Progress june 27, 2013

I-R

ndependent

Ellsworth County

eporter

Volume 147, No. 45

Home, again

The I-R asked two residents of Ellsworth County to write down their thoughts about living here. Here are the responses from Anita Hoffhines, president of the EllsworthKanopolis Chamber of Commerce and a real estate saleswoman, and Brian Boisvert, general manager of Wilson Communications.

www.indyrepnews.com

Thursday, June 27, 2013

In the past two years, Ellsworth County has seen millions of dollars in new construction and the addition of jobs and housing. Perhaps this song title best describes the future.

And the Beat goes On

Opportunity is hallmark of living in our county

Living in Ellsworth County means that we have opportunity. Ed and I have the opportunity to serve, to earn a living, to develop friendships and to live a full life. Each person who lives here has that same opportunity. What makes Ellsworth County a place full of opportunity? Our area’s economic stability, local people willing to take Hoffhines educated risks, and “long-timers” willing to open their arms to “newcomers.” We moved here 22 years ago so that our boys could attend Ellsworth schools.

That decision proved to be a wise one.

Our boys did well academically and socially while growing up in the Ellsworth-Kanopolis area. We hope the community will remember that we need to continue to support and improve our school facilities. Many new families count jobs and schools as the primary reason they choose to move to Ellsworth-Kanopolis. Because of our participation in the Methodist church, our boys were surrounded by loving leaders, teachers and neighbors as they grew in their Christian walk. It’s easy for me to promote the Ellsworth-Kanopolis area because it has been, and continues to be, a place we can continue to call home.

Anita Hoffhines

People make a community what it is

Living in Ellsworth County offers many benefits to its residents. Robin and I moved here more than a decade ago from rural New England. I had worked with colleagues in Dodge City prior to moving to Kansas and knew from that experience how much I enjoyed the interaction with these Kansans. Once living in Ellsworth County, that positive experience continued and we felt very welcomed.

So what gives Ellsworth County its charm and Boisvert quality? From my perspective, first and foremost it is fundamental quality of life characteristics — education, low crime, good employment, caring “neighbors,” available commerce and good services with reasonable property taxes.

Although our children are adults, I’ve seen the quality education our local schools deliver. Each year I have the pleasure of presenting scholarships to area schools. I am always impressed with the high GPAs of the graduating classes. Our applications require an essay. The writing is often very good, more than I would expect from a high school student. Many of our area youth go on to two- and four-year colleges.

Now if we can just get them to return to Ellsworth County after college …

Our community is not without crime.

No community is, but Ellsworth County’s crime, in my opinion, is low by any standard. Beyond our law enforcement forces, are residents who care about each other. Ellsworth County is a safe place to raise a family, the children can walk about town and enjoy playing with their friends.

The county enjoys a good job market.

The unemployment rate for Ellsworth County in April was reported to be 3.2 percent compared to the state rate of 5.3 percent and a national rate of 7.5 percent. I have seen activity in Ellsworth with new business and residential construction and in Wilson with the fiber to See BOISVERT, Page C10

MARK McCoy/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Welders work on one of many huge metal projects in the Maico Industries shop in Ellsworth.

An Ellsworth kind of attitude

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING Ellsworth County I-R

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s Great Plains Manufacturing considered expanding its operations to Ellsworth several years ago, the first question owner Roy Applequist asked Rob Fillion was — “Can you guarantee us a labor force?”

“Yes,” came the response from the executive director of the Smoky Hill Development Corporation, Ellsworth County’s economic development organization.

Today, Great Plains does business along Kansas Highway 156 in Ellsworth’s former El-Kan building, a large structure the maker of tillage equipment is in the process of enlarging because it needs even more space.

Great Plains is not the only local business in growth mode.

Over the past two years, Ellsworth and Ellsworth County have seen tremendous growth in both new and existing businesses. This year alone, valve maker Cashco expanded into more overseas markets and erected a new headquarters building at Ellsworth, KanEquip unveiled a $1.5 million expansion and the First Bank Kansas development south of the Ellsworth County Medical Center has

Page C3 — Dr. Mark Herzog and insurance agent Gary Urbanek have new homes on the highway.

Page C4 — KanEquip unveils its new $1.5 million expansion in Ellsworth.

Page C5 — It’s all about the green for Cashco, Inc.

started to fill with homes and other businesses.

Other companies have experienced less visible growth. Both Wilson Communications and H&B at Holyrood are in Fillion the process of building fiber optics networks, which will put the companies’ mostly rural customers on the same broadband playing field as residents in Chicago, Denver and other large cities.

This also is a milestone year for several other existing businesses, including Kanopolis’ Independent Salt, which celebrates a century of operation.

Can Ellsworth and Ellsworth County continue at the same the pace? Fillion thinks the answer to the question is the same one he gave Applequist earlier this decade.

Yes — but perhaps with an asterisk.

“While we’ve seen growth ... It’s not going to look the same in the immediate future,” Fillion said. “What I hope to see are more manufacturers locating in our area.”

And that brings him and others who work in economic development back to potential workers. In March, the Ellsworth County unemployment rate was 3.7 percent — compared to a

national rate of more than 7 percent.

“Unemployment is a Catch 22,” Fillion said. “Our unemployment rate shows a stable, steady workforce, but it’s also scary for new manufacturers.”

For that reason, Fillion stretches his workforce net in a 45-mile radius of Ellsworth when he talks to potential businesses. Leave Ellsworth early any weekday morning and you’ll see a steady stream of cars coming into Ellsworth from other communities, a circumstance that adds to Ellsworth’s labor pool and also provides jobs for spouses. The highway to Salina runs both ways.

“Salina is definitely more helpful than hurtful to us,” Fillion said.

The one dark spot in Ellsworth County’s economic picture in recent years has been Acme Brick in Kanopolis, which closed its doors about the time Great Plains opened. Fillion still talks with company officials and is optimistic the plant will reopen at some point in the future, as the national housing market becomes stronger.

The bottom line for Ellsworth and Ellsworth County, Fillion said, is the leaders and other citizens who have found ways to get things done. In the 1980s, for instance, a group of resi-

What’s Inside

Page C6 — Maico joins the list of growing Ellsworth County businesses.

Page D1 — Wilson Communications goes “the last mile” for its customers.

Page C7 — Great Plains had too much space in 2004. What a difference a few years can make.

Page D2 — H&B Communications of Holyrood brings the world to its customers.

Page D3 — Page C8 — Ellsworth’s Choitz Independent Salt Brothers thrives on celebrates a century family-friendly of business. customer service.

See FILLION, Page C10

Page D4 — Home Lumber has a new look and Ellsworth Ready Mix looks to the future.

Page D5 — Ellsworth County Medical Center adjusts to the winds of change.

Page D6 — Ellsworth’s Mosaic traces its history back a century.

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

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Beat goes On

School District Profiles

Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo

BY Mark mccoy Ellsworth County I-R

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SD 327 serves Ellsworth, Kanopolis and Geneseo and roughly the eastern half of Ellsworth County. The district has four buildings, Ellsworth Elementary located at Third and Douglas streets in Ellsworth; Kanopolis Middle School, located at First and Iowa streets in Kanopolis; Ellsworth Junior/ Senior High school, located on the corner of 11th and Stanberry streets in Ellsworth and the District Office, located at 145 W. 15th Street (old Highway 40) in Ellsworth.

At the end of the 2012-13 year, EES had 238 students in grades kindergarten to fourth grade; KMS had 88 students in the fifth through sixth grades and EJSHS had a total of 249 students in the seventh through 12th grades. Eric Reid, the district superintendent, said that he expected EES to have a slightly lower population in the 2013-14 school year. He thought that KMS and EJSHS would have a slightly higher population Patrick Schroeder is the principal of both EES and KMS. Dale Brungardt is the principal and Ken Windholz is the assistant principal at EJSHS. Reid came to Ellsworth in the second grade and graduated from EHS before earning his bachelors of education degree from Kansas State University in 1996. He taught and coached in Crocker, Mo. for two years; was the athletic director, coach and teacher in Fowler for four years and a principal at Haviland before returning to Ellsworth as EES principal. Reid worked as the EES principal for three years before the duties of being the principal of KMS were added to his plate, due to the budget crisis of 2009.

Reid was selected to the superintendent job in 2011. He obtained his masters degree from Fort Hays State University in 2003. “Our mission is to provide an educational environment in which all students learn to the maximum of their capabilities; demonstrate positive personal character and develop into responsible citizens,� Reid said. “USD 327 will challenge every learner through programs that demand excellence. This requires a cooperative effort from patrons, faculty, administrators, staff, board of education, and students.�

The long range goals of the district are to pursue excellence; insure an environment that promotes responsible behavior and good character on the part of students, faculty, staff, and patrons; provide programs and instruction designed to help all students master the skills necessary for reading, mathematics, and science that are age appropriate and correspond to their interests and aspirations; develop technology programs designed to supplement learning and to enhance opportunities for our students and our community and explore, develop, and implement programs to better meet the needs of all students.

There are seven members of the board of education for the district.

Peggy Svaty represents district three, position three; Mark Herzog represents district one, position one; Gina McGowan represents district two, seat two and Ron Tenbrink represents district two, position five. New members to the board after July 1 will be David Hand, representing district one, position four and Liz Donley, representing district three, position six. The at-large position, number seven, is currently open as Deneen Urbanek resigned as she moved out of state.

At the high school level, the

Central Plains

Ellsworth Bearcats are classified as a 3A school by the Kansas State High School Activities Association and they compete in the highly competitive North Central Activities Association. Ellsworth is one of the smallest 3A schools in the state. The Bearcats compete in cross country, tennis, football, basketball, track, golf, baseball, softball and wrestling. No one can remember when the Bearcats haven’t sent at least one wrestler to the state tournament. Ellsworth excels in art, music, forensics and scholar bowls during the school year.

Like a lot of rural school districts in Kansas, USD 327 faces its share of challenges for the future. “Funding will be a challenge as costs increase while we fight to keep our quality of education high.

We do have some facility challenges that need to be addressed,� Reid said. “Our transition to the new College and Career Ready Standards will bring a change in focus in preparing students for the next stage in life. “We will always have challenges in front of us in how to do more for our students, and we will also work to improve ourselves. Our legislature has not made things easy on us in terms of long-term planning, but we will work to do the best we can for our kids.�

USD 327 patrons defeated a bond issue in July of 2012 and another bond issue in April of 2013. Ellsworth had the distinction of being the only school district in the state to defeat a bond issue in the April 2013 general election. “We really have some great opportunities for our students.

While there are many areas we hope to improve and advance, we have worked to get better, and I plan for that to continue,� Reid said.

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

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OLYROOD — As he sat in his office at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood boxing mementos from his past four years as USD 112 superintendent, Steve Woolf remained positive about the future of the district, its students, teachers, staff and patrons. “We’re constantly coming together as a family,� he said. “When we started the consolidation, it was like a new marriage — and in a new marriage, you work through the issues.

Now we’re heading right along with a new superintendent coming in.�

Woolf announced his resignation in February. He has accepted a job as superintendent of the Erie USD 101 school district. Jim Runge, superintendent of Solomon USD 393, has been hired to succeed Woolf. Runge starts his duties as Central Plains superintendent July 1. “I think Jim is inheriting something he can take off and run with,� Woolf said. “Financially, I think we will carry over about $1 million this year.�

Woolf said had the consolidation between the Lorraine-based USD 328 and the Claflinbased USD 354 which resulted in Central Plains USD 112 not taken place, the district would now have $1 million less in its coffers. “We’re where we need to be financially and with our staffing to keep moving ahead,�

Central Plains USD 112 consists of four schools — Wilson School, Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood, Central Plains Middle School in Bushton and Central Plains High School in Claflin. Wilson School is also home to Lakeside Learning Center.

During the 2012-13 school year, Central Plains USD 112 had a total of 509 students.

A board of seven members directs the district. Currently, the board consists of Richard Rugan of Claflin, Dawn Dolezal of Dorrance, Ron Etchison of Holyrood, Jerry Bieberle of Bushton, Cherlyn Maier of Claflin, Michelle Brokes of Wilson and Malcolm Shaw of Wilson.

On July 1, a two new board members will succeed Rugan and Dolezal, who chose not to run for reelection last April. They are Tony Zink of Claflin and Jacob Charvat of Wilson.

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785-472-4111

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

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Beat goes On

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LINDA MOWERY-DENNING/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

This is the exterior of Dr. Mark Herzog’s new dental office. To the left is another entrance, where Gary Urbanek will have his State Farm Insurance office.

Long-time Ellsworth dentist feels pull of highway

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

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ong-time Ellsworth dentist Dr. Mark Herzog opened his new office June 20 in the First Bank Addition in northeastern Ellsworth.

The First Bank Addition is north of Old Highway 40, and bordered by Aylward Avenue on the east, and Ellsworth County Medical Center on the north.

Under Prairie Business Park LLC — a partnership between Herzog and State Farm Insurance agent Gary Urbanek — an east-facing 7,000 plus squarefeet professional commercial building was built, north of First Bank

Kansas. Herzog’s dental office and Urbanek’s State Farm Insurance office have relocated into the building, and will occupy two of the three units available there.

First Bank Kansas will own the third unit, which is for sale or lease. “I’ve been formulating this idea for several years,�

Herzog said. “Last summer, we started looking at some things and we finally got everybody together and we’re ready to move forward.�

Herzog will have the north section of the building (4,000 sq. ft.), Urbanek the middle section (2,000 sq. ft.), and the First Bank-owned section will be on the south end (also 2,000 sq. ft.) —all under one roof.

In addition to a better location, Herzog said the

LINDA MOWERY-DENNING/ECI-R

Dr. Mark Herzog takes members of the Kiwanis Club on a tour before moving day.

biggest plus the new office affords him is more space. “This will give us more room to be more efficient

and more productive,� he said.

The new building will have more parking available, with handicapped

parking in front.

Herzog’s office will also have more seating capacity for patients. “We’ll be able to work with people in more of a confidential manner,� he said. “The hygiene rooms will be separate from the operating rooms where I work, and it will be relatively quieter.�

Curt Glaser, First Bank Kansas executive vice president and Ellsworth branch manager, said he is seeking a tenant for the bank’s section of the building. “Right now, it’s just going to be a shell of a building, finished on the outside, but the inside will just be studded walls with a concrete floor,� he said. “So if we can find someone

who wants to occupy it now, we could have it finished at the same time we are doing the other finish work.�

Glaser said the Herzog and Urbanek development is important to Ellsworth for several reasons. “One is that it allows that area to take the next step of growing and being completed,� he said. “I think it’s important of how it developed and how the building is going to look. It’s going to really tie in well, and transition between the bank and the hospital, and really make that area look well. It’s important because it’s going to give growth to Ellsworth, but at the See HERZOG, Page C10

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We look forward to the continuing service of the Ellsworth County area.

Now at our new location!

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• General dentistry • Whitening trays • Porcelain veneers • Porcelain crowns • Composite fillings • Dental implants

704 E. KUNKLE DRIVE ELLSWORTH, KS 888•472•3114 WWW.KANEQUIP.COM

Mark A. Herzog, D.D.S.

General Dentistry • www.herzogdentistry.com

785-472-5420

Office Hours: M - Th - 8-12 - 1-5 • Fri - 8 - Noon

1508 Aylward • Ellsworth, KS

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

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Beat goes On

KanEquip values community connection

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

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be Hughes, vice president for sales and marketing for the New Holland, Pa. - based New Holland Agriculture in North America, praised Ellsworth KanEquip’s $1.5 million expansion project which was completed in late May. “Growing a business is what it’s all about, and you’ve done exactly what we like for everyone to be doing out there — investing in your future and building a service capability like this,” Hughes said during the dealership’s open house May 29 in Ellsworth.

Hughes said New Holland’s vision of the future includes local dealers like KanEquip and its manager, Terry Robl.

“We want people that are connected to each and every community. People that are connected in a very local way building relationships because it’s all about relationships — personal relationships,” Hughes said.

According to Hughes, other big implement brands are growing into big corporate entities which he believes are becoming disconnected from their communities.

“That’s not what we like to see at New Holland,” he said.

Robl said he was pleased with the expansion project.

“We desperately needed the shop space and the show space,” he said. “We’ve gotten all that, and it looks really nice.”

Robl said an increase in business was one of the major reasons for the expansion.

“In 2008 we were doing $8 million a year, and we’re up towards $20 million now,” he said.

Robl employed four to five mechanics when KanEquip purchased his implement dealership in 2008.

“Now we have nine mechanics,” he said.

“You have to have space for those people.”

Robl said most people don’t understand even if a dealership has space for mechanics to work, secondary background people, such as those in the parts and sales departments, have to have space as well.

“All that entered into the decision to try to grow things a little bit,” Robl said.

As a result of the expansion, Ellsworth KanEquip has became more efficient, Robl said. The dealership gained a 100’-by-152’ shop, an overhead crane, two additional offices for salesmen, exhaust and ventilation systems, new restrooms, additional tool storage space, office space for the service manager, a conference room with kitchenette, expanded showroom and parts areas, renovated bulk parts storage area, a porch area on the front of the building for additional equipment display, and easier customer access to the service department.

“I want the business to feel comfortable,” Robl said. “I don’t like sterile-feeling businesses when you walk into them. We’re a farm business, so, hopefully, when customers walk in, they get that feeling of it being a country-style store.”

Robl said he considered an expansion of the dealership back in the early 1980s when he owned Robl Farm Supply, which later became Ellsworth KanEquip.

“It just never fit into the program,” Robl said.

Construction on the expansion began a year ago.

“There was a lot of thought that went into the plan,” Robl said.

For example, he pointed to the new 40’by-30’ conference room which will be used to educate both KanEquip employees and the public on the latest in agriculture equipment.

“It’s going to have all the technology that you can possibly get,” he said.

Robl said KanEquip has been adding new lines of equipment to its roster since 2005, and the new expansion allows the Ellsworth store to better serve customers.

“KanEquip is a growing business,” he said.

“We just purchased the store in Syracuse, Neb., and we’ve got a couple of other opportunities down the road we’ll be looking at.”

Robl said in any business there are two options — grow or die.

“There has to be growth, because your expenses never go down,” he said. “So, somewhere, you have to grow the business to compensate for that, or you are going to go backwards.”

At Ellsworth KanEquip, they are definitely moving forward.

ALAN RUSCH/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Above, Ellsworth KanEquip manager Terry Robl addresses the crowd during the dealership’s May 29 open house.

Below, Doug and Ray Frehse of Holyrood examine the selection of goods for sale.

Doubrava Woodworking, Inc. is proud to have been the General Contractor for the KanEquip project.

Thank you and congratulations KanEquip on your expansion.

Doubrava Woodworking, Inc. - 785-472-4204 Congratulations KanEquip! Thank you for letting us take part in your expansion.

KANSAS

Smoky Hill Hardwood Floor Installations LLC • All types of flooring • Sales and installation

Ryan Webber 785-531-0786

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785-488-2146

PACEY CONSTRUCTION CO II Larry Pacey

507 Webb / Ellsworth, KS 785-472-4197 (home) 785-531-0223 (cell)

PACEY CONSTRUCTION CO III Edward Pacey 846 Ave U / Lorraine, KS 785-472-1007 (cell)

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

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Beat goes On

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Cashco headquarters showcase green technology

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

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he public got its first glimpse of the new 20,000 square foot, single story worldwide headquarters built by Cashco Inc. in Ellsworth during an April 11 open house.

“It’s going well,” said Clint Rogers, executive vice president of sales, marketing and engineering. “We’ve got the building automation squared away, so now everything is kind of leveling out. Now we’re just trying to get comfortable with our new environment.”

One word best describes the expansive structure — green.

“Green technology is being used to make the new building as energy-efficient as possible,” Rogers said. “We’ve definitely seen a much more comfortable working environment. I’m very happy with the building, and all the public response has been very positive.”

Cashco is utilizing geothermal technology for heating and air conditioning in addition to spray foam insulation.

“The design of the building, which is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, also allows a lot of natural light to come in so, hopefully, we won’t have to use so much electrical lighting,” Rogers said.

“Definitely, the natural light is nice.”

Energy-efficient windows and lights are also being used.

“They will actually be able to read how much ambient light is in there, and dim themselves to lower the consumption,” Rogers said. “On a cloudy day if there is not as much natural light, they will be able to readjust themselves to provide the proper amount of light in the building.”

Rogers said installation of the geothermal system involved drilling over 60 wells to allow water to be run through a

ALAN RUSCH/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Designer Homer Delawder works on a project in Cashco’s engineering department.

closed-loop system. A series of heat exchangers will either heat or cool the air in the building.

“It was one of those things we wanted to try to do if we could justify it in the project at the very beginning,” he said.

“We’ll give it a 12 month cycle and see what the winters and hot summer days are like.”

Construction on the new building started June 11, 2012.

The general contractor was RY-CO Inc. of Brookville.

Rogers said an effort was made to do all the design changes to the building at the start of the project. Therefore, no changes were needed.

Rogers said the main feedback he has received from the public centered around what the new structure is and what it will be used for.

“Not knowing what Cashco does, and then seeing a new building, one always wonders,” Rogers said. “So we tried to explain that we are moving

some of the offices over there and refurbishing the offices for other production. And it gives us room to grow.”

The excess capacity in the new building allows Cashco officials to reutilize the main office area in the old building for use in production and related things.

“With the new product line we are developing in Germany (control valves, regulators and tank equipment), we know we are going to have supplemental or support staff in our engineering department since that is going to be manufactured here,” Rogers said. “So we know we have a need to grow — now we have the ability to do that.”

In addition to office space, the new building has a break room training rooms, and conference rooms.

“If we bring sales representatives in to train them, we’ll have a location to do it,” Rogers said.

Centrally-located rest rooms

Proud to be part of the growth and prosperity of Ellsworth County.

Mosaic provides a life of possibilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

We help people define their own happiness.

We support them and empower the pursuit of their goals. We celebrate their successes, even if that success is as simple as the pursuit itself.

Mosaic in Ellsworth was formed in 2003, but our roots go back to 1985 when the people of Ellsworth and Bethphage formed a partnership to establish an organization that could provide supported living and life skills training. Bethphage and Martin Luther Homes ministries consolidated as Mosaic and now serve thousands of people.

will serve a dual function as storm shelters, since they are made of reinforced concrete.

Rogers said the rest rooms will be large enough to hold all employees assigned to the building — something that is particularly relevant given the recent tornado strikes in various parts of Oklahoma.

“In our shop we have a cinder block-reinforced room that serves that purpose, but in the office here we really didn’t have that,” he said. “With our HVAC/geothermal up in the mezzanine, we were able to do that and make it a cost-affordable option. You just hope you never have to use it.”

Rogers said the new construction offers Cashco a variety of benefits, noting the open and flexible floor plan will accommodate future growth as different departments grow at different rates due to technology.

One thing he noted the open floor plan has already afforded Cascho employees is better

communication between departments.

“I think the flow of information is better than what it was in the other office area,” Rogers said.

Now that the new construction is complete, Rogers said Cashco still plans to bring 40 to 60 employees into Ellsworth for a one- to two-week training rotation. The company also expects to add 30 more jobs in Ellsworth over time.

“It’s kind of dependant upon how the economy goes,” he said.

He said the process of bringing people in for training hasn’t started yet.

“Those people who are going to be training are either going to be customers or independently owned and operated representatives,” Rogers said. “As far as adding staff into some of the areas, we have, and, like I said with the addition of the new product line that is being developed in Germany, it’s going to incorporate an additional staff load — both for support on the engineering side and in manufacturing and things like that.”

Rogers hopes Cashco’s Ellsworth footprint will expand even larger in the future.

“With the ability of our existing facility running 24 hours per day operations, we have the ability to grow without having to add additional manufacturing space,” he said.

“But as things grow, as we optimize some of our processes, and as we move some of our processes in house, there’s definitely that benefit.”

Rogers said the key for Cashco is identifying where it spends money, “If we have that ability to do it here and we can cost-justify it, we’ll definitely try to move that operation in-house to have more control over it, and in the long-term save money,” he said.

Congratulations to Ellsworth County on its continued prosperity and growth.

Introducing Mexican Food to our menu!

We will be keeping the best of the Ellsworth Steakhouse menu, but adding some great authentic Mexican dishes, featuring Chef Luis.

Burritos Chimichangas Chile Rellenos

Steak & Chicken Fajitas Enchiladas Carnitas And much more!

Mosaic in Ellsworth presently provides needed services to 30 people. We employ 45 people with engaging jobs and provide quality training to ensure a high level of integrity and compassionate care.

TM

124 W. 3rd, P.O. Box 169 | Ellsworth, KS 67439 785.472.4081 | www.mosaicinellsworth.org

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Thank You!

• DME

Choitz Brothers Equipment would like to thank all our loyal customers for their support over the past 50 years.

We couldn’t have done it without you!

We are here to serve all your future needs... and we are proud to share the excitement of the growth in the Ellsworth area.

CHOITZ BROTHERS EQUIPMENT CO., INC. 13th & State Street • Ellswor th, KS.

785-472-3876

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209 N. Douglas, Ellsworth, KS 67439 785-472-3131/800-829-7131

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Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

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Beat goes On

Ellsworth’s Maico is about heavy metal

BY Mark mccoy Ellsworth County I-R

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MARK McCOY/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Maico Industries’ plant manager, Dave Cox, stands inside the 8’ circumference of a giant pole slated for shipment to California.

The sections for the poles can exceed 40,000 pounds apiece. Maico plans to expand its present shop and build a paint shop north of the building in the future.

aico Industries Inc., located just north of Ellsworth on Kansas Highway 14 is about heavy metal. The company specializes in creating huge metal projects ranging from lighting poles for the California interstate system to rafters for the New York Giant’s modern training facility. Currently, Maico is making a monstrous 100,000 pound shipping frame for the Boeing Corporation, to move a large aircraft component from Wichita to Seattle, Wash.

The huge, one-room shop is a clean, bustling, impressive place — complete with welders, grinders, a large computer-controlled floor-cutting machine that works above a long four foot tank of water, enormous lifts, cranes and the largest cold-steel bending press in the United States.

Due to the high quality of workmanship emitting from the shop, Maico is planning to expand, adding an additional 15,000 square feet to the current shop and potentially six jobs to its work force.

“Additional ground has been purchased north and south of the current building, Pacey Construction has started the dirt work and Kyler and Sons has poured nine of the 10 column foundations for expansion, utilizing Ellsworth Ready-Mix for the concrete,” said Dave Cox, plant manager.

Cox said that Maico is proud to utilize local contractors and suppliers wherever possible for the expansion.

The structural framework is being fabricated and will be erected by Maico, along with additional overhead hoists. Cox said that the project is due to be completed within the next year, however, progress of completing the expansion is currently being delayed due to customer projects — which have priority.

“This is a problem I gladly welcome as a manager,” Cox said. “We purchased additional land north of the current building for future expansion plans. Our future plans are to build a paint facility separate from the fabrication shop.

“We are currently engaged in fabricating structural building frames in multiple large scale projects utilized in the energy sector, such as electrical distribution and nuclear

We've Moved!

Congratulations to the great city of Ellsworth and its continued growth.

Honesty.

Integrity.

Gary Urbanek, Agent 1504 109 Aylward Avenue W 1st Ellsworth, KS 67439 Bus: 785-472-4426 gary.urbanek.b6zf@statefarm.com

All in a day’s work.

testing,” he said.

The company is fabricating structural building frames for the United States Air Force in Mercury, Nev. for the application of a nuclear testing facility. They are also fabricating large diameter utility poles destined for California.

The bases of the poles exceed eight feet in diameter, with a four-inch thick base plate welded to the multi-sided shaft. The pole sections can weigh up to 40,000 pounds apiece.

“We just completed fabricating three, 220’ box-truss structures that will span both interstate lanes of traffic in Delaware,” Cox said.

Maico has positioned itself to bid on large contracts with Clean Line Energy Partners, which is designing and funding the construction of the Grain Belt Express transmissions line, as well as three other major utility lines throughout the Midwest.

The Grain Belt Express will originate in southwest Kansas, moving electricity to larger markets in upper Midwest to Northeastern United States, totaling approximately 800 miles.

Clean Line Energy Partners is currently developing four large transmission projects, using high-voltage direct current technology to connect areas of the country that have excellent solar and wind energy resources to load centers hundreds of miles away, that can use the power. HVDC minimizes energy losses and leaves a smaller environmental footprint compared to alternating current technology.

Each of the four lines will cost about $2 billion to build, and Maico could potentially fabricate a significant number of utility poles for each of the projects.

Maico is known as being a good corporate member of Ellsworth County. It has made lighting poles for Wilson High School and Ellsworth Junior/Senior High School football fields, charging the school districts only for the materials — a big savings when replacing aged, dilapidated wooden lighting poles. The company has fabricated a lot of things for charitable organizations throughout the years.

“Maico Industries has enjoyed being a part of Ellsworth County for many years now, and continues to look ahead for continued business growth,” Cox said.

Our new location is 1504 Aylward Avenue, just south of the hospital.

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Ellsworth Ready Mix Inc., providing a “Concrete” foundation for the county

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Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

I-R

Beat goes On

C7

The frame takes shape this spring on Great Plains Manufacturing’s expansion at its Ellsworth plant. Demand for the company tillage equipment has created a much larger operation here than was first envisioned by Great Plains officers. The expansion was projected to start several months ago; however, work was delayed by snow and rain.

I-R photos

by Linda Mowery-Denning

Demand leads to Great Plains growth in Ellsworth

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING Ellsworth County I-R

W

hen Great Plains Manufacturing opened its Ellsworth plant several years ago, company officers couldn’t imagine what they would do with the 129,000 square feet in the former Ell-Kan building.

Now the buzzword around the plant on the west side of Kansas Highway 156 is “expansion.”

“We’ve just outgrown our space,” said Steve Johnson, who has been plant manager for more than a year.

The Salina-based manufacturer of farm equipment planned to break ground in December on an expansion that is set to equal a little more than 10 percent of the space the company now

occupies in Ellsworth.

Weather delayed the start of construction to this spring.

At the end of May, the concrete floor of the new area was laid and the building’s frame was visible from Eighth Street. Johnson said the addition should be in use in another two-and-one-half months.

Johnson said the expansion will allow Great Plains to improve its work flow and enhance its warehouse space.

The parking lot also is being enlarged.

The company employs about 150 workers in Ellsworth on four, 10-hour shifts. A weekend shift with 10 workers was recently added.

“We’re extremely busy,” Johnson said.

The Ellsworth plant started with between 40 and 45

workers; however, the farm economy has been strong in recent years.

Four Johnson different models of tillage equipment go from Ellsworth to mainly the Corn Belt of the Midwest and to dozens of different countries.

The local plant has increased its number of employees by 25 percent in the past year.

“And we’re still hiring,” Johnson said. “I think we’ll be at 160 when we’re done.”

The prime reason for the uptick in workers is the Turbo Max, a product the plant started manufacturing in September 2011.

“It has taken off beyond anyone’s belief,” Johnson said.

The Turbo Max is part of Great Plains “vertical tillage,” a newer, non-conventional system that focuses on the proper preparation of seedbeds through more aggressive ground leveling and weed removal, enhanced residue sizing, and residue coverage. The goal, as always, is better yields and thus more dollars in the pockets of Great Plains’ farmer-customers.

Johnson said anticipated product demand looks to continue well in 2014.

“Anybody in the ag business seems to be doing very well. We’re not seeing an end in sight,” he said.

Johnson said he would like to see the company approve another expansion at Ellsworth, this one on the

south side of the existing plant.

“There are opportunities there,” he said.

Great Plains has more than 1,400 employees at seven plants, including in the towns of Assaria, Lucas, Kipp, Abilene, Enterprise and Tipton, which also makes tillage equipment.

The company also has an agreement with the Kansas Department of Corrections for welding work to be done by inmates inside the fence at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility.

Johnson said Great Plains is always on the lookout for improved methods. For instance, the company is working with scientists — again to increase yields — on such items as plant spacing and better utilization of sunlight.

Congratulations KanEquip on your expansion, and thank you for letting Hi-Plains Sand, Inc. be a part of it.

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Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

C8

Beat goes On

A century of Kanopolis’ Independent Salt

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING Ellsworth County I-R

K

ANOPOLIS — Bad weather for most people is good weather for the Kanopolis-based Independent Salt Co. That’s because for the past several decades the major use of the salt taken from an underground mine here has been as a de-icing agent for roads, bridges and other structures. The harder the winter, the more salt Independent sells to cities, counties and others with a stake in maintaining highways.

“The past couple of years have been pretty slow for us, which isn’t all bad,” said Independent president Brian Keener. “We were so busy for so many years in a row, it gives us a chance to catch up.”

This year, the company celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Independent and its 50 employees will be recognized as grand marshals of the town’s annual Fort Harker Days parade in July.

Salt plays a major role in the history of Kanopolis.

The Royal Salt Company was organized in 1890, followed by the Crystal Salt Company in 1906 and Independent Salt in 1913.

In the early days, Keener said, the salt was mined and used to pack meat. In fact, meat packers Swift & Company and Armour & Company owned Independent Salt for many years, until 1969, when it was sold to three Chicago businessmen.

Keener’s father, Don, became the principal owner of the plant 20 years later, after working there since 1953.

Now, in addition to easing winter roads of ice, salt from Kanopolis is used as an additive to animal and poultry feed, for processing raw hides into leather good, industrial water treatment and as an aid in drilling oil and gas wells.

The salt comes from a 245-million-year-old vein that crosses the state south to north, providing industry jobs in Hutchinson, Lyons and Kanopolis. Independent employees work 850 feet under ground, producing roughly 400,000 to 500,000 tons or more of salt a year. They work in two, eighthour shifts — about 15 employees during the day and six to seven at night.

About 70 percent of the salt leaves Kanopolis by truck; the rest goes by rail on the Union Pacific Railroad.

Some of the people Keener works with are — like him — second generation. Don Keener semi-retired in 1995, leaving in charge Brian, who as a lad never considered taking over the family business.

“There are a lot of long-term relationships in this industry,” Brian said. “I wanted to do something different and then we started having kids. We lived in Wichita at the time and Wichita just wasn’t that appealing to us.”

Long-term relationships certainly apply to Independent’s employees. Several are second and third generation. That’s one of the reason Independent Salt is the only survivor of an industry that at one time dominated the Kanopolis economy.

“It’s been a combination of luck and we’ve had a lot of good people over the years who knew what they were doing,” Keener said.

These historic photos of the Independent Salt Company were provided by Brian Keener, who operates the company today. The top photo is of the plant, probably in the 1940s. The bottom photo shows the trucks used by the company to transport salt. See page C9 for mining method.

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Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

I-R

Beat goes On

Our Ag foundation

D

oes agriculture play a role in our community?

Agriculture plays a major role in Kansas communities — and Ellsworth County agriculture is no different.

Our producers are efficient in grain production, hay production and meat production. We have a wide variety of commodities produced in the county.

The past few years have been great times to be involved in production agriculture. Markets for commodities have remained higher than normal. However, less than normal moisture has held down production potential.

Does agriculture have anything to worry about in the coming years?

Land prices are at an all-time high. Over the last five years, farm ground has doubled in value. Low interest rates, increased demand for outputs such as proteins and biofuels, above average commodity prices have led to sky- rocketing land prices. For producers looking to expand their operations, it’s not as easy as it was a few years ago. Land rent rates have gone through the roof as well.

Rent values have doubled or even tripled over the last five years.

This has made for some interesting relationships between landlord and tenant.

Input prices — the cost of equipment, fuel, fertilizer, seed — are going up. It costs a lot more money to put out a crop with these higher prices. Farmers risk a lot of money to rely on Mother Nature every year. Further, higher input cost have made it difficult for smaller farmers to remain competitive.

Why on earth would you want to remain in production agriculture with everything going against you?

The genetics that we are using today are more productive than we have ever used. Seed companies have invested in research and development; improving genetic varieties that can produce more crop with less moisture and resist pests.

Seed isn’t the only area we have seen major developments in technology. Equipment has progressed a lot over the last couple years. We have machines that are bigger, better and more efficient than ever. Today’s technology allows farmers to work more acres in less time, using less fuel and fewer passes over a field.

Animal agriculture production, primarily beef production in Ellsworth County, is a vital and stable portion of our agriculture economy. Much like crop production, rising land prices affect a cattleman’s ability to expand. However, beef demand and prices for beef remain high due to growing markets, rising incomes worldwide, and a short beef supply due to the recent drought in the Midwest and South. Additionally, beef genetics continue to improve, allowing producers to raise animals with more lean muscle using less land and less feed.

Agriculture plays an important role in Ellsworth County. Just like any occupation or any business owner, there are multiple advantages and disadvantages. The difference is this: these hard working guys and gals stick with the job because of their love and passion for the land they work. Agriculture in our community is in good hands.

Brent Goss of Ellsworth is an Ellsworth County Extension agent.

M

C9

The Mining Process

ining takes place in a 10-foot layer in a salt bearing formation which totals nearly 250 feet in thickness. Because of cycles of flooding and drying spanning millions of years, the salt layers are separated by layers of shale, deposited as dust or mud, measuring from a fraction of an inch to many feet in thickness.

The bed is reached by traveling down an 840-foot deep timberlined shaft connecting with miles of entries which lead to the mine “face.” The mining method used is known as “room and pillar,” meaning that rooms are excavated and a pillar is left to support the mine roof. This method allows the removal of 70 to 75 feet of the salt, leaving a roof that needs no other means of support.

At the present time, the first step in salt production here is to drill the “face” with a large hydraulic auger drill. After drilling the face, with the holes in a precise pattern, a large machine called an undercutter is used to cut a 6-by-12-foot cut at the bottom of the face.

The holes are then loaded with explosives which are “shot” at the end of the work shift each day.

This leaves a pile of broken salt containing pieces ranging in size from a fine powder to lumps weighing many hundred pounds.

It requires three to four hours to clear the smoke and fumes between detonation and loading.

In this fashion we can produce up to 3,500 tons in a two-shift day.

Diesel powered loaders called LHD’s (Load-Haul-Dump) are then used to move the salt to a feeder-breaker which uses a rotating drum covered with picks to break the salt into pieces no larger than a softball and feed it on to a conveyor belt. This belt then transports the salt to a crusher which further reduces its size before it is taken by belt-line

Joe Orozco works in the mine where salt is produced for distribution to Midwest cities and counties. Photo courtesy Independent Salt Company.

to the bottom of the shaft where it is hoisted to the surface.

The shaft is made up of three chambers, two hoisting chambers at the south end, and a ventilation chamber at the north end.

Here the salt is loaded on skips, each holding 5 1/2 tons. The hoisting system is designed so that, by using two steel cables fastened to a single drum, a loaded skip is raised to the surface at the same time an empty skip is being lowered into the mine for re-loading. The hoisting process is entirely automated when used for production and with a hoisting speed of 1,000 feet per minute a round trip for a skip takes less than two minutes. The skips are also used to transport men and material into the mine.

After reaching the surface the salt is emptied into dumping bins from which it is carried by belts and bucket elevators to screens where it is sized according to its end use. The finer grades usually go to feed mills and hide houses, the coarser grades being used for ice control and water treatment.

Any oversized pieces are screened out, crushed and re-screened.

After sorting, the salt is stored in bins in the mill building from which it is loaded into trucks or rail cars for shipment in bulk, or taken to sacking rooms for packaging before shipment. The salt we are now bringing to the surface has not been exposed to day light for over 245 million years.

Historically, the mining process here has been much the same as it is now, except, that in the early days it required much more labor to get the salt out of the mine. Manpower on the salt carts was replaced by mules, which were kept in the mine. In the 1940s, the mules were replaced by small electric trains.

In the late 1950s, the electric trains were replaced by conveyor belts, which are still being used.

Also, instead of the modern automated hoist now in use, a manual steam powered hoist was used.

Information provided by Independent Salt Company

99

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Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

C10

Beat goes On Brand New

Herzog Continued from Page C3 same time, it’s not taking away from any other areas.”

“It’s going to be something that’s going to be around after I’m long gone,” Herzog said. “So many communities west of Interstate 135 are losing their dentists, and their dentists are getting up in age. We’re having a hard time getting dentists to come out here.

I don’t want Ellsworth to be in that situation when I’m long gone. I want them to have a facility someone can move in to, and continue to have a dental presence here in the community.”

Herzog said all the construction that has taken place in Ellsworth is a blessing for everyone.

“We’re the only small community that continues to grow and grow — and that’s a blessing,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have the construction and the people in the community willing to take a chance and make things better for everybody.”

Pleased with results “We’re very pleased with this project,” Urbanek said. “That office is an office designed specifically by State Farm for State Farm agents. In this office, we sort of made due with the space we had.”

"We’re the only small community that continues to grow ... and that’s a blessing."

Dr. Mark Herzog

Urbanek was at the State Farm Insurance office in downtown Ellsworth for 25 years.

Urbanek said customers can expect a more professional atmosphere with the new office. Single units for heating and air conditioning will also make the new office more energy efficient.

The new location is another plus for Urbanek.

“We’ll probably have as many cars go by before lunch as we would have had here in a week,” he said.

Like his partner, Urbanek said all the new construction has been great for the community.

“I’m hopeful we won’t have any vacant buildings here in downtown,” he said.

Urbanek hopes someone will find a use for his old building, which is in the historic district.

“It has potential,” he said.

Herzog said he and Urbanek plan to host an open house together sometime in the future, but no date has yet been set.

Boisvert Continued from Page C1 the home project. Good highway access to our county is also a benefit.

What really makes a community is the people. Small communities like those in Ellsworth County rely on volunteers. There are many occasions where volunteer interest and effort result in the success of an event and enjoyment for many. One I am very familiar with is Wilson’s annual Czech Festival. This all volunteer event is a major undertaking and each July brings entertainment and celebration to the community.

Our volunteer fire departments throughout the county face danger every time the whistle blows.

Hopefully we never need their services, but knowing they are trained, ready and willing gives comfort.

There are many great attributes to our rural county of Ellsworth, Kan. Too many to identify in this short description. Living here for more than a decade has been enjoyable and I look forward to the years to come.

Brian Boisvert Wilson

This is the waiting room of Dr. Mark Herzog’s new dental office north of the First Bank Kansas building in north Ellsworth. Dr. Herzog said the room was designed to be calming, right down to the video playing on the television screen. The office features mission-style furniture.

I-R Photo

Fillion Continued from Page C1 dents led by bankers Dane Britton and his father, Roy, convinced the city to build a prison, which the state leased for the first year before taking ownership.

Translated into present day terms, the city, county and school district supported efforts to designate the First Bank Kansas and Carrico development a TIF district. Under the plan, Ellsworth issued bonds for infrastructure construction and then repaid them with the additional tax dollars generated by improvements at the two sites. Once

those bonds are repaid, the tax dollars will go to ease the tax burden on other property owners.

Fillion said the willingness of government officials to move forward makes his job easier.

Ellsworth County has been successful because over the years its leaders have felt comfortable thinking out of the box.

“I think it comes down to a frame of mind,” he said. “It’s an attitude of people in Ellsworth County that we are willing and open for business. We have a community that makes businesses want to come here.”

Congratulations to the city of Ellsworth and its continued growth and success!

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Special Harvest Hours - Open until 11:00 p.m.

Restaurant 1408 Foster Road • Ellsworth • 785-472-4104

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

I-R

Beat goes On

Wilson Communications thrives on customer service

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING Ellsworth County I-R

W

ILSON — Cattle still enter the sale ring at the Sylvan Sales Commission. The only difference from several years ago is — a buyer doesn’t have to be present to place a bid. Instead, a rancher can be home — at Ellsworth, at Hays, at any one of hundreds of places in Kansas and beyond — and still participate in the commission’s weekly Monday auction.

“We get people from Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri,” said the commission’s Toby Meyer. “It’s been kind of a lifesaver.”

Geography doesn’t matter in the world of on-line internet auctions, brought to you by technology Wilson Communications originally delivered to its service territory in 2002.

“What we want to do is eliminate barriers for any commerce our customers want to do,” said general manager Brian Boisvert.

Wilson Communications and its 16 Wilson-based employees serve seven small central Kansas communities, based on their telephone exchanges. The company, for instance, has responsibility for the 658 — or Wilson exchange — through territories certified by the state.

About a decade ago, Wilson Communications started investing millions of dollars into its system with the addition of a fiber optics broadband part-way to the homes and businesses it serves. Its most recent effort has been to go “the last mile,” to take fiber optics technology all the way to a customer’s front door. The fiber-to-the-home project has been completed at Tipton, Wilson Lake, Brookville and Lucas. Wilson is under construction. Boisvert said it will take

another few years to complete the upgrade systemwide.

The technology is a far cry from the early days of Wilson Communications, which was founded in the early 1900s as Wilson Telephone Company. Paul and Helen Grauer became partowners in 1943 and eventually sole owners, over the years adding exchanges until the company provided telephone service to the communities of Wilson, Lucas, Sylvan Grove, Hunter, Denmark, Tipton, and Brookville.

The company is currently owned

by Robert and Eva Grauer and their son, Scott Grauer. In addition to territory, the company also has grown its services to include local and long distance telephone service, broadband and cable.

“Our main driver is that our customers have access to the most modern communications network,” Boisvert said.

The Grauers recruited him more than a decade ago to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. Boisvert recently celebrated 35 years in the industry. He remembers his early days, when the biggest challenge he faced was figuring out how to take customers from party to private telephone lines. The options are unlimited with today’s fiber optics.

“The technology changes have never stopped,” Boisvert said. “We know we’re just not a voice provider anymore.”

Wilson Communications’ fiber optics network will offer customers opportunities in economic development, education, entertainment and other areas, Boisvert said.

Fiber optics also will provide graphics, video and other information to homes at a high rate of speed. It also will eliminate geo-

graphic barriers, as it has done for Toby Meyer’s livestock auctions and other customers.

This past school year, for example, elementary school students in Wilson visited the San Diego Zoo, via an interactive internet connection.

The investment in technology made by Wilson Communications allowed for the exchange.

Boisvert said his company is considered a “provider of last resort,” which means it is obligated by law — and by company policy — to serve all customers within its 1,000-square-mile territory. With 1,600 homes, that averages 1.6 customers per mile.

“We have more wheat and cattle than we have people,” Boisvert said.

Establishment of the fiber optics network will give those customers the same opportunities as residents of Chicago, Denver and other large towns. It also will carry Wilson Communications into the future, by making change easier to handle with improvements coming on the end equipment instead of with new cable.

But for Wilson Communications, it all goes back to the consumer, just as it did in Paul and Helen Grauer’s time.

“It’s not a technology we’re investing in, it’s what the technology can offer to the customer,” Boisvert said.

D1

SERVICE EXCHANGES • Wilson • Lucas • Sylvan Grove • Hunter • Denmark • Tipton • Brookville

The Grauer family includes, from left, Robert, Paul, Paul Jr., Helen and Charles. The company is now owned

by Robert and his wife, Eva, and their son, Scott.

LINDA MOWERY-DENNING/ECI-R

Brian Boisvert is shown with some of the antique telephone equipment on display in the Wilson office of Wilson Communications.

Meet us at the End of the Trail The National Drovers Hall of Fame Association – in partnership with the

Frontier Program, a historical-studies group at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine – plans to observe the 150th anniversary in 2017 of the Chisholm Trail with a traveling exhibit celebrating the life and times of men and women who contributed to the economic and social healing of post-Civil War America.

The association has already raised more than $1 million and restored the outside of downtown Ellsworth’s signature Insurance Building. Act Two starts today, as we move forward with inside restoration. The goal is to be finished in time to offer a permanent home to K-State’s traveling exhibit.

This is an exciting time for the National Drovers Hall of Fame Association and its vision of a museum to honor the cattle and horses, men and women, railroads, and cowtowns that accompanied the cattle drive era – arguably one of the key periods in American history.

Be a part of this exciting project and help us turn our vision into reality.

Send your tax deductible contributions to:

National Drovers HallP.O.ofBoxFame 415 Ellsworth, Ks. 67439 www.nationaldrovers.com

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

D2

Beat goes On

H&B looks to the future with technology

BY Mark mccoy Ellsworth County I-R

H

OLYROOD — Within the last five years, H&B Communications of Holyrood has positioned itself and the area that it serves for the 21st century.

“The biggest project that we have just completed is a fiberoptic project in the Claflin and rural Ellinwood areas,” said Rob Koch, president and general manager of the company.

“We’ve supplied something like 600 customers with fiber-optic broadband connections.”

Koch said the project was partially funded by the recent stimulus program.

“It was a grant-loan project.

There was no way it would have been economically feasible to serve those customers with fiber-optic internet, telephone and cable television. All of our focus has been on that for the last two years.”

“We think it’s the core of communications to the home for maybe the next 50 years or so. While wireless provides us all with the mobility that we all have grown to love and everything—it does not have the bandwidth that we think that the home is going to consume,” he said.

Koch was asked if H&B planned to expand the fiberoptics into the balance of Ellsworth County.

He said that communication

MARK McCOY/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Rob Koch is the second generation of his family to guide H&B Communications at Holyrood.

companies are governed by a government policy called Universal Service, which states that people in rural areas should have the same access to service as urban areas.

“By using that, we were able to do it in our traditional areas that we have always been a phone company,” Koch said.

“There is no support to do that if we were to go out into a competitive environment, like rural Ellsworth. That program doesn’t apply there, so there is no economic incentive to do it.”

Koch said that recently, the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees the communications industry, put a proposal in place called the National Broadband Plan to expand universal service to include internet access.

“It’s a great name and all that, but their idea of universal broadband consists of fixed wireless to the house with only 1 megabyte up and 4 megabytes down,” Koch sad.

“That’s universal service to them. We are saying no, that’s 25 times less than what they have in the urban areas.

“So our reply to the FCC was that is not universal service — that is piddling service that barely gets by and we can’t get economic development in the rural areas if they do that.

The FCC’s reply to that is that America cannot afford to supply the rural areas with that technology. The rural people around Claflin and Ellinwood were fortunate to be a part of the project,” Koch said. “Unless there is a change in the FCC

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program or there is another stimulus — I don’t foresee the rural areas that don’t have fiber as ever getting it.”

Koch thinks that the addition of fiber-optic broadband connections will be an asset to the area they serve for several reasons.

“If you have a home that has fiber to it? Your home just went up in value,” he said.

“That will become more and more evident as the demand in the home increases. We should see the demand doubling every year or every year-and-a-half.

If that continues, then that value will just continue to climb.”

Another asset is that home based internet workers, like medical transcribers, will have the high-tech bandwidth necessary to compete in the modern global economy.

“A lot of the local businesses are connected — like the Co-op, and that makes their life a lot easier,” said Allison Koch, Rob’s daughter who also works at H&B. “It’s important to the farmers too, for we have farmers that watch auctions on-line—that’s a huge thing.”

The Kochs pointed out that a lot of the farmers use the high-band connection for GPS systems in the modern age of no-till farming. And as the internet-based, global economy increases, the area served by H&B’s fiber-optic system could potentially attract new

internet-based businesses.

H&B also has a retail showroom where they sell televisions, phones and other communication accessories.

H&B employs about 18-20 workers, with a couple of summer helpers. It is a familyowned operation and Koch and his sister, D.J. Nash, are the third generation. His grandparents worked for the telephone company in the 1930s and his parents bought the Holyrood telephone company in the late 1950s when they returned to Holyrood after a stint in the military.

H&B serves Dorrance, Bushton, Chase, Claflin, Ellinwood, Holyrood, Lorraine and the surrounding rural areas.

All three of Koch’s grown children, Brandon, Allison and Marlena Jahn are employed at H&B, a fact that Koch is thrilled about. Brandon and Allyson both live and work in Holyrood and Koch’s daughter Marlena works for the company via internet from California.

Koch also has two nephews, Justin and Brent Nash working for the company.

“So we have all five in the fourth generation working here,” he said. “It was my parents’ dream that their grandkids would have an opportunity to work here.

“We have a lot of employees that are not ‘blood’ family, but they are like family. It takes the whole mix to make it work.”

We are proud of our community’s continued growth and prosperity.

CITY PLUMBING, HEATING & A/C, INC. P.O. Box 25 • 120 N. Lincoln • Ellsworth, KS 67439 785-472-3001 Rick & Mitch Kempke, Owners

121 W. 1st Street • P.O. Box 163 • Ellsworth, KS 785-472-5566

Committed to the growth and future prosperity of Ellsworth County.

Your Home Project Center

CHAMPION AUTO PARTS

913 Evans • Ellsworth • 785-472-4483

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911 Evans • Ellsworth • 472-5858

• Kitchen Cabinets • Countertops • Expanded Flooring Line • Onyx Showers & Sinks • Milwaukee Tools • Competitive Prices Congratulations to KanEquip! A special thank you for making Home Lumber a supplier for your expansion!

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785-472-6067

SPORTS • OBITUARIES • BREAKING NEWS • BLOGS • COMMUNITY PHOTOS

WWW.INDYREPNEWS.COM

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

I-R

Beat goes On

D3

Choitz Brothers thrives on customer service

BY Mark mccoy Ellsworth County I-R

S

ervice, service, service is the heart of Choitz Brother’s Equipment Company’s 50 years of successful operation in Ellsworth and central Kansas.

Frank Choitz and his brother George, opened the business June 1, 1963, after building a 30’ X 60’ concrete block shop on the company’s present location at 1219 State Street in Ellsworth. The Choitz brothers built the shop themselves — with the help of George’s wife Dorothy, which has been expanded a few times over the years and now encompasses about 9,000 square feet.

George died in 2010.

“Half of it, George used as a welding shop and I used the rest of it to work on automobiles, trucks, cars and tractors,” Choitz said. “I came from Westerhouse Motor Company before I moved up here. I worked there for five years, so I had experience in this line of work.”

Choitz attended an automotive school in Kansas City in 1957-58 to learn his trade.

George was a self-taught welder and had been employed at A-1 welding shop from 1955-1963. He was well-known in farm and ranch circles as the best welder in central Kansas.

The brothers were approached by the J.I. Case Company to become dealers for Case tractors and farm machinery in 1964. According to Choitz, there were several competing dealers in the area and Case wanted to make inroads into the marketplace.

“They had been all over town trying to find someone to take on the Case line,” said Choitz, “All the competition said ‘We

MARK McCOY/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Front row from left, Frank Choitz, Dorothy Choitz, Darrell Choitz and Karen Paull. Back row from left, Marvin Dolezal, Ralph Choitz, Dean Choitz and Harry Choitz.

don’t want to take on their blah-blah tractor’, so we told them that we would give it a try.”

A week later, Choitz Brothers became a Case dealership.

Choitz remembers that they were a little overwhelmed when truck and railroad cars full of machinery started to arrive at the shop.

“The first few years it was a little slow because we had a lot of competition that we were fighting,” he said. “Some of the competition thought we’d be broke in six months, but I was an old country boy, I was broke when we started — so how could it be any different?”

Choitz remembers that they couldn’t borrow any money since they didn’t have any collateral.

“It was the individual farmers that helped us,” he said. “It was pretty slim pickings when we started.”

In the fall of 1969, Case

decided to change tractor lines and Choitz Brothers took 33 of the discontinued line to sell.

“Everyone thought we had fallen out of a tree and bumped our heads,” Choitz said. “They said that we would never sell that many tractors. But they all disappeared.”

Choitz Brothers’ strategy was not to make a lot of money from the initial sale of the tractor, but to offer superior service to its customers after the sale.

Due to the gifted, mechanical genius of the two brothers, word spread in the farmland of a shop that could almost fix anything.

“In 1973 we sold 59 brand new tractors,” said Dorothy Choitz, wife of George.

Dorothy helped mix the mortar for the original block building in 1963 and is a fixture at the business, working at the shop every day.

“Everyone said ‘they have got to be doing something wrong

because we can hardly sell any’,” Choitz said. “Well, we sold them at a very small margin of profit, because they wanted to make a big wad of money at the start.

“We didn’t. We just thought that we’d get them out there and keep them serviced. That’s still paying for us today because they are still running them.

“That’s the way business should work, you know. Service is the key — not to make a lump-sum of the initial sale.”

Through the years, George and Frank had three of their brothers working for them including Emil, Harry and Ralph. Karen Paull, who currently is employed in the operation, is a niece and Ralph is still working at the shop.

Choitz Brothers was a Case dealer until early in 2000, when the company, like a lot of farm implement and automobile companies, decided to downsize their dealership obliga-

tions. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two of George and Dorothy’s sons — Dean and Darrell had joined the operation and several of the grandchildren had spent summers working in the shop.

The company has employed as many as 13 people and now employs six. Non-related employees, such as Marvin Dolezal, are long-term members of the team and are considered family, rather than employees.

Choitz Brothers picked up the Federated Auto Parts line in January of 2006, to offset losing the dealership status with Case-IH. Choitz said that was done to help the business obtain parts to maintain its’ service business, as Case only allowed them to purchase parts at dealership cost for two years after the loss of the dealership.

Choitz said that Federated sold a lot of the same type of parts that they had obtained through Case.

The business sells auto parts for most makes and models of automobiles.

Although Choitz Brothers’ business hours are M-F, 8-5 and Saturday 8-12, it’s not uncommon to see the shop doors open at all times of the day and night as employees or preferred customers work on projects or machinery.

Employees or family members have been known to open the shop on Sundays to keep the farmer going during harvest.

Frank is currently “retired” but still can be seen almost daily in the shop.

“I sometimes wish I was still doing it today, but Mother Age took over and you can’t fight age,” he said. It’s been a pleasure to work with everybody all See CHOITZ, Page D8

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

D4

Beat goes On

Home Lumber reorganizes for customer convenience

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

I

n an effort to better serve customers and stay competitive, manager Stacy Rohr and her employees at Ellsworth’s Home Lumber Company have undertaken a bit of a facelift of their store, both inside and out, with more show space, bigger and better displays and more tools and equipment.

“We started about a month and a half ago,” Rohr said. “We’re not done yet.”

In addition to moving the counter and office to the front of the store, Rohr is in the process of adding residential floor coverings, two different brands of cabinets and new lines of equipment to the store’s selection.

“We had very few, and those were mostly contractor grades,” she said of the coverings. “Now we’re going to have a lot of residential.”

Rohr is also adding Aristocraft and Diamond cabinets, and will be selling Onyx, a man-made marble-type material manufactured near Wamego that is used for showers and sinks.

Home Lumber’s decorating selection is also expanded.

“We’ve been switching out a lot of our product lines to encourage new shoppers,” Rohr said. “We’re switching our paint sundries out to Wooster, which is a good name brand and has very good price levels.”

The store has also added Milwaukebrand tools.

“We’ve been selling them now for a month and it’s going great,” Rohr said.

“We’re just trying to be more competitive with Salina.”

More electrical and plumbing supplies for the do-it-yourself individual will be stocked. Displays featuring various sink and countertop styles will be put in.

“We’re waiting for those displays to get in,” Rohr said.

Rohr said the public price-shops Home Lumber a lot.

“We welcome people to call Salina and ask for prices then call us,” she said. “Some things we can match and some things we can beat. Some things we just have to be honest and say we See LUMBER, Page D8

ALAN RUSCH/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Home Lumber Company manager Stacy Rohr, middle, and her nephew, Brandon Rohr, the store’s assistant manager, left, listen to a customer.

3.95% APR

LINDA MOWERY-DENNING/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Lisa Lindsey and her son, Justin, own and operate Ellsworth Ready Mix, which is celebrating 30 years in business this year.

Ellsworth Ready Mix celebrates milestone

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING Ellsworth County I-R

S

ummer is harvest time for area farmers; it also is a harvest season of sorts for Ellsworth Ready Mix. The extreme cold temperatures, ice and snow of winter often limit the business to major repairs of equipment — and thoughts of warmer days.

“Our business is sporadic,” said Lisa Lindsley, who owns Ellsworth Ready Mix with her son, Justin.

The Lindsleys celebrate their 30th anniversary in business this year. Their ownership goes back to 1983, when Lisa and her former husband purchased the concrete plant from Steve and Wendell Truhlar, who started the company in 1969-70.

In the early days, the plant was capable of making 4 1/2-yard batches of concere at a time. The product was delivered in the company’s two, eight-yard trucks and one four-yard truck.

In 2001, Lisa Lindsley purchased her brother-in-law’s interest in the business and doubled the plant’s batch capacity to eight

yards. The company also moved to larger trucks.

Today, the plant has three full-time and two part-time employees, including the Lindsleys. They operate within a 30-mile radius of Ellsworth.

The company was responsible for the offices, electrical pods and other smaller jobs related to the construction of area wind farms.

Companies bonded for millions of dollars and capable of much larger jobs did the bases of the turbines.

The most Ellsworth Ready Mix has produced in a day is 750 yards of concrete, a mix of cement and water.

“With large pours we rent trucks from other plants,” Lisa said. Ellsworth returns the favor when necessary.

She said concrete is an excellent product, one that can last for 30 years or more. For that reason, the company is always on the lookout for new customers.

“You need to have growth to have a business like this,” Justin said.

Ellsworth Ready Mix also sells rock for driveways and landscape use.

Congratulations Ellsworth County, on your continued success. We’re here to provide you with all your insurance and investment needs.

Auto Loan Special

*Loan subject to Credit Approval. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) quoted is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate and payment may vary depending on a number of factors including borrower’s credit history, repayment method, loan amount, and term. Rates apply to new CSB&T loans and refinances from other financial institutions only. Offer available May 1 through July 31, 2013.

Citizens State Bank

& Trust Company

203 N. Douglas • Ellsworth, KS • 785-472-3141 749 E. 15th • Ellsworth, KS • 785-472-3872 100 W. Lincoln, Lincoln, KS • 785-524-4840

Proud to be part of the growth of Ellsworth

B&B Plumbing was involved in doing the plumbing for:

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Have a leak? Call B&B to take a peek!

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PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING INC. Alan Byerley

Bruce Bowie

224 East South Main • Ellsworth, KS 67439 (785) 472-5239 • 1-800-258-9813

Rick Connally Agent

120 W. 2nd • Ellsworth, KS 67439 • 785-472-3082 / 800-522-8036 Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - closed 12 - 1 p.m.

Ellsworth County…

Open For Business

Your one stop for business and development needs.

P.O. Box 321 114 ½ Douglas Ellsworth, KS 67439

785.472.4136 (p) 785.472.2486 (f)

Dedicated to the economic prosperity of Ellsworth County

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

I-R

Beat goes On

D5 The Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors are from left, Richard Booher, Clint Rogers, Lloyd Sprick, Deb Hyman and Don Kozisek.

Courtesy photo

Medical center weathers the challenges

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

T

he Ellsworth County Medical Center, a 19-bed critical access hospital built in 1997, is facing its share of both short-term and long-term challenges — much like any other hospital in Kansas.

Roger Masse, the hospital’s chief executive officer, deals with these challenges on a daily basis.

“We have to compete in the same market and get paid in the same way as many critical access hospitals in the state of Kansas,” Masse said. “I think that from that standpoint we are in reasonably good condition financially.”

Masse said members of the hospital administration are in the process of completing the annual budget.

“Our intent is to have a budget that will break even on the

bottom line,” he said. “That will still identify some operational challenges.”

Masse said Kansas is one of the more challenged states nationwide in terms of the operational performance of critical access hospitals.

“I believe the average operating margin in Kansas is about a minus 11.5 percent,” he said.

“Kansas is fifth from the bottom in terms of performance compared to other states with critical access hospitals.”

ECMC’s operating deficit in each of the last two years has been under one percent.

“So while we’re not breaking even from operations, and there are very few who are, on the bottom line we are, at least at this point, in a black position,” Masse said.

Masse said ECMC finds itself having to deal with the same restrictions that other providers have.

“Sequestration is affecting us

Roger Maase

to the tune of two percent of Medicare revenue,” he said.

“That annualizes at about $200,000 a year, which is the equivalent amount we are receiving in terms of millage support from the county. So we are trying to absorb that within our operations.”

From a provider standpoint, Masse said the hospital is in

Improving Lives in Ellsworth County for Over a Century

the middle of what it hopes to be a significant change within the next 12 to 18 months.

“Many, many things need to be worked out and finalized,” Masse said. “Getting Dr. Kayla Gray here subsequent to her completion of her residency in Wichita.”

Gray is an Ellsworth County native. Masse is also having

some discussions with another native, Dr. Katie Moore, so she can arrive at ECMC at roughly the same time as Gray.

“We’re very much looking forward to that,” Masse said.

He said the hospitals existing providers, Dr. Ronald Whitmer and Dr. Jerzy Slomka, along with physician assistants Shawn McGowan and Michelle Brokes, and advanced practice registered nurses Emily Lindsley and Debbie Whitmer, continue to provide exemplary service to Ellsworth County residents.

“Our workload has continued to shuffle up and down like many others in terms of fluctuation between inpatient and outpatient volumes,” Masse said. “The diagnostics area has remained relatively steady.”

The bottom line is ECMC, financially, is holding its own.

“It’s not without challenges,” See MED CENTER, Page D9

Ellsworth County Committed To Progress 2010 - 2013 • Replaced 9 Bridges • Sealed or Overlaid 15 1/2 Miles of County Roads • Replaced 3 Bridges with Culverts • Replaced 2 Bridge Decks • Changed All Radio Communications to New Digital System • Completed Rewiring of Law Enforcement Center

• 24/7 Emergency Room

• Started A Community Emergency Response Team Program

• Inpatient Care • Outpatient Services • Wellness Center • Rural Health Clinics in Wilson, Lucas, Ellsworth and Holyrood Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

1604 Aylward Avenue • Ellsworth

785-472-3111 www.ewmed.com

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

D6

Beat goes On

Mosaic’s traces history to 1913

By LINDSEY DECKER Special to the I-R

T

he national Mosaic organization celebrated a milestone anniversary Feb. 19 when it kicked off its centennial celebration, “A Century of Service, A Legacy of Love.”

The celebration involves 38 locations, including Ellsworth, across 10 states.

Mosaic was formed July 1, 2003, by the consolidation of two Nebraska-born Lutheran ministries dedicated to the needs of people with disabilities.

Bethphage began in 1913 in Axtell, Neb., and Martin Luther Homes started in 1925 in Sterling, Neb. “This is a very exciting time for Mosaic. Our staff, individuals we serve and their families, donors, volunteers, partners and advocates are joining together to reflect on our past and prepare for our future,” said Linda Timmons, Mosaic president and chief executive officer. “We hope that communities where Mosaic is located will join us in celebrating our centennial by attending an event, supporting our mission or by including us in their prayers.”

was organized Oct. 20, 1925. As word spread that a home for children and adults with disabilities was opening in Sterling, families began bringing their children for placement, even though the home was not ready. As the building aged and the student population grew, extensive renovation was needed or the home would face the possibility of state closure. The decision was made to build a new facility. A new Martin Luther Home opened June 1, 1956, in Beatrice, Neb.

“Mosaic in Ellsworth is humbled to be a part of an organization with such a rich, meaningful history,” said Julie Kramp, executive director of Mosaic in Ellsworth. “Our hope is to share our story and mission with our community by inviting them to Discover the Possibilities at Mosaic.”

National ministries With the advent of community-based programs for people with developmental disabilities in the 1970s and 1980s, both Bethphage and Martin Luther Homes grew into national ministries. The organizations were invited to begin services in locations across the United States by families and officials who knew the quality of care provided by the organizations.

Bethphage heritage The Rev. K.G. William Dahl witnessed the neglect children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities received in large institutions.

He believed in a better way and convinced 54 people to give $1 each to establish the Bethphage Inner Mission Association in 1913. With the start-up money, Pastor Dahl rented and renovated four homes in Axtell. The first four guests arrived June 29, 1914. Within a year, the ministry had grown to include 40 guests and 20 workers, and a new setting on land north of Axtell.

Ground for consolidation Throughout their histories, both organizations maintained close ties with the church. As church structures changed and realigned over rhe years, Bethphage and Martin Luther Homes both became affiliated ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, when that body was formed in 1988. Their shared mission, shared vision and shared church affiliation prompted the two organizations’ board of directors to vote to merge the two ministries, a move that became complete July 1, 2003. Throughout their histories, both legacy organizations changed as needed to carry forth the vision of their founders. The priority has been — and continues to be — the needs and desires of the people Mosaic supports.

“Discover the Possibilities” is a free, onehour tour of Mosaic’s mission offered twice a month at Mosaic in Ellsworth. More information is available from Lindsey Decker, (785) 472-4081 or lindsey.kepka@ mosaicinfo.org.

Martin Luther Homes Heritage Three pastors and two laymen saw the need for a school for “teachable mentally retarded children.” They met in Sterling at the former Martin Luther Academy, a school that had been closed for several years. The founders included the Revs. Julius Moehl, August Hoeger and William Fruehling and laymen John Aden and William Ehmen.

The Martin Luther Home Society

Mosaic in Ellsworth Mosaic has provided services to adults with disabilities in the Ellsworth area since 1985 when Bethphage opened two homes. Mosaic in Ellsworth now serves nearly 30 adults and employs 45 staff members. People served by Mosaic in Ellsworth receive services tailored to their needs and desires, including 24-hour residential living, intermittent supports and employment opportunities.

About Mosaic Mosaic provides a life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities through supports tailored to the individual’s needs and desires. Staff supports people to define their own happiness, asking people how they like to spend their day, what they enjoy doing in their spare time, where they want to live and their goals. Mosaic partners with them to turn their dream into reality.

W

estern Cooperative Electric is a local, consumer-owned electric cooperative committed to providing superior electrical service to all customers, large and small. Western is and will continue to be a part of local communities, schools and businesses.

Our involvement includes: • Taxes to support schools and other local organizations • Contributions for education and civic activities • Economic development loans to help businesses grow and prosper • Local employees, active in the communities we serve

LINDA MOWERY-DENNING/ECI-R

Daniel Lobdell participates this spring in the organization of an Aktion Club at Ellsworth’s Mosaic.

Lobdell is president of the club, which is sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club.

Mosaic also will conduct a Centennial Festival June 28-29 at its founding location in Axtell and a formal Centennial Gala is planned Oct. 24 at the Mutual of Omaha Dome in Omaha, Neb. Additional information is available at www.mosaicinfo.org.

This summer,

Ellsworth County is the place to be!

Come see our

fabulous festivals...

Star Spangled Idol Competition & Community BBQ

June 28th

Star Spangled Idol Competition & Fireworks Extravaganza

June 29th

Fort Harker Days

July 12th - 13th 4-H Fair/County Fair

July 16th - 19th

Cowtown-El-Kan Rodeo

August 16th - 17th

With employees based in the communities of: Ellsworth, WaKeeney, Plainville, and Olmitz

114 1/2 N. Douglas • Ellsworth, KS • 785-472-4071 www.ellsworthchamber.net

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

I-R

Beat goes On

D7

Moving Forward These businesses want to congratulate the city of Ellsworth on its success and growth.

We look forward to the future and the promise it brings.

Boots Boot’s Flowers

Congratulations Good Samaritan Village on your successful project.

Good Samaritan Village picked us to custom frame their new artwork! Visit Lexi to see what Crooked Nail can do for you!

208 West 2nd St. Minneapolis, Kansas 67467 785-392-2661

LEADER IN THE FABRICATION INDUSTRY Maico Industries, Inc., founded in

1995 by Paul Mai, specializes in 3-Plate Built-Up Structural Steel Beams and girders for the construction of shopping malls, factories, manufacturing plants, airport hangars, factory warehouses, schools, public works, public utility coops, steel mills, hospitals/medical centers and much more. Maico’s products are found throughout the U.S., Canada and P.O. Box 24 • Highway 14 • Ellsworth overseas, in such areas as Southeast Asia Ph: 785/472-5390 • Fax: 785/472-3729 and South America.

MAICO Industries, Inc. - your vertically integrated manufacturer of sign structures, traffic and light poles to service DOT markets and the private sector.

Teamwork, Optimism, Integrity, Excellence, Unity, Leadership, Tenacity, Focus, Attitude, Goals, Passion, Loyalty, Perseverance, Determination, Communication are just a few things that describe the traits that employees and staff have that make Maico Industries, Inc. a “Leader in the Fabrication Industry� and a solid Ellsworth County business.

100,000 square feet, Maico Industries, Inc.

Located in Ellsworth County, we are your pole manufacturer from start to finish!

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

D8

Beat goes On Choitz Continued from Page D3 these years.”

Although Choitz Brothers specializes in tractors and farm machinery, it’s not unusual to see machines ranging from four-wheelers to boats being worked repaired in or in front of the shop. If it rolls or goes, they can probably fix it.

Currently, Dean Choitz is building an airplane in the shop — the second airborne machine to come out of its doors. Three of the Choitz family are pilots and former EHS tennis star Mackenzie Choitz is currently working on her license.

The combination of long hours, labor and years of service to the community is what has made Choitz Brothers a successful business for half a century.

Lumber Continued from Page D4 can’t do it. I think a lot of people just think that we can’t meet or match, and we can.”

Rohr said her nephew, Brandon Rohr, has been hired as Home Lumber’s new assistant manager.

“He’s been a good addition here, because he will go out to job sites for me and do outside sales,” Rohr said.

Brandon is also available to install fences, etc. for customers that purchase their material at Home Lumber.

“If the customer can’t find somebody or if we can’t find somebody, then he will do it,” Rohr said.

In fact, Brandon, along with Delmar Kohls, are tackling the various renovation projects as part of Home Lumber’s ongoing facelift.

“They do it all,” Rohr said.

With the changes, Rohr said she has seen more people coming in her door to see what Home Lumber has to offer.

Also as part of the remodeling effort, Rohr said the exterior and interior of an outer storage building at Home Lumber will be revamped.

“I think that will make a difference,” she said, noting bathroom and more storage space will be added.

“That part of this project probably won’t get done in 2013,” Rohr said.

ALAN RUSCH/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

Eschbaugh Advertising employee Delores Schmidt puts an ultra-violet clear coat on a graphic.

Eschbaugh weathers challenges

By Alan Rusch Ellsworth County I-R

W

ILSON — Steve Eschbaugh, owner of Eschbaugh Advertising in Wilson, continues to see his company tread water as it deals with the uncertainties associated with an ongoing national recession.

“We’ve been experiencing 10 to 12 years of recession,” Eschbaugh said.

“Regardless of what the economists say, we’re not seeing it. There have been lots of peaks and valleys, and we’re holding our own, but the profitability isn’t where it used to be

in the 1980s and 1990s.”

With a thin profit margin, Eschbaugh said his company can only weather two slow months a year.

“It makes it very challenging,” he said. “In my 26 years here, this has been the worst year we’ve had.”

This said, Eschbaugh remains optimistic about the company’s future.

“We still have a good niche in

our industry, which is custom decals and the O.E.M. (Original Equipment Manufacturing) industry,” he said. “That’s our speciality.”

Eschbaugh Advertising employs 28 people.

“We’ve fluxuated a bit in the last eight to 10 years,” he said. “That’s another challenge — finding labor.”

Wilson’s Eschbaugh Advertising was founded as an advertising agency in 1952 by Steve’s dad, George Eschbaugh, along with a local businessman, Frank Sibrava. George also was a noted artist, with a studio on company grounds.

Did you know?

Ellsworth County’s estimated median household income in 2009 was $41,461 (it was $35,625 in 2000).

Estimated median household income in Kansas: $47,817 Estimated per capita income in 2009: $20,677.

Steve Eschbaugh is shown in his rural Wilson office.

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Ellsworth t 119 North Douglas Ave. t 785-472-3800 | Salina t 2525 Marketplace Suite B t 785-833-2113 *Customers are subject to taxes and must meet credit requirements. Certain restrictions apply. Visit www.nex-techwireless.com for complete terms and conditions. Nex-Tech Wireless is eligible to receive support from the Federal Universal Service Fund in designated areas. As a result, Nex-Tech Wireless must meet reasonable requests for service in these areas. Questions or complaints concerning service issues may be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-662-0027.

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

IR

Beat goes On

Med center Continued from Page D5 Masse said. “We’ve been pretty successful over the last four years holding the line on operating costs.”

Masse said he is optimistic in the near term that ECMC will weather the storm in terms of reduced reimbursement.

“In the longterm, I would say to you it is difficult to project the changes we will have to absorb going forward,” he said.

“Not only are there continuing to be some uncertainties around the Affordable Care Act, the health reform legislation, but the jury’s still out on the full impact of KanCare as it relates to the Medicaid system within the state of Kansas.”

Masse said the hospital’s future is also dependent upon how Blue Cross and other entities adjust their policies to the demands of federal health care reform.

“The transition toward increasing

"We’ve been pretty successful over the last four years holding the line on operating costs."

D9

Thank you for the past 30 years.

We appreciate your support of our business in this growing community.

Roger Masse

Chief Executive Officer

outpatient care — more patient-centered care — will take time,” he said.

“How that affects the interaction of one provider to another, referral patterns, technology in terms of diagnostic capability, and what that does to the volumes we have — those are all items of uncertainty.”

Ellsworth County Medical Center offers inpatient needs for acute, observation, skilled and intermediate care while Rural Health Clinics in Ellsworth, Holyrood, Wilson and Lucas provide outpatient services.

CONSULTING ENGINEERS

• Gifts • Greeting Cards • Office Supplies • And Much More!

Robson’s Card & Gift Shop 211 North Douglas • Ellsworth, KS 785-472-3931

Your Success is Our Passion!

Thank Thank you you Ellsworth Ellsworth for our success for growing our growing success 217 North Douglas - P.O. Box 4 Ellsworth, Kansas 67439 785.472.3163 785.472.3817 fax

transportation airports water/wastewater stormwater surveying construction services site development NEPA services

www.kirkham.com

Come in July 1-6 for an extra 25% off our Clearance Section!

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Proud supporter of the continued Ellsworth area growth!

ow along with our policy of N providing excellence in senior care,

comes a newly remodeled building.

Stop in for a visit to see our newly remodeled rehabilitation and skilled nursing center or call (785) 472-3167 for more information.

All faiths or beliefs are welcome. 13-G1121

Congratulations to Good Samaritan Village on their expansion.

Call us for our professional construction and remodeling services.

Leiker Construction New Construction • Remodel and Additions People you trust. Quality you deserve.

A home you’ll love!

620-474-6506

Congratulations Ellsworth County on your achievements and growth

D10

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter • Thursday, June 27, 2013

Seitz Drug,

Proud to Proud to have have provided the the flflooring ooring atat provided Good Samaritan Society Central Bank & Trust Co.’s Ellsworth Village Downtown Bank

proudly supporting all of Ellsworth and its progress.

(620) 543-2274

Visit Neufeldts.com 206 N. Douglas Ave. (785) 472-3212 Ellsworth, KS 67439

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