s family business sits Mike up in t he K esselring northwest cor ner of Nebr a sk a f a r f rom a ny city light pollution, on a landscape decidedly different from the rest of the state.

W ith its but tes and canyons, prairie grass and barbed-w ire fences, it ’s the leading edge of the Old West.

More than 15 years ago, t he Kessel r ing fa m ily came down from Minnesota and built their own town. It’s not a big town, and the population’s just shy of a half-dozen, but it has a restaurant, a library, a general store and a saloon.

The little buildings provide the per fect set ting to make v isitors feel as though they’ve came upon a town from the 1800s.

Kesselring said his family had a strong attraction to the heritage in the area and began visiting in 1986. The family liked to attend the Craw ford Parade and Rodeo.

“Talk about community events inspir ing busi ness ,” K essel r i ng sa id.

“There are a lot of things I like about it out here.

We’re from a rural setting so we’re familiar with it.”

The High Plains Homestead evokes a sense of histor y and tradit ion.

Kesselr ing sa id they ’ve enjoyed the strong family ties of the people in the area.

He said the people a round t hem a re ver y welcoming, even though when they decided to start the business they received a healthy dose of skepticism.

“Ever yone thought we were crazy, but they still loved us,” he said.

M i ke ’s s on N i c k a nd Mike’s dad Merlin did the initial construction on the site. The blacksmith shop was the first to go up. Now Mike r uns the business with his wife Linda along with Nick.

T hey’re tr ying to pro vide an authentic cultural e x p e r ie nc e t o v is it or s .

Kesselring said they draw on the strengths they have to preserve ethics and traditions.

He’s proud of his steaks, which he cooks over an open pit, along with pork, salmon and chicken, “the best in cowboy cuisine,” he said.

T hey a ls o do bu f f a lo roast s a nd of fer I nd ia n tacos.

Linda bakes the homemade pie.

“We’ve had people drive all the way from Valentine for the pie,” Kesselr ing said.

They get both travelers and local folks, and Kesselring said they can have up to 100 people a day in the summer.

They encourage reservations but walk-ins are welcome, hence the name

Photos by Steve Frederick

The saloon at the High Plains Homestead.

of the Drifter Cookshack.

The bulk of their visitors are people out from all over the world wanting to visit the West. They see a lot of back-to-the-landers, people coming from urban settings.

“Folks are just looking to have a couple of days away,” Kesselr ing sa id. “ T h e y l i ke t h e s c r e e n door, crickets and stars at night.”

He said they’ve had people laying out in the ditch looking at the Milky Way, impressed by how dark it gets.

The bunkhouse has six rooms.

“How many people can sle ep here dep ends on how friendly everyone is,” Kesselring said.

Limited camping is also available.

If you want to elevate the Old West experience to the next level and bring your ow n horses, there are a few corrals available, which have recently been renovated.

Don’t have horses? Visitors can hunt fossils, including skulls and bones as well as arrowheads.

Kessel r ing sa id it ’s a good place to come and turn off the cell phone for a minute, though there is Wi-Fi. The High Plains Homestead will be open f rom mid-April until T hanks giving. Their biggest day is L abor Day when they co -host the Moon of the Changing Leaves 5K run/ walk.

“We represent the commu n it y a s a whole a nd want to involve the com-

The post office at the High Plains Homestead.

munity,” Kesselring said. get Christmas cards from “I’m guessing not a lot Once you visit us it’s hard In 2012, Kesselring was visitors. of chain hotels get that. to forget us.” named the first Nebraska Tour ism Commissioner.

HPS is also a member of the Pine Ridge area chamber.

Being way out there, the High Pla ins Homestead gets a lot of word of mouth referral, and they also get a lot of return customers.

Kesselring said they even

10 Saturday, March 8, 2014

Pride

Star-Herald

Community leaders recognized for their volunteer efforts

By BRANDON NELSON Staff Reporter

While all volunteers have a profou nd i mpac t , t he efforts of three shined the brightest this past year.

The Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Comme r c e p oi nt e d out t he contributions of three community-minded individuals during the annual chamber banquet at the Gering Civic Center in January.

Before a crowd of 300 attendees made up of chamber leaders and members, committees and fellow volunteers, past award recipients applauded the accomplishments of Jim Holland, Dawn Wolfe and John Marshall and presented them with the chamber of commerce’s traditional awards, the Trailblazer of the Year Award, the Visionary Super Star Award and the Rising Star Award.

The Visionary Rising Star is a chamber member who has been in business for five years or less. The Visionary Super Star is a member who has been in business for six years or more and Trailblazer of the Year is reserved for an outstanding business leader in the community.

K a r e n A nde r s on , e xecut ive director for the Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce, said the awards are intended to recognize individuals who give of themselves, their time, their talents and their resources in a way that benefits the entire community.

“These are people who go above and beyond and the awards are a way to let them know their efforts are appreciated,” she said.

Working secretly with the families of the recipients, the chamber gathers photos of the winners and their life stories. The information is compiled into surprise presentations that play while the winner’s names are announced.

Trail Blazer of the Year Award — Jim Holland Star-Herald Publisher Jim Holland garnered praise for the impact he has on the community with the prestigious Trail Blazer of the Year award, presented by 2013 recipient George Schlothauer.

“It’s an amazing honor and I was completely surprised,” said Holland, recalling the award ceremony.

Despite his formidable work ethic and his willingness to share his time, talent and resources with the community, Holland’s easy-going nature was described as being his strongest asset. That characteristic is evidenced by his love of fishing, golf and his latest hobby, restoring a 1946 Plymouth Business Coupe.

Holland began his career selling advertising for the local newspaper and he became a publisher when he was 20 years old. He has worked as a publisher for 32 years and served in Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

Prior to coming to Scottsbluff in 2005, he was in Fremont for 13 years.

Since then, Holland has ser ved on t he boa rd of directors for Oregon Trail Communit y Foundation, Northfield Retirement community, Scottsbluff YMCA and Rotary Club. He is the vice president for the Nebraska Press Association and has served as the president of the Nebraska Press Advertising Service.

Also, he has served as president for United Way of Western Nebraska and is a former chair of the Fremont a nd S cot t sblu f f/G er i ng chambers.

He’s worked on Downtown Revitalization and Omaha Connection projects and actively participates in the Marathon Steering Committee.

Holland said he sees sharing one’s time and talent with the community as being part of the community.

“In my mind, that’s what it means to be a part of it,” he said. “Being the head of the newspaper, I also feel it’s part of my job to be involved and try to make the community a better place.”

Although the Arkansas native is often ribbed for being the resident “redneck” in many circles, his contribution and leadership in community projects are undeniable.

Holland married his high school sweetheart, Tammy, in 1978. They have one son, Layton.

Visionary Super Star — Dawn Wolfe Dawn Wolfe received the 2014 Visionary Super Star

John Marshall thanks family and friends after receiving the 2014 Visionary Rising Star award from past award recipient Katie Camacho. A producer at J.G. Elliott Insurance Center, Marshall was recognized for his work ethic and his commitment to volunteerism.

Photos by Maunette Loeks

Star-Herald Publisher Jim Holland talks about the Scottsbluff-Gering community during his acceptance speech at the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce banquet. Holland garnered the most prestigious chamber award, the Trailblazer of the Year Award.

Award for her commitment to her family, community, work and volunteerism.

Born in Denver, Wolfe’s family moved to York during her sophomore year of high school. There, she honed her work ethic by detassling corn, working as a waitress and helping out on the family’s turkey farm.

A f ter graduating from York High School in 1985 and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1989, she obtained her paralegal degree in Denver, Colo., in 1990.

Wolfe met her husband, Jeff, at a fraternity/sorority party and they were married in April 1991 in York. Together, they moved to North Platte, where Wolfe began her career as a loan officer for a bank.

When her husband was transferred to the Scottsbluff office of Simon Construction, she was also able to transfer her job to the Panhandle in 1991 and has worked for First National Bank North Platte for the past 24 years.

She has served in several capacities, including loan officer, bank representative, assistant vice president of retail operations and area manager.

She now works as the vice president of commercial banking.

Initially, Wolfe had been quoted saying that she would only be living in the Panhandle for a short while, but the people of western Nebraska quickly won her over. “ T his is truly where I grew up and where I’ve built lifelong relationships with people who have helped me to realize the potential I have in myself,” she said.

Noted for her sense of humor and quick wit, her colleagues have described her as loyal, hardworking and compassionate, 2013 recipient Dr. Sam Mark said.

She balances work, family and volunteerism with ease.

She doesn’t miss any of the activities of her two boys, Matthew and Jakob, but still manages to maintain an impressive list of volunteer efforts.

She has ser ved on the YMCA board for 10 years and was board president from 2010 -11. The United Way Board also has tapped

her talent for 14 years and she served as its chair from 2011-12.

Wolfe is the president-elect nominee for Scottsbluff/ Gering Rotary Club and will take office July 1, 2015. She is a past member of Financial Women of Nebraska and Soroptimist and has served as a Cub Scout pack leader and Geil Elementary School’s Booster Club treasurer.

She has also been instrumental in the chamber’s Adopt-A-School program.

“I’ve always had so much respect for the people who have received these awards,” Wolfe said. “I never thought I would have been one of them.”

Dawn Wolfe, vice president of commercial banking at First National Bank, Rising Star — John Marshall John Ma rsha l l, who works as a producer for Platte Valley Companies — J.G. Elliott Company, received the 2014 Visionary Rising Star Award for his focus on using volunteerism to better the community.

Marshall’s w ife, K at y, said he has a hard time saying “no” because he enjoys helping others. The claim rings true when looking at Marshall’s track record for volunteerism.

Marshall is a United Way loan executive and serves on the Monument Prevention Coalition. He is active in his church and for the past three years, he has encouraged area youth in his role as a TeamMates mentor and board member.

He is the chair for the Rotary Club’s special event committee and the NEXT Young Professionals president. He is a graduate of L eadership Scot ts Bluf f Class X XIII and has also served as a YMCA Strong Kids Campaign captain.

While Rotary International’s motto of “service over self ” certainly rings true for Marshall, his desire to serve the community came long before he joined the local Rotary Club. His parents volunteered and devoted much of their time to furthering the causes of local nonprofit organizations.

“Seeing the joy it brought them heavily influenced me to do what I can to give back to the community,” he said.

addresses attendees of the Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet after receiving the 2014 Visionary Super Star award. During her acceptance speech, Wolfe thanked her family, friends and mentors for their guidance and unwavering support.

When he is not working, the curly-haired, Scottsbluff native loves the outdoors and enjoys running, water skiing, snow skiing and biking. He is also active in music, basketball, swimming and competing in area 5Ks, 10Ks and half-marathons.

He ser ves as the head coach for the Scottsbluff High School freshman boys basketball team and has been known to play the fight song on his trombone after a touchdown during some of his Husker house parties.

Marshall graduated from Scot tsbluf f High School and received a business administ rat ion deg ree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2003. In 2006, he earned his master’s in business administration from Creighton University.

He first worked as a credit analyst for Info Group in Omaha after college. He met Katy there and the two were married in April 2009.

They moved to the valley

about a year and a half later.

Now, as a commercial lines producer, Marshall targets accounts throughout we s t e r n Nebr a s k a , easter n Wyom i ng a nd nor t her n Colorado. H is employer has noted him fo r h i s k now l e d ge a nd work ethic.

“ He get s i n a nd does the work,” 2013 Visionary R ising Star K atie Camacho said during the award ceremony. “He takes his job seriously and stays on top of the tasks at hand. He pays attention to his customers and gives excellent customer service.”

Star-Herald

Pride

Saturday, March 8, 2014 11

Morgan’s Cowpoke Haven: An unusual oasis

By BART SCHANEMAN Assistant Editor

A customer in cowboy boots and a hat came in looking for a 49th wedding anniversary present for his wife.

He said hello to the storekeeper and walked past postcards, leather jackets, saddles and more to get to the back room, where he found something close to what he was looking for.

On Feb. 27, the hottest g u n a t Wa de Mor g a n’s Cow poke Haven in Ells wor t h was t he pur ple Ruger SR22 pistol. People were asking about it on the phone.

Morgan agreed with the customer that it’s the favorite gun for ladies. “ T he y ’r e c o ol g u ns ,” Morgan said, adding that he had already bought one for his girlfriend.

The only problem was, Morgan didn’t have any in stock that day. So the man in the hat could only order one for his wife.

He joked that he hoped to make it to his 50th anniversary before she shot him.

Morgan’s store sits in the original Spade Ranch Store building in Ellsworth, population 32, about 30 miles east of A l l ia nce, wh ich also houses the local post office.

He s el ls hu nt i ng a nd fishing gear as well as bits and spurs, stirrups, ropes, cowboy boots and belts, A mer ic a n West purses, Montana silver, Carhartt clot hing a nd sodas a nd sandwiches.

Next to the animal calls customers can f ind cas set tes titled “Desperate Cr ies of t he C ot t ont a i l ( Preferred meal of most predators).”

T he building was cons t r uc t e d for t he S p a de Ranch in 1898. From the front window of the store you can see the old loading area.

T he Spade R anch was founded in 1888 by Bartlett Richards. It encompasses land in both Sheridan and Cher r y count ies . A t it s pea k si ze in 19 0 5, w it h open range grazing and ready markets for cattle, the Spade encompassed more than 500,000 acres with a herd of 60,000 cattle.

It still operates today.

According to Morgan, the Nebraska Stock Growers Association started in 1888 in the part of the store building where the post office sits today.

Morgan was born and raised in the area. His father worked on the Spade Ranch. His family bought the store in the ‘90s and now he lives upstairs.

“I like it right here,” Morgan said. “For a small town, I wouldn’t trade it.”

His family used to make saddle equipment for pack ho r s e s , i nc l ud i n g p a n niers.

Morga n st il l ma kes leather holsters and rif le scabbards.

He said 75 - 80 percent of his customers are from around the area. Throughout the day they come in to have a chat and maybe buy a cupcake made by a local woman.

Morgan will flip a coin for about anything.

T he man in the hat bought a box of shells for $19 and paid with a twenty.

Morgan flipped him double or nothing for his dollar change. Morgan lost and handed over $2.

The bulk of his business comes f rom g uns and a mmo. He stocks about 250 guns in the back of the store.

He’s a member of the National Rifle Association a nd ha s cle a r opi n ions about t he r ight to bea r arms. “ To me, I t hi n k it ’s a good thing to have,” Morga n sa id. “ W hen ever yone’s got one the crime r a t e d r o p s . Yo u ’r e n o t going to steal something if Grandma’s going to have a .38.”

He stressed the personal responsibilit y of g un owners. He said he didn’t think the United St ates would ever change the law to prevent personal gun ownership.

“Guns are never going to be taken away from the

Photos by Bart Schaneman

Wade Morgan’s Cowpoke Haven in Ellsworth. The store, built in 1898, was part of the original Spade Ranch operation.

ABOVE: Customers can grab a stool for locally-made cupcakes at Morgan’s store in Ellsworth.

LEFT: Wade Morgan demonstrates handling a .22 pistol to a customer at his store.

BELOW: The sign at Morgan’s points the way.

people. If you’re an American you’re going to have guns,” Morgan said.

To Morgan, the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that left 20 children dead was horrifying, but the tragedy could have been, if not avoided, lessened.

“If there had been two teachers in Sandy Hook that could shoot then a lot of k ids would be alive,” Morgan said.

With the closest sheriff in Rushville, Morgan said it’s important that people can protect themselves.

W hile the store has a healthy supply of g uns, keeping enough ammunition around can be a problem, especially for common ammunition like .22 caliber ally they decided against it. second. A nd second in a “ Usua l ly, laser sights gun fight isn’t very good,” bullets.

“I swear, there’s a scent mean you’re going to win the man in the hat said. in the air. As soon as I get them, they’re gone,” Morgan said.

R ight now a box of 50 9mm shells sells for $13.99.

Clean Harbor’s is North America’s “You get them too cheap, leading provider of environmental, they don’t go boom,” Morenergy and industrial services, gan said. providing a broad range of Morga n sa id a mmo hazardous material management has been t ight because and disposal services. of people over-buying it, Our commitment to health stockpiling it and reselling and safety is next to none. it. The perception that the We are committed to U.S. government is going preserving our natural to regulate guns and ammo environment. “has everything to do with it,” he said.

Before he left, the man buy i n g t he p u r ple g u n discussed with Morgan the possibility of adding a laser sight to the pistol. Eventu-

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Pride

12 Saturday, March 8, 2014

Star-Herald

Growing a business with deep roots

By CHABELLA GUZMAN Staff Reporter

MI T CHEL L — Gar y Avila and his wife Laura have deep roots in the community of Mitchell.

The couple grew up in Mitchell, are high school sweethearts, and settled and raised their family in the community. They also own Lashley Auto Sales, which has become their family business. “It’s the only job I have ever had,� Gar y said. “I started here (Lashley Auto Sales) when I was in high school and became partner in 1990.�

T he owner, Rod L ashley, was killed in a plane accident in 2004, and Avila bought the business from the estate. Gary has always enjoyed the business, the people he gets to meet and the cars. “We carry about 65 cars on the lot, and I’m ver y particular, hand picking all the cars,� he said.

He added that each car is thoroughly inspected before they are sold.

T he dealership was a s t a pl e on B roa d w a y i n Mitchell for many years, even after Gary and Laura bought the business. It was apparent to both that the business was outgrowing its space. “ W hen Dollar General approached me for t he space, I thought why not?

We had outgrown it, and I owned this property here ac ros s t he road ,� Ga r y said. “It’s more space and a better location.�

L ongtime members of the community, the Avilas received help from a variety of friends that included Jesse Cardona, Jeff Herna ndez, Bob Bergstedt , John Branson, Marv Lamont, Raymond Reisig, Steve Schmidt, Ned Detling and Ralph Paez.

A long w ith the Av ilas and their family, the group went to work on the new dealership site. Two buildings had to be torn down and taken out in the front of the propert y, and the remaining steel building was refurbished to hold the business. “We didn’t have a lot of time,� Gary said. “We were very lucky to have great friends that came out in the evenings and weekends to help us out.�

The building was divided between a mechanic shop, detailing area and sales floor, adding a great deal of more room and the convenience of having everything in close proximity. “ We had t o bu i ld t he wall dividers, put in windows, doors, a nd L aura p ut i n t he f loor,� G a r y said.

L aura, who is also the bookkeeper at the business, used patio bricks to give the f loor a creative and professional look in the offices. “ I had Ga r y sl ice t he bricks into threes, placed them in sand, kind of like you would a pat io,� she sa id. “ W hen t he br icks settle, I will seal them.�

Ga r y prefers t he new floor to the carpets at the last bu i ld i ng, wh ich he said always seemed to be dirty from the foot traffic in and out of the building.

W h i le ever yone was busy at the new site, the business was still open.

Helping keep the business running in its old location was Gar y’s brother Jef f, manager at Lashley Auto Sales. “Jeff had to be over there all by himself,� Laura said. “He had to take care of everything at the business, as we were all over here putting this building up.�

Jeff Avila joined Lashley Auto Sales in 2005, when his brother invited him to leave Kurt Manufacturing and come work for him. “I enjoy work ing w ith my brother,� he said. “I’m a people person and like meeting all the new people and learning about vehicles.�

He said with the additional room, the building now accom modates t he mechanic shop and detailing shop. “If the customer has a question or issue we can ask Jeff ( Weiss), our mechanic, right here on the site,� Jeff said.

Weiss not only works on the cars at Lashley Auto,

Photo by Chabella Guzman

TOP Lashley Auto Sales team Jeff, manager, left, and Gary, owner, discuss the morning events at the office.

The brothers have worked together for more than nine years.

Courtesy photos

LEFT: Tony Avila cuts the concrete floor at the new Lashley Auto Sales building. He is the father to owner Gary Avila and helps out at the shop whenever needed.

ABOVE: Laura Avila lays the brick for the floor at the Lashley Auto Sales building. The new building creates more space for the sales department and customers.

but on vehicles the public brings into the shop.

The second generation of Avilas keep the detailing part of the business r u n n i ng st rong. Ga r y ’s sons, Jacob, Levi and Max, and Jef f ’s son, Brandon, all help out at the detailing shop, around their school schedules and the weekends.

Both, Brandon and J a c o b a t t e n d We s t e r n

Nebraska Communit y College, Gary’s alma matter, where he received his associate’s degrees. “ My d a d ( Tony) a l s o works here,� Gar y said. “ He does a ny t hing t hat needs to be done, and we are very lucky to have him around.�

Surrounded by his family and in a new building, Ga r y has to ad m it he’s pretty lucky.

Coming Soon to GERING! We’re expanding our

“I am very thankful for a l l t he g reat people we have met over the 20 years in business,� Gary said. “I think the expansion of the dealership helps us better serve our customers.�

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Pride

Star-Herald

Saturday, March 8, 2014 13

Tolstedt finds niche with trailer business

By MARY WERNKE For the Star-Herald

The two flatbed aluminum trailers sit side by side in the cavernous work space.

Aluminum decking glistens under the shop lights on one flatbed, but a hardwood called apitong, milled primarily in Malaysia, stretches 30 feet along the second.

The two trailers will be fitted with Conestoga wagon kits, tarps that mimic the covered wagons that crossed the prairies in another era, when they arrive at their new homes in North and South Dakota — the property of Hutterite cousins from two states who learned about the innovative Crossman trailers built in Alliance, from a thoroughly modern source, the Internet.

Mark Tolstedt is an ag engineer who learned to design livestock and gooseneck trailers working in Sioux City, Iowa. A 1979 graduate of Alliance High School, Tolstedt received his degree in ag engineering in 1985 from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

But, after moving back to Alliance in 2007 with his family, the economy took a downturn and his position was downsized in 2011. Tolstedt decided to use his design skills to fill a niche, and Crossman Trailers was born, w ith an obv ious market position opposite the more common, less expensive, but heavier steel trailers on the market.

The aluminum trailers are more expensive than steel trailers, Tolstedt acknowledged. But their light weight allows them to carry more payloads when weights are restricted, and they travel more economically when empty. Aluminum trailers weigh 1,500 to 3,000 pounds less than their steel competitors.

Tolstedt said Crossman trailers are especially strong, based on his novel design, which uses fasteners rather than welding to take the load where stressors are located. The heat effect in welding aluminum is known to reduce the strength of that zone by 50 percent, he said. His company is one of only three aluminum trailer manufacturers in the United States.

The novel Crossman design drew the Hutterite cousins, from a religious sect similar to Amish or Mennonite, to the new product. The two men operate separate businesses in metal fabrication, primarily buildings, Tolstedt said. One man called after seeing the Crossman trailer on the Internet and, within 15-20 minutes, his cousin was on the phone, as well.

Their distinctive Pennsylvania German accents alert Tolstedt to two of his best customers calling to check on their custom-built trailers. The wagon side kits and rolling mechanisms will help ease or eliminate the heavy burden of putting tarps off and on the trailers, but are not included in the manufacture of the trailers in Alliance.

Tolstedt‘s wife Jill is also an engineer, but has primarily worked in food processing, first with Kraft foods and then as a college professor,

Celebrating 20 Years in Business!

Photos by Mary Wernke

Mark Tolstedt indicates the stress points on a sidebar where Crossman uses fasteners, rather than welding, to join two pieces of aluminum together. The fasteners are 50 percent stronger than welded metal, Tolstedt said, making their trailers unique in the niche aluminum trailer industry, where their primary competitor is steel trailers.

Tolstedt pound s an a pitong wood traile r d eck tightly into place, while a Crossman Trailer employee, helps eye the board’s position from below the deck.

Apitong wood products are milled primarily in Malaysia and are used almost exclusively in trucks and trailer decking. This custom-designed trailer will go to a metal building fabricator in North or South Dakota to haul his products to the building site.

she said. She joined her husband in Alliance at Perrin Manufacturing, Inc. in 2007, but left PMI in 2013 to work alongside Mark in the business that is their calling.

The Crossman name references their belief, “God is in charge.” However, the Man upstairs allows the Tolstedts to call most of the shots with their three full-time and two part-time shop employees.

Another part-time employee joins Jill in the office, where the co-owner takes charge of marketing and sales, as well as working with Mark on inventory, tracking and ordering and maintaining compliance requirements.

She also manages human resources for the young company.

Mark spent much of 2011 working on his pioneering design, setting up jigs, locating vendors and procuring equipment and fixtures. In June 2012, they moved in

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to the old Pepsi building at Second Street and Cheyenne The Crossman trailer is used on this local farm to haul heavy tractors to and from Avenue, with the assistance distant fields for farming. Tolstedt, Crossman Trailer owner and engineer, said the of Box Butte Development aluminum trailers are lighter weight and stronger than the competition.

Corporation in arranging financing with Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association’s revolving loan fund, LB 840 (job creation funds generated by sales tax) and a Small Business Association loan through their bank.

Many of their sales go to clients interested not only in strength and light weight.

“We have a hotshot trucker who has a picture of the trailer on his business card,” Jill said. It’s about image, he said, and the aluminum trailers look good long after a rock or a heavy load has gouged the paint on a steel trailer.

Another client, a landscaper in Florida, told the pair the good looks of the aluminum trailer was all about image for him.

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14 Saturday, March 8, 2014

Pride

Star-Herald

Miller Brothers stay involved in nearly half-century of racing

By MARY WERNKE For the Star-Herald

Their huge, commercial ga rage is crowded w ith cars in various states of repair. The back lot is primarily the same, but one vehicle stands out among the others — ­ a 1984 Olds Cutlass with no windows or back seat, teal blue with a deep red #35, a heavy roll bar inside and a seasoned jet f ight er on t he roof , Snoopy or, depending on the driver below, Woodstock.

W it h nea rly 3 0 yea r s in business and 49 years of stock car racing under their belts, John and Dan Miller a re t a k ing dow n their shingle and devoting their retirement to racing and “whatever else comes along.” Their prime Highway 2 location will be the spot for a new Maver ik station in Alliance.

T he brothers, ages 65 and 6 4, have seen their share of checkered flags.

More than a dozen t all, glittering blue or red trophies f ill the corners of the shop at the front end of the business. The building may be moved or razed this spring to make room for the new convenience store, but their love of classic cars and stock car racing will continue.

Remembering favorite stock car racing moments, Joh n rec a l ls t he H igh Plains Shoot Out in 1997.

“I placed second in the race,” he said, raising the three -foot trophy out of the corner and blowing off some dust to find the date.

“It was a super stock shoot out,” he said. “We were in the fast class.”

“Yep,” added Dan. The two take turns driving. “ We’ve raced a dozen cars in all those years,” John continued. “Buick, Ford, Ji m my. S ome got w recked, sometimes we just wanted to upgrade.

There were a few fender benders, and we’ve hit the wall head on, but it was never something we considered dangerous.”

“Yep,” agreed Dan. A nd ret i rement won’t remove them from their first loves — restoring and racing cars.

“We have a ’69 Mustang and our dad’s 1940 Plymouth pickup we’d like to restore. And, we’re still feeling competitive,” John said.

“That hasn’t changed.”

“Yep,” Dan said, nodding and smiling.

The unassuming, older brother, Dan is recognized locally for being the quieter of the pair. In the late ’80s, the Miller Brothers received a lot of attention with a radio ad spoofing the wine cooler business owners, Bartels and Jaymes.

On telev ision, Bar tels did all the talking, while Jaymes got an MBA from Ha r va rd a nd took out a second mortgage on his house to invest in the wine business. On the radio, Joh n M i l ler sha red t he secrets of a successful car repair, while Dan “nodded” knowingly. Dan was born in Scottsbluff, but raised in Alliance. John was born in Alliance and both men graduated from A lliance High School in the ’60s — already huge proponents of the Alliance Stock Car Club and racing there with their 1949 Buick Roadmaster on a weekly basis.

H o w e v e r, a f t e r h i g h school graduat ion, they were quickly drafted into the Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Returning to A lliance, the pair worked in nearly every car

Photos by Mary Wernke

Dan and John Miller

Dan, left, and John, right, stand next to their race car.

dealership or repair business locally — Neal Frost, A.H. Jones, Cover Jones, The Radiator Shop and Wegner’s Chevrolet — before starting their own business in 1985.

In 2000, they moved to their current location, but a year later a hot tar fire on the roof damaged the building beyond repair. A new building at the same location offered more room for cars, equipment and the

computer diagnostics that are now an integral part of their business.

Everything is computerized in the office, as it is in the car repair business — the biggest change either man has seen in the automotive industry. But, their family is able to chip in.

Their 85-year-old mother, Mariah Miller, still comes out to the shop two or three times a week to help with the books, John said.

Each week, t he t wo cont i nued to race f rom May to September. Mom was always a Peanuts fan, John added. “That’s where we got the idea of putting Snoopy and Woodstock on top of the car.”

Dan related how the Alliance race track was closed from 1976 to 1987, so they started racing in Gering.

They had been going there before, he said, and when the Alliance track reopened

they often raced twice a week. The Alliance track closed again in 2003.

John may have won more races, he said, but one year, Dan finished as champion i n a s e a s on he ’d neve r placed first in a race. “ I was hav ing a n of f season,” he said. “But I’d finished in the top two or three often enough to win points and become champion.”

Working as one another’s

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pit crew was always a oneman job. They do have a great-nephew who loves the race cars and may take over their legacy in another 10 to 20 years, but for now, “It’s mostly just the two of us,” the bachelors said.

“It’s time to retire,” Dan said, “and enjoy. That’s it, just enjoy.”

Regarding their business, they leave with the words of Frank Bartels, “Thank you for your support.”

308.632.5514 1912 Broadway Scottsbluff

Pride

Star-Herald

Saturday, March 8, 2014 15

Dean dedicates life to helping others

By IRENE NORTH Staff Reporter

“ T he people we ser ve are involved in their lives.

Understanding them and knowing that everything in life goes in circles adds to that understanding,” said Kendra Dean, housing director of Cirrus House.

Every conversation with Dean eventually returns to the members of Cirrus House. She believes her work there is more important than any focus placed on her.

Dean is one of Nebraska’s forerunners in providing affordable housing for populations with special needs and has been particularly active in addressing issues of homelessness in Nebraska’s rural areas. “ Ever yone at Ci r r us House believes having a place to live is a fundamental right for all persons and I know giving people safe, decent, affordable housing makes a difference in their lives. I am proud to be a part of that,” Dean said.

Dean was recently hono r e d by T he Neb r a s k a Investment Finance Authority as one of two new inductees into the Nebraska Housing Hall of Fame.

“It was a real privilege to be recognized. I was surprised. I think others do more than I do, so it was an honor,” she said.

Dean began working at Cirr us House in August 1990.

“I st ar ted at Cir r us House as a job coach and worked my way into where I am now,” she said.

Today, she has many responsibilities there. “ I a m t he op e r a t ions ma nager, I oversee t he accredit at ion process. I do accounts payable and manage our properties. I am in charge of the health and safety committee,” she said.

At Cirrus House, Dean implemented a “Housing First ” model that has gained st atew ide recognition for program excellence.

She attributes the success of the program to engagement by tenants, working side by side with Cirrus House staff, in developing all aspects of the program.

With Dean’s leadership and support, Cirrus House tena nts pa r t icipate in “rent wise,” fair housing trainings and safety and evacuation programs, all of which provide tenants with the stability and security to maintain independent living arrangements.

“Housing First’s mission is to rehabilitate people.

We discovered early on that people need to find housing. They can’t find work if they don’t have a place to live,” she said.

Dean said other agencies typically find a home for their clients as the last step in the process. They look at persistent permanent psychological issues, physical issues and drug abuse first and attempt to resolve those before finding a safe place to live.

“It’s important to have a home first,” she said.

Dean works closely with com mu n it y agencies to serve persons with particular housing challenges and has successfully obtained HUD grants as one resource for housing homeless youth.

Photo by Irene North

Kendra Dean works at her desk at Cirrus House.

In 2000, Cirrus House began the process of applying for grants, The process can be time consuming.

In 2003, they started their first project after receiving several grants.

“Cirrus House occupies a special niche. As a nonprofit, we can’t compete with the for-profit agencies,” she said.

Dur i ng t he f i rst t i me applying, NIFA Executive Director Tim Kinney came to Cirrus House, talked to the people involved and persuaded the Collaborative Resource A llocation for Nebraska ( CR A N E ) program to change its point system so nonprofits could compete.

As a result, Cirrus House was first to receive funds u nder t he new s yst em , m a k i n g t he nex t g r a nt application easier and allowing other nonprofits to follow.

Dean said funding isn’t always easy. “ Most apa r t ment s re quire that you have some t ype of work or benefits before you can move in,” Dean said.

She sa id t hat , even i f Ci r r us House members come to her without work or benefits, she can still help them.

Dean said that all grants come with administrative requirements.

“Many years ago HUD mandated that if you re ceive a grant, you had to be involved in continuum care. Cirrus House joined on its first grant and has been involved ever since,” Dean said.

Dean has been an active leader within the Regional C ont i nuu m of C a re for housing and homelessness.

She was a charter member of Monument Family Connections and serves on

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the board for Barrier Free and Valencia North housing developments managed by the Scotts Bluff County Housing Authority.

“I have been a member of the board at Cirrus House a nd r ight now I a m t he outgoing board chair so I’ll return to just being a member,” she said.

Dean is also involved in assisting other agencies in individual, permanent or transitional housing.

“We are here as an avenue for other agencies who need funding for housing.

In Region 1, we have received several grants for pregnant women and those w i t h s e ve r e p e r s i s t e nt mental illness,” she said.

Dean has three boys and cites them as one reason she chose to live in Scottsbluff.

“I wanted to raise them here. It was the right place to be and my support system was here,” she said.

Dean said she spends as much of her free time as she can with her children and grandchildren.

“I have two granddaughters here that are 14 and 9 and two granddaughters

in Lincoln, who are also 14 and 9,” Dean said.

Her grandchildren are involved in various sporting act iv it ies a nd she attends as many events as she can.

“I also like to golf, but I don’t do it enough,” Dean said.

Dean, who doesn’t like

t alk ing about hersel f, t u r ns t he c onver s at ion back to Cirrus House and how much she enjoys being there.

“It doesn’t matter to me wh a t a me mb e r ’s d i a g nosis is. You need to be understanding and compassionate. We are in the people business, not the

housing business,” Dean said.

Dean said Cirrus House is unique in what they do because they help people with what they need. “ I love what I do a nd I love the people I work with and giving people the chance for a better quality of house,” Dean said.

Pride

16 Saturday, March 8, 2014

Star-Herald

Economic Social media development in consultants Box Butte County help businesses ‘plug in’

By MARY WERNKE For the Star-Herald

By BRANDON NELSON Staff Reporter

The business and technolog y worlds continue to expand into the online realm and help is available for t hose who a re wanting to learn how to keep up.

Social media management businesses are popping up i n t he Panhandle to help local people a nd busi John nesses esStinner Jr. t abl ish a Web presence.

Ron Ahlers, J r. , w h o launched MakeThisSocial at Ron 1440 10th Ahlers Jr. St. in Gering about a year ago, said he saw a ne e d for h is t y p e of services among Internet novices and opted to start a business that could help take its customers to the next level. From multi-million dollar firms to mom and pop shops, all t y pes of business should have some sor t of representation online, Ahlers said. “ Now, hav i ng a web sit e is ever y t h i ng. It ’s becoming the new phone book,” he said. “Through the Internet, your reach is worldwide. Even if it’s just a one-page website, you still need to have it.”

Getting started is fairly simple, said John Stinner Jr., owner of Stinner Consulting at 1721 Broadway i n S c ot t s bl u f f , a dd i n g that social media profiles and websites can often be created for free.

Usi ng t he sites a nd profiles as tools to make a business or individual

st a nd out is where t he challenge begins.

“It ’s not expensive to get on l i ne, but set t i ng you r s el f a p a r t c a n r e quire some ex per t ise,” Stinner said.

Compa nies l ike St i n ner Consulting and MakeT hisSocial specialize in evaluating a client and d e ve l o p i n g m a r ke t i n g strategies, social media campaigns and strategic plans to increase the client’s reach online.

To complement t hei r p r of i l e s on Fa c eb o ok , Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube a nd Tr ip A dv isor, customers can also have their Web pages created and maintained to their exact specifications. Web hosting, which involves a represent at ive mon i toring social media sites to answer questions and promote the customer’s brand, can be a helpful service for Internet newbies, Ahlers said. Search eng ine opt imi zat ion or making a website more v isible on sea rch en gines, such as Google, is another important part of building a Web presence.

Ultimately, the goal is to present a picture of the customer that appeals to people in the area as well as people who may visit this area.

“You need to know how to ma rket yoursel f a nd t he ma nner in which a company markets itself is critical,” Stinner said. “ Yo u h a v e t o c a p t u r e people w it hi n t he f i rst five seconds they arrive on your site. If you look unprofessional, you’ll lose that person.”

For those preferring a do -it-yourself approach, primer courses that provide online guidance and s up p or t for b e g i n ne r s are frequently offered at L ied S cot tsbluf f P ublic L ibra r y, G er i ng P ubl ic Library, Western Nebraska Communit y College and the Harms Advanced Te c h n ol o g y C e n t e r t o

help people of a ll ages take their first steps on the digital terrain.

Similarly, A hlers said he plans to offer in-house social media training to newcomers at his office in the future. He said training will be made available when he has extra computers and equipment to support the classes. “ There are hard-working folks out there with plenty of skills, but they m a y n o t k n ow h ow t o plug in and promote themselves,” said Stinner, who often leads computer i ns t r uc t ion a l c ou r s e s . “ T hese a re some g reat resources that can help them get st a r ted a nd many of these ser v ices and classes are free.”

Budget constraints of ten limit a smaller company’s ability to make Web and social media advances. To address this, MakeT hisSocial is pre paring a user-friendly, responsive website service.

Ahlers said through this service, MakeThisSocial c a n d e s i g n a web s i t e , train a business how to operate it and then turn c ont rol of t he web s it e over to them.

“Businesses are then able to go in and make changes to their own content,” Ahlers said. “Running it themselves w ill save them money.”

However, whether it ’s t a k i ng on t he I nter net one step at a t ime or launching a full-f ledged online re-branding campaign, there’s no denying that one has to be part of t he i nc reasi ngly w i red economy in order to be successful in it, Stinner said.

“In order to participate in the modern workforce, I think it’s vital and very important for rural places and economies like ours,” he added.

For more information, cont ac t A h ler s at 3 0 8 641- 0223 and Stinner at 308-672-9315.

Agriculture and the railroad remain the two driving forces behind economic development in Box Butte Count y, as local young people return to the communit y in professional positions. Box Butte Development Cor poration Director Chelsie Herian said the strong leading industries surrounding crops and livestock allow local producers and related agribusinesses to “do more with what we have.”

Chelsie “ T here a re a n abun Herian da nce of oppor t unit ies in both dr yland and irrigated agriculture in Box Butte County,” Herian said. “ Value -added agricult ure is the common thread in a growing number of businesses starting up and expanding locally.

Cattle and seed distribution move local products across the state and nation, as consumers recognize the quality of our locally-manufactured products.”

Her ian cited Crossman Tra ilers in Alliance and Prairie Sky Seed Company in Hemingford as evidence of nationally-recognized ag products now sought after in other states and countries.

Box Butte County sits atop the Ogallala aquifer, but water will always be an issue, she added. While groundwater is a renewable source, reserves replenish relatively slowly, groundwater experts say. Other issues facing ag and retail businesses is the competition for laborers. The BNSF railroad is hiring heavily in the community, Herian said, with some other employers hiring, training and losing employees within a year or having potential employees move directly to the railroad straight out of high school.

Providing housing for so many new, young employees is also a challenge for the community. Herian said several housing studies in Februar y and this month will help determine what t ype of housing is most in demand — senior housing, rentals or homes for sale, single-family or multi-family units.

Herian said she has seen a lot of professional young adults returning to Alliance and Hemingford as the economy picks up. A partial list includes 40 -50 individuals who were raised in Alliance, but chose to move to larger cities for education or a job opportunity. Many of those are returning now to work in agriculture, banking, retail and manufacturing, as well as several entrepreneurs who are beginning their own companies “on the bricks” in downtown Alliance.

Entrepreneurship is also the topic for the E-CAP program Box Butte County is piloting for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Entrepreneurial Com-

New businesses in the county over a one-year period • 50+ Clinic • Alexia’s (Nails & Cosmetology) • Alliance Children’s Allied Health • BYTES Computers • Cardio Connection • CROELL Redi-Mix • Dollar General (Flack Avenue) • Downey Drilling, Inc. • Farmer’s State Bank • Flat Farms • Gallery 3/Studio A • ProLine Seed & Service • Gradma La La’s B&B • Honey Bronze Tans • Jaly’s Steakhouse • Kaiser Tire • Maverik • Minoin Games • Arbonne (Barbie Beck) • Panhandle Co-Op • Safeway Pharmacy • Scott’s Pump Service • Shopko • Simmons Olson Law Firm • Slims Liquor • Treasured Grounds • The Steak House • BBDC in Hemingford regularly • Box Butte General Hospital expansion • Siemens expansion • Panhandle Co-op expansion • Prairie Sky Seeds • Farmer’s Co-Op expansion • Sturdevants new building • Simplot expansion • Phillips F&T expansion • Cultivate Dance Conservatory • Rock Paper Scissors • Crossman Trailer • Frosted • Sandhills State Bank

munity Activation Process includes eight characteristics in the county: community vision, culture of change, leadership, sense of place, infrastructure, digital connections, education/workforce IQ and entrepreneurial support systems.

T he program will include six tiers of training in entrepreneurship through the local high schools, as well as the business and industry day each fall for area students.

Already in its third year, the B&I Day has proved popula r for Hem i ng ford and Alliance students. Herian said one student has already told the business leaders he plans to work in his parents’ small business in Hemingford. This next fall’s program will showcase entrepreneurship, Herian said. An incubator at Hemingford High School and Alliance High School is also part of the E-CAP program, developed in concert with entrepreneurship classes through Western Nebraska Community College.

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