Allied West moving forward with plans for paper plant

Allied West Paper Corp. will be going before the city Planning and Zoning Commission Monday seeking approval for a conditional use permit for a paper processing plant the company intends to build in Yuma. The commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, One City Plaza.

The planned plant would be located in a heavy industrial district north of Kish Avenue at the 28th Street alignment in the Curtis Industrial Park. The property was recently annexed.

Running 24 hours a day, the plant would process paper pulp into paper that would then be converted to consumer products such as toilet paper and napkins in the company's California plant. Company officials stressed it will not be a paper mill and will not use bleach or sulfur.

City staff have recommended approval of the application, saying it meets all criteria for a conditional use permit.

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There's a story behind Lynnwood, the new home development that held a grand opening Saturday off 12th Street between Avenues C and D.

The development is actually named for someone with historic ties to the land going back to 1922. The new subdivision is named in honor of R.L. "Lynn" Tate, said his granddaughter, Laura Woodman. Tate farmed cotton and had an ostrich farm on the property years ago. Laura's mother, Deanie Powell, lived there until she was 13 and the family moved across the street.

The property is adjacent to Hazelwood, named for Laura's grandmother, Hazel Knepper Tate.

The "wood" in both names is a reference to the pecan trees that once covered Laura's grandmother's property where Hazelwood is located.

Robert Shaffer of Quality Development bought the property to build houses.

But there's still a connection to the Tates. Their great-granddaughter, Sarah Palmer, who is a real estate agent with the Realty Executives office of Todd Burch, is marketing the homes. She can be reached at 941-1038.

By the way, five floor plans ranging from 1,150 to 1,790 square feet are available, starting at $177,000. For more details, visit lynnwoodyuma.com.

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Brent Dana apparently won't be building a new showroom for his Honda dealership, at least at this time.

Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official, said that Dana has requested a refund of his building fees. Dana had planned to build a new showroom and service department with rooftop parking of new cars for his dealership at 1000 E. 32nd St.

Dana didn't return calls seeking comment.

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Dr. Charles Olivera, who is board certified in neurology and pain management, has opened a private practice and is now accepting new patients. His practice, Yuma Neurology Clinic, 2295 S. Elks Lane, can be reached at 783-0092.

Dr. Olivera is a graduate of the Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, Puerto Rico, and practiced for a while in Puerto Rico. He completed residency in neurology from St. Vincent’s Medical Center in New York City, then completed a fellowship in neurology and a fellowship in pain management, both from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

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Certified public accountant Paul McLeod has joined Brown, Bench and Wright, CPAs, enabling the accounting firm to expand its services in its Yuma East Shopping Center office at 11411 S. Fortuna Road, to a full-time, full-service tax, business consulting and accounting office. For a free financial services consultation, call 342-3003.

McLeod has been a managing partner in a regional firm with offices in southern Oregon and northern California. He provides tax, accounting, audit, business management consulting and forensics accounting for attorneys, as well as financial planning services. He has also been a QuickBooks pro-adviser.

He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1987 from Eastern Washington University and has been active in the industry for 20 years, licensed to practice in Arizona, California and Oregon.

McLeod is an active member of the community, having served as president of the Lions Club, chairman and member of various governmental advisory committees, member of Rotary and treasurer for several nonprofit organizations.

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Laura Hernandez, the owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics, 11274 S. Fortuna Road, Suite B2 in the Foothills, is selling the business as she and her husband will be moving soon. The store will stay open and run as usual during this process. The store can be reached at 342-2300.

For more information about purchasing the business, call Kathy Keil from ERA Matt Fischer Realtor at 217-3071.

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Sonia M. Ramirez recently became licensed as an attorney in Arizona and is now accepting clients. She practices criminal law (juvenile, felonies and misdemeanors) and family law (divorce, custody, child support, modifications, visitation, etc.) and can assist Spanish-speakers.

Ramirez, who was raised in Yuma, earned an associate's degree in justice administration at Arizona Western College, a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and her juris doctor from California Western School of Law in 2007.

Before attending law school, she worked for eight years at Yuma Regional Medical Center, most recently as executive assistant to Sharon Gardner, vice president of human resources.

Since receiving her law degree, she had been serving an internship with attorney Michael J. Donovan and will remain in his office at 225 W. 2nd St. She can be reached at 329-8707.

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Joseph Didio reportedly has closed the doors of his law firm at 1700 S. 1st Ave. and quit the practice of law in Arizona, citing personal and health reasons. The phone number for the Joseph Didio Law Office has been disconnected, and Didio could not be reached for comment.

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Yuma Community Bank has opened its Foothills branch at 11242 S. Foothills Blvd., where it is now offering charter banking accounts to new customers as well as a full line of personal and business banking services. For more information, the branch can be reached at 345-3888.

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Mortgage Lending Group, 11361 S. Foothills Blvd., Suite 2 (between Citizens Title and Domino's Pizza), is having an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. People are invited to come by and meet new manager Stephenie Ellsworth and the rest of the staff, see the office and enjoy refreshments.

Ellsworth also is the loan originator, while Myrian Martinez is the senior loan processor and Heather Bressette the receptionist. Mortgage Lending Group specializes in residential home loans.

For more information, call 345-0244 or visit www.mortgagelendinggrp.com.

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Michelle Hall, an independent consultant for Once Upon A Family, will be having an open house for her home-based business at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Once Upon A Family offers traditional ideas, unusual gifts and heirloom-style products that celebrate family values and ties.

For more information about Hall's open house or to order products, visit www.onceuponafamily.com or call 210-2285.

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Janet White has become an independent consultant in Yuma for Sensegence International, which offers LipSense, a full line of lip products with long-lasting color technology. The company also offers a line of cosmetics and other long-lasting, anti-aging products.

To order products, book a presentation or for more information, call 344-0277 or e-mail White at swtp4@hotmail. com.

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Here's updated information on how to get in touch with the synthetic grass business, All Play Lawns. The phone number has been changed to 446-7426. Owners Eric and Bianca Wittenberg also can be reached by e-mail at allplaylawns@yahoo. com or visit www.allplay lawns.com or www.progreen. com.

They invite people visiting the Home and Garden Show today (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Yuma Civic Center to stop by their booth.

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Ann Farley and teenage daughter Sarah have gone into a mother-daughter business as independent sales representatives for Silpada handcrafted silver and stone jewelry sold through "dress up" home shows.

To kick off their business, they will have a "wine, cheese and jewelry" open house from 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 20. For more information and directions, people can contact the Farleys at 314-9741 or e-mail amfarley@roadrunner.com. That goes as well for ordering jewelry, booking a party or information on becoming a representative.

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This goes to show the phone book isn't always the last word on spellings.

Dex Media not withstanding, Stanley Steemer Carpet Cleaner with two "e's" is the correct spelling for the business, which recently was purchased by managers Anthony and Andrea Cornett. They can be reached at 539-5100.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.