No Starbucks stores in Yuma on hit list

  Yuma's Starbucks customers can rest a little easier. None of the stores here was listed on by the company in a closure list posted Thursday.

  In early July, Starbucks announced it intends to close 600 company-operated stores in the U.S. in the coming months because of the faltering economy.

  The company has now posted a list of stores planned for closure, and all of Yuma's stores survived the cut. The only Arizona store on that list is in Eloy.
  Starbucks has three stores in Yuma: 1418 S. Yuma Palms Parkway, 2383 W. 24th St. and 3115 S. 4th Ave. A fourth store is planned for the multitenant building under construction at the corner of 16th Street and Pacific Avenue.

  In addition, there are "partner" stores in Target and the Avenue B Albertsons. And the coffee shop at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 819 W. 32nd St., serves Starbucks although it is not a Starbucks store, an employee said.

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  Plans appear to be on track for the hot-weather vehicle test complex under construction at Yuma Proving Ground despite General Motors' financial challenges, said Chris Camacho, head of Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp., who worked closely with the automaker on the project.

  "It's a $100 million investment," he said. "There doesn't appear to be a scaling down of the complex, although I don't know what that will mean from an employee standpoint.

  "We are seeing a shift in the domestic auto industry," Camacho said, noting that GM is closing production plants for Hummers and large trucks and SUVs. "But GM still needs a hot-weather test track."

  He said buildings are under construction, road improvements are being made and infrastructure is going in for the complex at YPG, slated for completed by the fall of 2009. Through a joint use agreement, GM is developing the complex on leased land at YPG. In turn, the military will be able to use the complex for its own hot-weather vehicle testing.

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  Dr. Todd Runyan has moved his office. Starting Monday, he will be at 2851 S. Avenue B, No. 100, in Tuscany Plaza. That's next door to Kneader's Bakery, which he and his family own and operate. Runyan's medical office has the same phone number of 726-5600.

  His former office at 3151 S. Avenue A is for sale. If interested, call A.T. Pancrazi Real Estate at 782-0000.

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  Remodeling is under way at the former Papa John's location at 1150 W. 8th St. to open a chicken rotisserie restaurant there named Pollos Correteado, said Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official.

  Plans are in review for a second one in the Alarcon Shopping Center.

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  Bobby's Territorial Harley-Davidson wants to make sure Yuma's own track star Jackie Johnson gets a hometown send-off to the summer Olympics.

  The motorcycle shop, 2550 E. Gila Ridge Road, is hosting a meet and greet with Jackie from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Everyone's invited, autographs will be signed and businesses and individuals are encouraged to bring "good luck, Jackie" cards filled with signatures "to shower her with the support and love of the people of Yuma," said Marty La Belle, Bobby's operations manager. For more information, call 782-1931.

  Also, donations are being accepted to help send Jackie's family to the Olympics. People can bring a donation to the event or contribute to an account set up at Wells Fargo Bank, Account No. 3478333259.

  A fund also has been started to help pay for Jackie's training for the 2012 Olympics, La Belle said. Donations for that cause can be made to the Jackie Johnson LLC account at 1st Bank Yuma, 2279 S. 4th Ave. For more information, call 783-3334.

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  In a career change, Eric Capetillo has joined State Farm as an insurance agent and has opened an office at 3970 W. 24th St., Suite 106, at the Mission Valley Plaza. The agency offers typical lines of insurance such as auto, homeowners, life and health, as well as commercial lines of insurance. Capetillo also is licensed to sell mutual funds and variable life insurance products and can assist clients with their retirement plans, such as IRAs and 401(k) rollovers.

  The agency is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The office can be reached at 782-4300 or visit EricCapetillo.com.

  Capetillo, a Yuma resident since 2000, has a bachelor's degree in business administration management. Previously, he sold advertising for The Sun and before that was in the restaurant business for eight years.

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  To set the record straight, Wellton now has two choices for great pizza with the recent opening of Desert Dug's Pizza at Coyote Wash.

  Mary Klawuhn called to report that pizza has been available since spring at Chuck's Stage Stop, 28534 Los Angeles Ave. (Old Highway 80), the restaurant she and her husband own and operate.

  So, good residents of Wellton, get your pizza fix at either restaurant or by calling Desert Dug's at 785-9877 or Chuck's Stage Stop at 785-3131.

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  Habitat ReStore is now open seven days a week for the convenience of homeowners when a repair job comes up in their home, said Patrick Burke, ReStore supervisor. The store, 2404 E. 24th St., Suite D, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

  The Habitat ReStore is a retail outlet of usable home improvement items such as doors, lumber and plumbing supplies as well as gently used furniture and large and small appliances at a fraction of the cost.

  Proceeds help fund the Habitat for Humanity ministry of building houses for needy families in the community.

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  The Yuma County Library District's Main Library will close the temporary location at the former Vibes, 185 S. Main St., at 5 p.m. Saturday to move back to the library at 350 S. 3rd Ave. The library will be closed about 2-1/2 weeks to get it set up.

  Meanwhile, the due date for all materials checked out from the library is being extended to Aug. 15. Book drops will be available outside the 185 S. Main St. location and all other branch libraries will be open regular hours, said Sarah Wisdom, library district spokeswoman.

  The grand opening for the newly remodeled 3rd Avenue facility, to be renamed Heritage Branch Library, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 14, and regular hours will start Aug. 15.

  Work is moving along on other library projects around Yuma County. The Foothills branch library is scheduled to open sometime in September, the Somerton library is slated for a January opening and the new Yuma Main Library and San Luis, Ariz., branch are expected to be completed by May 2009, Wisdom said.

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  Bison Express Shuttle is now picking up passengers with advance reservations at the Chevron station, 592 E. 16th St. (next to the Golden Corral Restaurant), announced Bob Larsen, general manager. The shuttle service also picks up passengers from the Buffalo Ranch in the Foothills for travel to and from Phoenix.

  Service is available three times daily Mondays through Fridays, and once a day on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call 345-4615 seven days a week.

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  Carol Snyder and Environmental Health Solutions offer solutions for your indoor environment with cleaner air, pure clean water and a home energy management system.

  The Fresh Air purifier uses the same technology used in the NASA space program to clean the space shuttle's air and has been demonstrated to kill most viruses, bacteria and mildew on surfaces. This product also helps eliminate smoke and odors.

  The Living Water products include filters, showerheads, an in-home water treatment system and Living Water Ultra, a revolutionary water filtration system that removes contaminants, leaving you with clear, great-tasting water.

  With Powerworx e3, save money by eliminating wasted electrical consumption, protect appliances and electronics from the damage caused by voltage spikes, and prolong the life of appliances and electronics by reducing electrical "noise."

  The company also has health supplements.

  For more information or a three-day free trial of Fresh Air, contact Carol at 287-0901 or lorac1009@yahoo.com.

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