Outlook reflects on 2012’s top business headlines

Many Outlook stories told of new businesses, changes in businesses and their contributions to worthy causes during 2012. The following are excerpts from those stories.

January

On Jan. 1, Lisa Hjelmstad and her husband, Steve, began serving clients at their new clinic, Wellness Possebilities, in the building at 319 First Ave. that formerly housed Hoklin Chiropractic.

Long-time Laurel businessman Dean Rankin has struck a deal for the sale of Ace Hardware to co-owners Skip King and Jeff Averill effective Jan. 1. “It’s been 31 years and at some point, when you get this age, things start to change and it’s nice to hand off the baton to someone you have total comfort with,” explained the former Ace Hardware owner-operator.

Kyle Austin, PharmD, opened Austin’s Pharmacy at 305 S. First Ave. Feb. 1. He believes a locally owned pharmacy can go beyond the limitations of a large corporate box store.

As a way to recognize and reward people who go above and beyond for their community, Cenex — the CHS energy brand — is launching Tanks of Thanks, a new program that gives free fuel to people who make their communities just a little bit better.

Members of the Laurel City-County Planning Board recommended approval of a preliminary plat and lot split that would bring a 6,000-square-foot O’Reilly Auto Parts store to Laurel. (The store opened in the fall.)

Ken Fichtner, of Fichtner Chevrolet in Laurel, was named president of the Montana Auto Dealers Association (MTADA) Jan. 1. He currently is serving on the MTADA board of directors and the MTADA insurance trust. Fichtner grew up in the automobile business. His grandfather, Theodore Fichtner, became a Chevrolet dealer in 1952. His father, Leonard Fichtner, became a Chevrolet dealer in 1961 and is still active in the dealership. Fichtner became a dealer in 2005.

February

Susan (Huff) Gontarek hosted a ladies’ night out and book signing Thursday, Feb. 2, at Emma’s Baking Co. and Deli for her newly published book, “Finding Grace in the Mirror.”

Co-owner Janelle Crowley welcomed members of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce to her new business, The UPS Store, Feb. 23 for a ribbon cutting marking the grand opening of the Laurel outlet tucked in the corner of the ACE Hardware shopping center.

Trackside Quilting hosted a “Promote Laurel” open house Saturday, Feb. 25, with a quilt show featuring the Glacier Star pattern. Businesses that participated were Trackside Quilting, Main Street EFX Photography, Elizabeth’s Garden, Fat Jack’s, Pitts Pizza, Elite Salon, Laurel Chamber of Commerce and Gene’s Pharmacy.

March

Sid’s East Side Bar and Grill served corned beef and cabbage, as well as other St. Patrick’s Day food specials including reuben sandwiches and Irish stew, Friday and Saturday, March 16-17. Five dollars of every $7 plate was donated to Laurel High School in support of the gym floor replacement campaign.

Park City High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) advisor Doug Andersen prepared students for the real-life world of business and finance. Three students under his direction captured state titles at the BPA State Leadership Conference in Billings March 11-13, and went to the national conference in Chicago. They are junior Miranda McNeil and sophomores Codi Rogers and Kane Thatcher.

Laurel High School and Austin’s Pharmacy joined forces to raise money for the gym floor fund. For each prescription filled, either new, transferred, or refilled, Austin’s Pharmacy made a donation directly to the school, allotted to replace the gym floor.

Austin’s Pharmacy’s soda fountain opened serving Wilcoxson’s ice cream and Coca-Cola products.

CHS, Inc. gave a donation in the amount of $2,000 to help the Laurel High School honors civics class with the cost of its trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National We the People competition.

Ace Electric showed its community spirit recently, donating $1,500 to the Laurel High School honor civics class for travel expenses to the National We the People competition in Washington, D.C.

On March 19, Ed Burnell opened the doors of Ed’s Barber Shop on First Avenue next to Yellowstone Bank. He acquired the business from former owner, Don Fried. Burnell has 25 years of experience behind the barber’s chair and has practiced his trade in California, Arizona, Colorado and South Carolina. His services include standard old-fashioned clipper, scissors and razor cuts, as well as contemporary styled cuts.

April

On Friday, April 20, District Court Judge Susan P. Watters rendered her judgment of the CHS complaint and tax protest that has the Laurel School District holding its financial breath. In essence, CHS lost this round when Watters dismissed the complaint. CHS objected to the appraisal method used by the Department of Revenue (DOR) to assess the value of the refinery. The company also has argued that the appraisal failed to equalize CHS’s properties with other comparable properties in terms of equivalent distillation capacity. The complaint alleged the CHS properties are appraised at twice the value of other comparable properties in Yellowstone County. At a public forum called by the school district Feb. 1, Walborn said it is likely the protest will go all the way to the Montana Supreme Court for resolution, a process that stakeholders, like the school district, said could extend through 2018 or 2020.

May

The Outlook Spotlight on Business featured Covert Cleaning, owned and operated by Mardie Spalinger and Renee Studiner. It has been in business since 2001 serving Laurel and Billings. Currently, Covert Cleaning has 20 commercial clients. It provides services Monday through Friday. Covert’s office is located at 12 Third Ave. in Laurel.

AutoZone will soon join the Laurel business community, making its new home on the corner of Bernhardt Road and Southeast Fourth Street. According to Monica Plecker, city planner, AutoZone submitted plans to the city in mid-March, and the city issued a building permit last week. Construction crews have made short work of the 1.9-acre lot, leveling the soil and digging a foundation for the 7,147-square-foot store. The western half of the lot is where the store is located, featuring 40 parking spaces, trees and landscaping, and two accesses off the street leading into the Walmart parking lot. The eastern half of the lot has been designated for drainage. The building will be typical AutoZone colors — gray, dark gray, red, orange, white, and black — with windows on the south side and the entrance at the southwest corner. (AutoZone opened in the summer.)

When you’re hankering for down-home cooking, pull up a chair in Pop’s Kitchen. Located next to Fat Fender Freddy’s, Pop’s Kitchen has the homey feel and comforting flavors that make for repeat customers. Owner-operator Ron Lang, armed with 29 years experience, believes hand-made makes the difference. (Pop’s Kitchen closed at the end of Sept.)

June

Mike and Laura Mussetter, new owners of the former Hageman Elevator on West Main Street have decided to continue the tradition former owners Ken and Peggy Miller started of flying a large American flag atop the building. The flag has become a familiar Laurel landmark.

Laurel Ace Hardware co-owners Jeff Averill and Skip King, manager Reece Garrett and HR director Jack Dobbins presented a check to Laurel High School Activities Director Herb Townsend in the amount of $2,100 for the project to replace the high school gym floor. The store raised the funds in a recent promotion in which 10 percent of sales were earmarked for the gym.

The Fifth Annual Fat Fender Freddy’s Car Show was Saturday, June 23, just south of Laurel on U.S. Highway 212 south. The free event drew car enthusiasts from a multi-state region. Hundreds of classic cars, hot rods, custom trucks and — new this year — motorcycles filled Freddy’s lot and Riverside Park.

July

The building at 305 S. First Ave., former home of Movie Gallery and then Austin’s Pharmacy, seems to be destined for complete remodels. Lori Pitts has announced that she will split her business into two entities — Pitts Pizza at 305 S. First Ave., an upscale dine-in pizza eatery, and Corner Café in the Ace mall, which will be open for breakfast and lunch. The new Mediterranean-themed pizza place will be open only in the evenings and will serve beer and wine. Pitts recently received certification at the International School of Pizza, in San Francisco, taught by world-renowned instructor Tony Gemignani.

August

The Laurel Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newest member, Dan Dart Allstate Insurance, 24 First Ave., Aug. 9. Dart said his agency offers property, casualty, health, auto and home insurance, personal and commercial financial, “and good coffee.” Office hours are weekdays 9 am. to 5 pm., Saturday 9 am. to 1 pm., and evenings by appointment.

Riley Cooke, co-owner of the Laurel Movie Haus, went before the Laurel City Council at its Aug. 7 meeting to explain how the digital age is causing some serious issues for Laurel’s small town theater. Cooke would like to upgrade to a digital format. That would require three digital projectors, processors and other computerized technology specific to the film industry. The caveat is that the equipment costs $165,000. Currently, every week the theater staff spends hours setting up miles of film weighing 60-70 pounds. With digital equipment, the theater would download a film in 40 minutes to a box “the size of two pieces of toast.”

September

Donna’s Massage Therapy is back in Laurel and working at the Laurel Wellness Center as an associate of Dr. Ed Madrid in the former Pfaff Chiropractic Clinic, 104 E. First St. in Laurel. Donna Podolak is a licensed massage therapist with 12 years of experience in Laurel and Billings. Podolak said she is delighted to be back in Laurel and working with this progressive wellness team.

Members of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting welcoming Su Sherrie’s Treasures, 105 W. Main St., to the business community Thursday, Sept. 13. Su Sherrie’s Treasures is part art gallery, part antiques boutique with collectibles, home decor, and jewelry items to suit every taste, hand-selected by proprietor Constance Macaraeg.

Members of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the Corner Café, formerly Pitts Pizza, at 413 SE Fourth St. The new restaurant opened for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday, Sept. 24.

October

Fueled by flammable inventory and leaping three stories into the night sky, fierce flames destroyed the Laurel Carquest Auto Parts store at 309 E. Main St., Thursday, Sept. 27, in Laurel. The blaze, reported at 7:36 pm. by area businesses and patrons, started in the northeast part of the building. It then quickly tore through the structure. Eye-witnesses described pops and showers of sparks as combustible auto oils and chemicals exploded. Laurel police officers evacuated the adjacent buildings and blocked off Main Street for a block in either direction. By 10:40 pm., the street-facing wall of the building and its roof had collapsed, forcing firefighters to pull back to a safer vantage. The side and rear walls remain standing, but structurally are compromised and now are barricaded for public safety.

No one was in the store when the fire started and no injuries were reported. The cause is unknown.

The Yellowstone County tax assessment valued the building at $270,000 and Fire Marshal Gary Colley estimated the contents were valued at $500,000. The Halvorson family, which has owned and operated the parts store since 1960, did have insurance.

Maurer Chiropractic held its semi-annual Patient Appreciation Day again Oct. 23 and 26. On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Dr. Maurer did adjustments for existing patients in exchange for a donation to Laurel Hometown Troops (LHTT). Similarly, Friday, Oct. 26, Maurer Chiropractic welcomed any new patients who wanted to see how chiropractic can benefit them in exchange for a donation to LHTT.

A recent report has ranked Laurel in the bottom half of 25 Montana cities for business friendliness. The Montana Policy Institute (MPI) and American Indicators released a ranking of the economic vitality, business tax burden, and community allure of Montana’s 25 largest cities, providing an index of the measures most sought after by businesses. Laurel was ranked 19th overall, losing marks for its business tax burden, education level among its adult population, and the school district’s standardized test scores. Laurel earned high scores for its low per capita violent crime rate.

The Palace Bar and Lanes is stepping up big time for the gym floor fundraising effort. Dean Hallen, of Fat Cat Lanes, donated 30 percent of the bowling proceeds from 4-12 pm. Friday, Oct. 12, to the gym floor fund. Additionally, Palace owner Bryan Weis donated 15 percent of food and beverage proceeds of the Palace all day Friday.

Oct. 13, Dr. Andy Pocock, of Remington Family Dental, hosted a sidewalk fundraiser in front of the clinic at 306 E. First St. in Laurel. Remington Family Dental will match up to $500 in sales of raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are $1 each. Prizes from local businesses include gift cards, teeth whitening trays, free cleaning and exam and X-rays. The grand prize is a free dental implant valued at $1,800.

Bright n’ Beautiful recognized Steve Solberg, owner of Fat Jack’s Tap Room, at a luncheon Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana in Billings. Bright n’ Beautiful annually honors businesses that have enhanced their community, rural residents who have made Yellowstone County a more enticing area to live, and individuals who have taken environmental stewardship to a new level.

Fichtner Chevrolet dealership is going through a total renovation geared toward customer service. The remodel, which began in June, is progressing well with carpet and office furniture scheduled to arrive this week. A brand new section of the dealership will contain a service bay entrance, accessory display area and new car delivery bay. Outside improvements are projected for completion by Dec. 20 and will include a new blue Chevrolet fascia and tower. The dealership tentatively plans a grand opening week the end of February or March when the weather improves.

November

Pitts Pizza, an authentic Italian-style restaurant, now located at 305 S. First Ave. in Laurel, fired up its ovens, serving its first customers Friday, Nov. 30. Customers can watch as their food is prepared in the display kitchen with an open-flame stone oven as well as several large roasting ovens.

A Small Business Saturday stroll was organized along Laurel’s Main Street Nov. 24. Shoppers took advantage of special promotions, picked up a passport, visited the participating businesses, to be eligible for prize drawings. Participating businesses were Su Sherrie’s Treasures, Elite Salon Day Spa, Main Street EFX and Car Detailing, Trackside Quilting, Pollination Floral Boutique, Fat Jack’s Micro Brew and Emma’s Kitchen.

Dr. Phil Maurer and Maurer Chiropractic, 113 E. Main St., recently collaborated with their patients to raise $1,000 for Laurel Hometown Troops (LHTT). For an entire day, Nov. 1, the clinic gave chiropractic adjustments in exchange for a monetary donation to be applied toward the shipping costs for this year’s Laurel Hometown Troops care packages.

December

Pfaff Chiropractic/Montana Diet Center, 104 E. First St., hosted its Patient Appreciation Day Saturday, Dec. 1, and held a toy and food drive in conjunction with the event. In exchange for a non-perishable food donation, all current patients received a free adjustment and new patients received a consultation, examination, and x-rays. Generous patients filled bags and boxes with donations for Community Hope and Toys for Tots in what has become an annual tradition of giving at Pfaff Chiropractic/Montana Diet Center.

After the Laurel Movie Haus became insolvent, co-owner Riley Cooke left the business and the theater went up for sale. Within weeks, however, owner Dr. Robert Ulrich had partnered with a new associate, Kris Vogele, and they are working toward reviving the theater. Ulrich and Vogele tentatively plan a grand opening around Valentine’s Day with a soft opening in January. That date hinges, however, on a plan to replace three outdated analog projectors.

Fiberglass Structures Inc. (FSI), a subsidiary of Texas-based L.F. Manufacturing Inc. (LFM), protested the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citing of 12 “serious safety violations” for exposing workers to multiple hazards at the company’s facility in Laurel. OSHA conducted an inspection in August and in December proposed $75,600 in penalties.