Party City closes abruptly

Yuma has lost another retailer. Party City at 1130 S. Castle Dome Ave. in the Las Palmillas Shopping Center is closed. A peek in the window shows that the store is cleaned out, and the name is even off the building. The store had opened in the fall of 2006.

An email to the company for comment on the closure was not returned by press time.

Tom Pancrazi of A.T. Pancrazi Real Estate, who handles leasing for Las Palmillas, said the closure came as a surprise. He is in the process of marketing the space.

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In the depths of winter, for serious sun head to Yuma, Bing Travel suggests, noting that it's the sunniest spot in the country with roughly 4,050 hours of sunshine out of a possible 4,456 hours of sun a year.

Combine all that sunshine with the warmest winter weather in the country, and you've got a destination whether for a few days or the winter, Bing Travel suggests.

That's advice already taken to heart by the area's thousands of refugees from the cold North.

The online article (http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=World's+Sunniest+Places%3a+Introduction&cid=msn1234949&FORM=HPTRAV) goes on to say that Yuma offers history, recreation and family adventure.

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The Shadle family has purchased the Wellton Chevron station at Coyote Wash that formerly was owned by the Curtis family, Stephen Shadle reported. Several improvements and enhancements are planned, including having Medjool date products available for sale at the convenience store.

Leonard Sanchez is the manager and part-owner of the business.

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Longtime hairstylist Melinda Rico, who previously was located at The Hollywood Hair Co., is the new owner of the hair salon at Emerald Springs. Named De-Grachet Hair Studio, her salon is located at the retired and assisted living center, 1475 S. 46th Ave.

The salon is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays as well as evenings and weekends by appointment. For an appointment, call the salon at 388-8750 or text Rico at 920-7777.

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Jeremy J. Claridge has become an associate attorney with the law firm of Byrne & Benesch, P.C., 230 W. Morrison St.

An Arizona native, Claridge moved to Yuma in 2008 to take a position with the Yuma County Attorney's Office as a deputy, where he prosecuted misdemeanors and felonies.

He now switched his area of practice to defend and advise those charged with crimes. His other areas of practice are real estate, contract law, business/corporate law and employment law. Claridge can be reached at 782-1805.

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Shawn D. Garner has become an associate of the Deason Law Firm, where he will focus his law practice on estate planning. He can be reached at 783-4575.

Garner has been practicing law in the Yuma area for three years, primarily litigating contract disputes and representing creditors and debtors in bankruptcy cases. He also conducted educational seminars on issues related to construction law.

Garner earned an associate's degree from Arizona Western College, then attended Colorado State University where he earned a double major in political science in criminal justice. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky Law School, where he was a member of the Trial Advocacy team that placed fifth at nationals.

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Attorney Jeanne Vatterott-Gale has been approved as an accredited attorney for the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for veterans benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her office is located at 330 W. 24th St. and can be reached by phone at 783-0101.

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Dr. Scott Norris, a chiropractic physician of Southwest Pain Associates, recently completed continuing medical education courses offered by Functional Medicine University. The training is for a health-care approach that treats illness and promotes wellness by tailoring treatment to the individual needs of the patient through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.

To reflect the new wellness health model of his practice, Dr. Norris has changed the name to Innovative Health Choices. The office is located at 11551 S. Fortuna Road, Suite C, and can be reached at 342-7220.

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Roxana Williams is the new owner of Tiki Hut Frozen Yogurt, 11274 S. Fortuna Road, Suite B2. Tiki Hut is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Williams, a Yuma resident for more than 40 years, previously had worked in insurance for 20 years. She said she purchased the business when it became available because she was ready to try a new career.

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The Foothills Bank board of directors has announced the 2011 annual dividend will be 45 cents per common share, an increase of 5 cents per share. This is the third consecutive year the bank has increased its dividend.

The bank ended 2011 with $288 million in total assets, $205 million in loans and $253 million in deposits.

The state chartered commercial bank, founded in 1997, now has six branches in Yuma, Casa Grande and Prescott.

Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or call Joyce Lobeck at 539-6853.