March 30, 2018
Friday
Ark City
www.acdailybytes.com
Double Eagle Firearms and Pawn marks 10-year anniversary By JENI McGEE jeni@acdailybytes.com As of Sunday, Double Eagle Firearms and Pawn will have been a staple on Summit Street for 10 years. Owner Darrin Green and his wife, Dr. Rhonda Green, purchased the building at 104 S. Summit St. from Union State Bank. It once was home to Bryant Hardware and many of the cabinets in the shop were original to the Newman Building. “We like the old downtown buildings,” said Darrin Green. “It is our hope to begin restoration soon.” Firearms... When the business first opened, it was a firearms shop — and firearms still are sold at the establishment today. “We follow all federal and state laws pertaining to the selling and transfer of firearms,” Green said. “Any individual (who) wants to purchase a firearm must complete an ATF Form 4473. This is what the media refers to as a ‘background check.’” The answers given by the customer are sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), which then runs the 4473 background by checking military, state and federal databases. We then receive an answer of ‘PROCEED,’ ‘DELAY’ or ‘DENIED.’ “‘Proceed’ is just as it sounds — we sell the firearm. ‘Delay’ gives the FBI an additional three business days to further investigate the background. And ‘Denied’ means we are not allowed to sell that person a firearm or ammunition.” But the business’ scope changed somewhat in 2011. “During President Obama’s (first) term, firearms and ammo were hard to get from any of our vendors,” Green said. “So, to stay in business, (in) November of 2011, we decided to start pawning to supplement the income.”
orders on some items, such as firearms, electronics and tools. “We can order just about anything you are looking for,” Green said. “Or, if you want to save some cash, we usually have a gently used item that is looking for a new home.” There is no reason to worry about the quality of the products Double Eagle carries. “All of our pawned and/or purchased inventory is reported to the Arkansas City Police Department via a national program called LEADS Online,” Green said. “LEADS Online is a nationwide searchable database that any law enforcement agency can use to look for stolen items.” The software helps law enforcement to contact Green in the event of a “flag” on an item. Green runs the store with ...and pawn help from his brother, Chris Green said he enjoys certain Green; his son, Everett Green; aspects of the pawn business. and employee Julie Strange. “I love meeting new people In addition to being a downand helping those needing a town business owner, Darrin short-term emergency loan,” he Green also spends time particisaid. “In most cases, our 10-per- pating in civic organizations. cent interest is much cheaper “I am involved with Boy than the cost of personal check Scouts, Kiwanis, Sons of the bounce protection at your bank American Legion and the First or credit union.” United Methodist Church,” Double Eagle takes custom Green said.
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Sheriff’s office chaplain program offers counseling in tough times By JENI McGEE jeni@acdailybytes.com The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office has created a chaplain program for Cowley County. “I started the chaplain program in about the middle of last year,” said Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti. “There are many situations where deputies come into contact with citizens who have difficulties.” Those instances could range from a child being severely injured in a car accident to a death in the family.
Cowley is not the only Kansas county with a chaplain program — others include Harvey, Riley and Sedgwick counties. “I know that other agencies have chaplain programs, but I really did not use them until the Hesston Excel shooting case,” Falletti said. “I was with the (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) at that time and had to go do a death notification, and had the opportunity to work with a sheriff’s chaplain from Harvey County.” The chaplains are used in many different scenarios, in-
cluding assistance with inmate counseling and sheriff’s office employee counseling. Falletti called the program “very beneficial.” James Blanton, who has been involved since the program’s inception, serves as chaplain coordinator for the sheriff’s office. “He was previously a chaplain with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and used that experience to assist in getting our program up and going,” Falletti said.
Spring Cleanup Week is April 9-13 in Ark City; volunteers needed Press Release The City of Arkansas City will conduct its annual Spring Cleanup Week refuse collection event April 9-13 throughout the city, in conjunction with normal pickup. Spring Cleanup Week will kick off with a special Spring Cleanup Day event starting at 8
a.m. April 7. This event will be a perfect opportunity for youth groups, civic clubs, churches, and other nonprofit organizations to lend a helping hand to their neighbors and friends who are in need of some assistance. Volunteers will be assigned to one of six
cleanup zones to help to clean northeast, south and west-central Arkansas City, as well as work in city parks and assist property owners who have requested it. The event will begin with breakfast at 8 a.m. under the Wilson Park rotunda. Volunteers then will
be supplied with bags, equipment, waiver forms, and maps and routes for their assigned areas. To volunteer yourself or a group you are part of, call Public Information Officer Andrew Lawson at (620) 4414415.
Readers, entrepreneurs reflect on Mom and Pop Business Owners Day By KAYLEIGH LAWSON kayleigh@acdailybytes.com Small businesses abound throughout America and while almost everyone likes a good bargain, such as those offered at big box stores, nothing matches the service found at a family-owned business. As the nation marked Mom and Pop Business Owners Day on Thursday, Ark City Daily Bytes readers were more than happy to highlight some of their locally owned businesses. “I shop Country Mart, Graves, M&M Meals for the Soul and Steamy Joe,” said lifelong Arkansas City resident Rags Smith. “And, of course, with 31st Century Techsupport.” Small business ownership The other side of that coin is owning and operating a small business. “The good stuff for me is finding that there was a market for my products and services here in a small town, when I was told by many there wouldn’t Know you’re protected if you lose your valuables. Come visit your Samford Stover agent today!
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be,” said Colorful Events Bakery owner Brittany Carder. “(Also) flexibility in my schedule, to not have to send my child to daycare, is the most important for me. Studying the market and adapting to the customer base out here has been fun, as well as the way my customer base has been built off of referrals.” “My wife and her business partner had Brittany’s muffins at their chamber coffee two years in a row,” said 31st Century owner Gareth McGee. A small business owner himself, he loves supporting other local businesses. “They were absolutely delicious,” McGee said. “I didn’t even know they were glutenfree until someone told me,” he said. “We shop with 31st Century Techsupport, WB Meats, Graves, Schmidt Jewelers and local beauty shops,” said Evelyn Shoup, a retired USD 470 teacher. “Joe Walker is a barber, age 84, and has been cutting hair for over 60 years. Joe’s Barber Shop — now he’s an
amazing man.” Service at forefront Most local small business owners seem to come from a place of service. “(The good part is) helping people when you can,” said Done Right Plumbing owner James Bogner. “It’s one thing to provide a service, but to truly be helpful is a great feeling.” “WB Meats, Graves, Schmidt, Mike’s Barber Shop, Steamy Joe, Country Mart and PhilStop,” said Commissioner Duane Oestmann, when asked about some of his favorite small businesses to patronize. But with the sweet also comes the sour. “The bad includes that you may have a 20-hour workday or a seven-day work week. There have been nights, especially in the beginning, where I did not sleep,” Carter said. “I had to pull an all-nighter many times in order to meet a deadline for a project that I didn’t realize was going to take so long.”
McDonald’s Used Books changing hands; set to reopen today By JENI McGEE jeni@acdailybytes.com
McDonald’s Used Books will reopen today under brand-new management. Local business owner Kayleigh Lawson will open the doors at 9 a.m. Lawson, a selfproclaimed bibliophile, always has dreamed of being surrounded by books. “A love of books is one of my defining characteristics, according to most people who know me,” she said in an interview Wednesday. “So I have always wanted to work with books.”
Second chance For Lawson, the decision to take over the bookstore was an easy one when she saw owner Patrick McDonald was looking for a new owner. “When I saw that they were looking for someone to take it over, I decided to look into it,” Lawson said. “I knew that I didn’t want anything to happen to the bookstore, because I love it so much.” In fact, she contemplated taking over the bookstore once before, in 2016. “My husband and I had just
purchased a house. We needed to settle in before making any drastic life changes,” she said. However, life took Lawson in a different direction later that year, when she co-founded Ark City Daily Bytes with a business partner. “This time, it just felt like it was the right time,” she said. No changes planned Plans for the bookstore, at this time, are relatively simple — to open the doors again and let fellow bibliophiles come back for their purchases.
SCKMC Board of Trustees discussed at City Commission study session By JENI McGEE jeni@acdailybytes.com The City Commission of Arkansas City met Thursday for a noon study session at City Hall to discuss citizen boards and committees. Public Information Officer and Special Projects Coordinator Andrew Lawson led the discussion. Part of his responsibilities include maintaining records for these boards. The city has more than 15 such boards
and committees, other than the city commission, and all of them are filled by citizens who volunteer their time and efforts to the community. Citizens are appointed to their seats by the commissioners. “We are extremely fortunate to have as many interested citizens as we do,” Lawson said. “Without the 85 people who volunteer their time and talents, with no compensation, we could
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not govern the city as effectively or offer the range of programs and services they make possible.” However, the city always is looking for more individuals who wish to volunteer. SCKMC Trustees The South Central Kansas Medical Center Board of Trustees was one board the commission took extra time to talk about during the meeting. Two board members’
terms have officially expired and they cannot be reappointed due to term limits. Board chair Carol Hearne and Dr. Nick Rogers both are leaving after more than 15 years each of service to the hospital. The commissioners will need to appoint two people to fill those seats and will begin to look at their options during the next meeting, on Tuesday.