Yuma gains new air medical transport company

Yuma and southwestern Arizona again have two air medical transport providers for critically ill and injured patients with the entry into the market of Air Evac Services.

The company got a call from Rural/Metro and, after visiting the area over Presidents Day weekend, saw the need for an additional provider, said Monty Gallegos, manager of business development for Air Evac.

Air Evac is leasing the facility at Yuma International Airport formerly occupied by Silver State Air Rescue, which closed its doors in early February. Currently, Air Evac has one helicopter based in Yuma along with a paramedic, pilot and mechanic, with plans to increase medical and aviation personnel here to 15, Gallegos said.

Air Evac has served Arizona since 1969 with rotor-wing and fixed-wing air medical transport, and currently operates 20 bases throughout Arizona and New Mexico. The company is nationally recognized for its innovative safety measures. It also has dedicated teams specifically trained and equipped for high-risk maternal, high-risk neonatal and cardiac patients.

The Yuma area also is served by Tri State Care Flight.

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Here's some good news for Foothills residents. Plans are finally in motion for the long promised Walgreens at the northwest corner of Fortuna Road and 35th Place, confirmed Carol Hively, spokeswoman for the drugstore chain.

The project is starting to move through the county's development process. However, it will be a little ways off yet. Hively said projected opening is the spring of 2009.

The store will be 16,500 square feet - that's a little larger than the typical Walgreens store. It will include a drive-up pharmacy window, one-hour photo processing and a liquor department, Hively said.

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The March issue of Yuma Business Direct is now available online at businessinyuma.com.

The issue's cover story relates the partnership between siblings Bobby Scarborough and Lori McKenna as they built up Green Trees Grocery Outlet into three stores. They now have branched out with Discount Office Supply and mostly recently Office Furniture and Supply Outlet Store, which their father manages.

Sam's Club is featured as the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month.

Dusty Grooms, manager of Sun Vista RV Resort, answers 20 questions in the ongoing series about leaders in Yuma's hospitality sector.

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Pinnacle Healthcare is breaking ground Monday for its new, larger clinic, much to the delight of clinic spokeswoman Tami Harmon. Pinnacle is building a 6,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art clinic at 4343 E. 31st Place in Olde(cq) 80 Business Park to accommodate the expanding medical staff and patient load.

Currently located at 3939 S. Avenue 3E, Pinnacle Healthcare offers occupational medicine services and a private practice for all ages.

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In other building activity, Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official, reported:

- A certificate of occupancy has been issued for the 2,000-square-foot addition to the Yuma International Airport terminal, mainly to provide a new facility for Homeland Security. The project also included remodeling of the baggage check facility.

- Permits have been issued for the renovation of the kitchen and restrooms for Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 S. 7th Ave.

- Permits have been issued for construction of a new building for the Mine Shaft at 3905 S. 4th Ave. to replace the existing bar. Plans include a covered patio and a swim-up bar.

- Plans have been approved for construction of a 2,500-square-foot office for Missing Piece Care Management at Tuscany Plaza, Lot No. 28.

- Permits are ready for the new Yuma County Main Library at 2951 S. 21st Drive. The 74,384-square-foot, two-story building will also have a drive-through book return.

- Permits have been issued for the Radisson Hotel off Redondo Center Drive, where site work has been underway.

- Footing construction has begun on the Pivot Point Conference Center along the riverfront. The push is on as a major conference is scheduled there in November.

- Tenant improvement plans are being reviewed for Dollar Tree to go into Las Palmillas in the space on the north side of Shoe Pavillion. The store will be 14,683 square feet.

- A grading permit has been issued and plans are under review for Good Day Auto Sales at 6638 E. 32nd St. The used car sales lot, owned by Joe Gama, will have a mobile building sales office. It replaces the Pottery Barn, which has been demolished.

- Work has begun on the 33,000-square-foot clubhouse for Palms RV Resort being developed at 36th Street and Avenue 7E. The sales office can be reached at 341-4646.

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There's apparently still a lot of useful life left in a World War II dog tag making machine kept at LZ Bar and Grill as something of a novelty.

Co-owner Evelyn Malo called to say that Marine Corps Air Station Yuma has asked the business to make new dog tags for the air station's Marines while its machine is out of commission. So the little machine that could is still serving the country.

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Peggy Pilger called to say that after being in business for 30 years, the last 10 years in downtown Yuma, she's decided to retire. Pilger, owner of Peg-Tiques Consignments, 225 S. Main St. (next to Lutes Casino), intends to close the doors by the end of April.

In the meantime, everything in the store is half-price. "It's all got to go," Pilger said.

That includes such collectibles as Sebastian miniatures, Royal Douton glassware, Depression glass and Just the Right shoes, as well as vintage costume jewelry and other items.

Shop hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 373-3176.

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The opening of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in San Luis, Ariz., brought other businesses to the border city as well. Located inside the store are Sun Bank, Subway and SmartStyle.

SmartStyle offers hair services for all ages and several name-brand lines of hair products. For an appointment, call 722-5699.

For employment opportunities at the hair salon, call 1-877-789-9545 or visit www.smartstyle.com.

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Johnny Gable is closing the doors to his longtime business, Johnny's TV and Electronics, 1041 S. 4th Ave. But he's definitely not going out of business, he said.

"I'll continue to do special orders and service. I will take care of my old customers."

It's just that now he will be mobile. He will continue to maintain his store phone number, 783-9222. Give him a call to special order top-of-the-line plasma and LCD television sets and for TV and audio equipment service.

Gable said he also will continue his community involvement with Hospice of Yuma and Catch a Dream for Yuma Children.

The store was opened in 1969 and Gable took over ownership in 1979.

CyberSpot, which now occupies the south side of his building, will move into the vacated store space, leaving 3,000 square feet of commercial space available for retail or offices. If interested in leasing it, give Gable a call.

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Local businessman Ron Martin said the renovation of the Kofa High School lower athletic fields is nearly 90 percent completed and he hopes to finish it by April. But the project needs just a little more help to get it over the finish line.

He said the project is about $100,000 short of the needed money, and that's after he made a second personal donation. To donate, call Martin at 726-3307.

Martin and Mike Covey, manager of Sun Valley Beverage, spearheaded the project as a tribute to businessman John Boemer. Pilkington Construction also has been a partner, providing the labor at no charge.

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Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.