Bayard

March 6, 2004 Star Herald Article

BAYARD GROCERY OPENS FRIDAY

Much to the delight of Bayard residents, the new Bayard Grocery opened Friday.

"I'm so glad to have a store back here," said Bessie Hubbard of Bayard as she browsed the aisles Friday.

For more than a year, residents have been without a grocery store. Since the Jack and Jill Store burned in a fire, people have relied on a local convenience store, which stocked more items once the grocery store burned, or traveled to other towns to do their shopping.

Businessman Gary Moenning decided to renovate a building he owned at 305 Main Street and turn it into a grocery store. He financed a portion of the approximately $650,000 project through the Small Business Administration and private financing.

.As Bayard resident Hod Boltjes shopped at the store Friday, he said the store means everything to the town.

.He added that the local convenience store, Burda's Tiger Pause , did a good job stocking items despite the store's lack of space.

The grocery has a small deli at which drinks, sandwiches and salads will be available. The store has wide aisles, a concrete floor and a receiving area and dock in the back.

Moenning said employees would try their best to "give people what they need, pleasant service, a good atmosphere and reasonable prices."

Carol Ceck , store manager, said currently 10 people work at the store. Ceck had a store in Loup City, but closed it and sold her equipment to Moenning . Though she thought she was done with the grocery store business, she decided to move to Bayard and work at the new store.

Bayard Grocery , located across from Dollar General and Valley Bank , is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

January 27, 2004 Star Herald Article

BAYARD'S MOOD SWINGS BRINGS ART TO THE AREA

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

Area residents will have an opportunity to become part of an interactive arts experience with the opening of a new business in Bayard.

Mood Swings , located on Main Street , opened Sunday night. Owners Frank and Cherry Schlangen are involved in the arts and said they are hoping to bring something valuable to the area.

They will sell gifts such as photos, paintings, antiques and collectibles, as well as offering services in photo manipulation and restoration, graphic artistry and floral and gift design.

In addition, performing artists will be scheduled for public shows of poetry and prose reading and possibly musical or dance performances.

Cherry Schlangen said she intends to keep the atmosphere laid back, with a pot of coffee going all the time, instruments available for anyone who wants to come in to play and recorded music playing in the background, something customers can appreciate at their own will.

.The Schlangens already have begun lining up performing artists, including Cherry's brother, Bill Snocker of Mitchell. Snocker is known for his pen and ink and acrylic work but also is a singer, songwriter, poet and guitarist.

Frank Schlangen also writes songs, poetry and short stories, and both he and Cherry Schlangen have sung and played a variety of musical instruments over the years.

Cherry Schlangen said she hopes to set up jam sessions with the public and also allow some time on Sunday evenings for people to come in with their overdue craft projects and relax.

With so many unique opportunities at Mood Swings , the couple said they hope to see a good public response.

. Mood Swing's winter hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Special artist feature times will be posted.

January 13, 2004 Star Herald Article

COUPLE REOPENS BAYARD LIQUOR STORE

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

After closing down in September, Bayard's liquor store has reopened under new ownership.

Ross and Donna Jimenez opened Crockers Liquor last Monday, just after receiving their liquor license. They will offer a full line of alcoholic beverages from beer to wine and said they are glad to provide the service to residents who have been driving to Bridgeport or Scottsbluff for those items.

The couple previously owned and operated the Bayard Diner until it closed last year after smoke damage from a fire in a nearby business rendered the restaurant uninhabitable.

Though their original intention was to reopen the diner, three other eating establishments have opened in town since then.

"It wasn't feasible to open another," Donna Jimenez said.

The liquor industry will be a change from the restaurant business, but the couple said they are up for the challenge.

"We've done a lot of research and making sure we'll be competitive," Donna Jimenez said. "It's going to be a lot of on-the-job training."

Donna Jimenez will run the store with her husband's help, but he also operates a farm north of town. For now, they said, they don't have a need to hire other employees.

Both Donna and Ross Jimenez have backgrounds in law enforcement and said they intend to ensure nothing inappropriate goes on with the alcohol sales.

December 30, 2003 Star Herald Article

BRANDING IRON OPENS IN BAYARD

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

A western theme welcomes customers at the new Branding Iron restaurant in Bayard, along with a menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner items.

Certified chef Kent Houck and his wife, Jama , quietly opened the business December 5, thinking they'd ease into a customer routine. However, when word of mouth got out about their menu featuring everything from breakfast to burgers to steak and seafood, there was no trickle of customers to speak of. Instead, there was a rush.

"It's been unbelievable," Jama said. "It's really overwhelming. We've been really amazed by the support we've gotten from the community."

The Houcks are filling a need in Bayard, staying open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

When they first started talking about opening the restaurant in August, they were planning on a coffee shop. From there, the idea expanded to include a lunch menu, but the couple soon realized that wasn't going to be enough.

"We had people coming in saying, 'We really need something that's going to be open at night,'" Kent said. "We're doing this for the community."

The restaurant is decked out in a Western theme, something that the Houcks said they hope will attract area farmers and ranchers.

"They're coming in with mud and manure on their boots. They need to feel at home," Jama said.

Eventually, the couple hopes to add local ranch brands to the décor.

Kent cuts all his own meat and prides himself in his homestyle cooking right down to the bread.

"Nothing comes from a package," he said.

In addition to the regular dining room, there also is a banquet room seating up to 24 people.

There are six employees at the Branding Iron , and the Houck's two children, 11 year-old James and 15 year-old Kayla, help by working in the kitchen and busing tables.

The Branding Iron is located at 537 Main Street .

November 25, 2003 Star Herald Article

NEW FLORAL SHOP IN BAYARD OFFERS UNIQUE GIFTS

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

Another new business is opening in Bayard, this one offering floral and gift services.

Petunia's Flower Shop and Unique Gifts will open December 6, run by Pam Perry, her daughter-in-law Kalena Perry, and soon to be daughter-in-law Crystal Miller.

The store, located at 401 ½ Main Street , is situated just behind Panhandle Insurance Company . Petunia's Flower Shop and Unique Gifts will offer both fresh and silk arrangements as well as unique gifts such as original watercolors, pottery, hand-made teddy bears, soaps and lotions and gift baskets. While some of the teddies will come from a designer in Illinois , Kalena Perry will be making some herself, along with aprons and snowmen.

Crystal Miller will contribute her homemade fleece blankets and wooden candleholders and Pam Perry will take care of flower arrangements for all occasions, including weddings.

The idea for the business came about after Pam Perry put together flowers for her son, Noah's, wedding to Kalena .

She had been doing silk arrangements and gift baskets from her home for a while, and taking it a step further seemed like a good idea.

.Community interest in the new business has been high.

.Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

November 7, 2003 Star Herald Article

SMALL-TOWN SUCCESS

FAITH, HOPE BY 2 BAYARD WOMEN KEY TO BUSINESS

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

When Nebraska Gallery opened last year, it was with faith and hope from two women who believed in their town and all it had to offer.

Now, a year later, Cynthis Trimble and Becky Honstein are celebrating the business' first anniversary, a tribute to the success they've found over the last 12 months.

. Nebraska Gallery carries gifts and art, mostly created by someone in the Panhandle or the state. Hohnstein sells her own art and handiwork, including photographs of area scenery or hand-embroidered towels featuring Chimney Rock . Other Panhandle artists' works are also included for sale either as original paintings or prints.

There are handmade blankets, wreaths, knick-knacks and even furniture, all from local talent. The store carries egg noodles made by the town's church women, wheat bread mixes from a Bayard farm family, books from area authors and candles from a Nebraska producer.

.What makes it all special.are the local ties to all of the products.

.Every six weeks, Hohnstein works to bring in a new art exhibit, featuring pieces for sale by area artists. To kick off each display, the Nebraska Gallery hosts a reception for the artists, something Trimble said has brought people in from all over the Panhandle .

In fact, a Bridgeport man who attended one of those receptions was so impressed with the store that he donated his own time and talent to help promote it with a Nebraska Gallery sign that has been placed south of Bayard.

. Nebraska Gallery's success.is a tribute to what can happen when shoppers look at their own store-fronts first.

"Give the small towns a chance," she said. "There's so much out there. I don't know what the future's going to hold, but it'll be good."

November 4, 2003 Star Herald Article

NEW RESTAURANT, GIFT SHOP MARKETING NEBRASKA PRODUCTS

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

With the agri -tourism industry growing in the Panhandle, an area couple is taking the leap to invest in the market for local foods and crafts.

Craig and Becky Henkel have opened the Home Grown Cellar , a home-style restaurant and gift shop featuring items straight from Nebraska fields, including their own. The Henkels farm and ranch outside of Bayard and plan to use their own dry edible beans and corn in their recipes. Also, the sugar beets they grow are processed by Western Sugar , and some of that sugar goes to a Montana company that manufactures a line of chocolate and hot chocolate that will be sold in the new business.

"Everything will come from Nebraska ," Becky said.

The menu will include soups and sandwiches as well as some foods reminiscent of the area's German heritage.

A large gift selection will feature Barn Candles made in Hastings from soy product and several craft items from Omaha and other Nebraska locations.

Henkel said it is important to her and her husband to do their part for the state and the ag economy. Craig Henkel is the president of the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association .

.The restaurant and gift shop is located at 245 Main Street in Bayard in the old Panhandle Coop building. There is enough space that the Henkels also have created a large meeting room named, "the Nebraska Room," which will be available for business meetings or other gatherings, filling a need in Bayard. Becky said she also hopes to use the meeting room for wintertime scrap booking classes.

This is the Henkels ' first venture into the restaurant business, and Becky said it is one that happened quickly. They were inspired at the end of the summer by a tourism meeting conducted at Bayard's Nebraska Gallery , in which a panel of state tourism representatives outlined the potential for niche businesses in the area.

.Becky said she has plans to develop a warehouse space in the back, possibly for auctions or arts and crafts festivals.

She and Craig will run the business themselves, with the help of her grandmother and the couple's sons.

October 21, 2003 Star Herald Article

BAYARD'S TIGER PAUSE EXPANDS OFFERINGS

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

The grocery line at Burda's Tiger Pause is now complete, after the recent installation of a meat cooler in the store.

Owners Dave and Carol Burda have always had groceries, but after a fire consumed Kienzle's Jack and Jill last December, they decided to work toward adding more items with a larger variety.

The meat cooler is supplied by KDK Meats of Bridgeport , featuring locally grown, hand-processed USDA inspected beef and pork.

. KDK supplies the store with a full variety of meats and also offers special order opportunities for products such as marinated roasts, something the Burdas said is a treat.

.Denny Hogeland , KDK owner, said this is his first large contract with an area grocer, and he is happy to have the opportunity to be involved in a partnership that keeps locally grown products and local money in the area.

.In addition to the meat cooler, the store also features more frozen products, such as chicken, both whole and cut, and a larger variety of ice cream. Also, Burda's carries baby food and more snack items in addition to its full line of groceries.

.For any customers looking for items the store does not currently carry, the Burdas said they are open to any suggestions.

.The expanded grocery line.will make life easier for Bayard residents who found themselves having to drive to another town after the Jack and Jill store burned down.

.The Dollar General , which opened last winter, carries some groceries, but also offers basic household items.

August 20, 2003 Star Herald Article

NEW VIDEO STORE TO OPEN IN BAYARD

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

A new video store will open in Bayard by the end of the month.

Former Mayor Jim Ostdiek and his wife, Deb will open Sunset Video in the old Bayard Pharmacy building at 323 Main Street . It will be a full service movie store, with DVD and VHS versions of new releases and a stock of old favorites.

Jack's Lucky Chance has stocked movies similar to the selection once available at the former Jack and Jill store that burned down in December. Ostdiek , though, said his operation will be larger, and he will purchase his own movies instead of dealing with an outside company.

Until Jack's started providing movies, Bayard residents had nowhere in town for rentals.

"People get tired of driving.to Scottsbluff to get movies," he said. "It's going to be nice to have a full-service movie store. Everyone's been pretty positive about it."

Ostdiek said it will be good to have another business on Main Street .

The building is in good shape, so it will only need shelves installed for the movies.

Ostdiek said he, his wife and two teenage sons plan to run the store by themselves at first.

. Sunset Video also will offer popcorn, candy and soda.

July 22, 2003 Star Herald Article

BUSINESSMAN WORKING TO BUILD NEW BAYARD STORE

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

Eight months after a fire consumed Bayard's Jack and Jill grocery store, work is under way to rehabilitate a downtown building to accommodate a new store.

Local businessman Gary Moenning is working to renovate the space at 305 Main St. , the former location of a construction business he once shared with his brother.

Moenning , who is also a carpenter, said he is in a unique situation that makes opening a grocery store possible. Since he owns the building and can do much of the construction work himself, the venture will cost much less for him than someone who would have to hire out labor and purchase property. Though he'll have to bring in an electrician, Moenning said he intends to do the rest of the work with little to no help.

"That's the only way the numbers will work," he said.

Last week, a finance committee at an Ogallala bank gave Moenning a preliminary approval for funding, but final approval is still a few weeks away. Until then, Moenning is financing the project out of his own pocket; he must contribute $62,500 in order to get bank funding.

While he acknowledges that beginning the work before he has an official go-ahead from the bank is risky, Moenning said he's sure things will turn out in his favor.

.He first got involved with the concept of a new store when he was approached about using the building for a temporary store when officials were working with former Jack and Jill owners Wil and Val Kienzle to reopen. However, the Kienzles and other grocery store managers left town to find other work, and Moenning said it became clear that no one was going to take on the project.

.After months of driving to nearby towns such as Bridgeport and Scottsbluff , Moenning said he believes the community is ready to get back to normal.

"You've just got to have basic services in a small town, and there isn't anything more basic than groceries," he said, adding that the absence of a store has affected property values.

.The building, located on the corner of Third and Main , was built in 1917, and was used as a grocery store before there was electricity in town and kerosene lamps lit up the aisles.

It measures about 7,000 square feet.

Right now, Moenning is working on plumbing and he plans to pour concrete in another week.

Though he'd like to have the store open in time for the holidays, he said it's likely the grand opening won't come until after the first of the year.

He plans to hire out management and continue working as a carpenter.

July 20, 2003 Star Herald Article

SUCCESS TASTES GOOD AT SWEET BASIL IN BAYARD

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

Walking into Sweet Basil restaurant in downtown Bayard, customers might feel more like they're stepping into a warm Victorian-style dining room.

Dining tables are set up throughout the spacious area, complete with decorative cloths, settings and glowing candlelight.

There's plenty of room for everyone, something that customers welcome after spending the first year waiting in line outside of the restaurant's first location, just a few blocks up the street from where it is now.

Owner Brenda Simpson opened Sweet Basil in October 2001 thinking she'd offer catering business only.

After hearing from so many community members of the town's need for a restaurant, she decided to open up for lunch one day a week and dinner another, a venture that proved to be a success. In fact, it was so successful that customers would line up on the sidewalk outside of Sweet Basil waiting their turn for a seat.

.she found the space she's in now, where her kitchen is as big as the entire restaurant used to be. She relocated just after.Thanksgiving.

. Sweet Basil specializes in gourmet dishes, open Wednesdays for lunch and Friday for dinner. The rest of the time, she caters groups from 10 to 200. Her biggest catering job, she said, was for 1,500 people at a bank opening.

Simpson gets help from her husband, Lyle, daughter, Courtney and son, Curtis. She prepares her restaurant meals so the bulk of the cooking is done when the first customers arrive, that way she has time to get out in the dining room and wait tables.

.The family atmosphere is something Simpson values, and she said she lpans to keep it that way by continuing her current schedule without getting overloaded.

.For dining room reservations or more information on catering services, Simpson is available by calling (308) 586-3044.

May 24, 2003 Star Herald Article

BAYARD MAYOR PAUL LESEBERG ON HAND TO DEDICATE NEWLY BUILT PARK

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

A new park was dedicated in Bayard Friday morning, giving kids in the southeastern part of town a place to play.

The playground was built on the corner of Third Street and Second Avenue after a collaborative effort between the City of Bayard , Panhandle Community Services and several benefactors.

.the city donated the land to be developed into a public park, complete with swings, slide, jungle gym and toddler toys.

The city will maintain the park, but donations from Kinder Morgan, Target, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Bayard Wilber Vault and Chimney Rock Jaycees helped pay for the $14,500 development. PCS representative Diana McClanahan said the project was a grassroots effort and came together with the help of local volunteers such as parks department employee Diana Henson and Wilber Vault owner Larry Neiger .

Since the Kiewit grant was a matching fund, the Jaycees held fund-raisers including an enchilada sale to help meet the challenge.

.Mayor Paul Leseberg was on hand at the dedication, along with the other representatives from the city, Kinder Morgan and PCS .

Having a park in their neighborhood will give children a place to play without crossing Main Street .

"It's a lot more convenient for them," Leseberg said. "I'm real happy to have this here, and I'm happy for everyone's contributions."

March 22, 2003 Star Herald Article

BAYARD ALWAYS IN MAYOR'S HEART

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

Paul Leseberg may not have always lived in Bayard, but no matter where he lived, he said, his heart was always here.

Leseberg was born during the blizzard of 1949 at the old St. Mary's hospital in Scottsbluff. Both sets of his grandparents had come to Bayard in the 1920's, and after his father took a job in New Mexico when he was 3, he spent summer vacations with them.

Throughout his childhood, he took swimming lessons here, had his annual dental checkups here and bought his school clothes here.

He helped his grandfather in his plumbing business, hit the popular fishing holes and listened to the local businessmen talk during coffee hour at the drug store.

.Throughout the years, Leseberg moved several times to various towns in New Mexico , Colorado and California . In the mid-1970's , his parents moved back and around 1980 Leseberg Leseberg came to Bayard to help them refinish their house. He was only going to stay a year, but something changed his mind.

."I think the family life and the quality of life out here in Nebraska were the factors that made me decide to stay."

After working a couple of years at Western Sugar , Leseberg started school at Western Nebraska Community College then transferred to Chadron State College to finish a bachelor's degree in business management.

"I just absolutely loved WNCC ," he said. "That was such a different experience. The personal attention I got and the down-to-earth way that the teachers treat the students was tremendous. I was very pleased with the education I got there and at Chadron State ."

WNCC was so close to his heart that when Board of Governors member Ron Block retired, Leseberg made a bid for his position, a seat he still holds.

"It's my chance to give something back to them," he said.

Leseberg also serves as the town's mayor, a representative on the local nursing home board and is the city's representative to Twin Cities Development Corporation .

He holds a job at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in Alliance .

When he's not working or serving his community, Leseberg said he enjoys spending time with his family.

.Throughout his life, both personally and professionally, the mayor said he has followed certain philosophies handed down from his father and his time as a Boy Scout.

.It's always about trying to give more than you take."

February 6, 2003 Star Herald Article

FUTURE UNCLEAR FOR BAYARD DINER

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

When a fire destroyed Kienzle's Jack and Jill in December, the impact didn't stop with the grocery store, it also shut down the Bayard Diner , a long-time business adjoined to what used to be the store.

Diner owner Donna Jimenez said the restaurant has been closed since the fire, which caused an estimated $45,000 in heavy smoke and water damage.

The biggest problem, however, is that the wall that once adjoined the two storefronts sustained significant heat damage.

.Jimenez had purchased the business in recent years, fulfilling a life-long dream of becoming a restaurant owner.

.In addition to herself, Jimenez had four employees that were displaced and her insurance does not provide a paycheck unless they continue to do some sort of physical work.

.Jimenez says she has researched the possibility of relocating.

.In the meantime people are asking when she's going to reopen.

.Jimenez said she has been working with Mayor Paul Leseberg to find information on grants available to help get the business going again.

January 29, 2003 Star Herald Article

DOLLAR GENERAL PREPARING FOR SATURDAY OPENING IN BAYARD

by Melissa Smith, Regional Reporter

The long-awaited opening of the Dollar General store in Bayard is coming this weekend, marking a new beginning for a town seemingly down on its luck.

Doors open at 9 a.m. Saturday at the store on Main Street , and Mayor Paul Leseberg said the town is excited. Last year, the anticipated store opening was delayed twice due to heavy remodeling needs, and with the sugar factory closing and the grocery store burning down, people are ready for something positive.

.Start-up crews have been working to stock shelves and get the store ready.In addition to providing non-perishable food items, the Bayard store also will supply retail items typical of Dollar General , such as clothing, basic housewares and domestics.

A mass hire provided the set-up crew, and.around 10 local people will be hired for day-to-day operation, not counting management.

. Dollar General hours are set for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.