business profiles 2013

ProfilesBusiness

A Special Supplement to the

Also read it online at www.dairylandpeach.com

Central Minnesota & Surrounding Area

March 2013

Showcasing Area Businesses and the Services They Provide

Their history. Their story. Their business.

Peach Business Profile 2013,

Showcasing Area Businesses and the Services They Provide

Central Minnesota & Surrounding Area

Ace Hardware .......................................9Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center ..............................14Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram ......20AMPS, Inc. ..........................................15Benusa Appliances, Sales & Service ...12Bueckers City Sanitation .....................19Channel Marine & Sports, Inc. .............3Dairyland Peach ..................................16ECM Publishers, Inc. ...........................18

Freeport State Bank ............................11Gilleland Chevrolet .............................13MBC Drainage, LLC ............................10Midsota Manufacturing .........................4Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators LLC .................17Pride of Main Street Dairy ....................6Sauk Centre Country Store ...................7Stoen’s Hydrostatic Service, Inc. ..........8Towmaster .............................................5

Directory Their history. Their story. Their business.

March 2013

ProfilesBusiness


•New & Used Sales •Service •Shrink-Wrapping •Winterizing •Storage •In/Out Service •Archery •Bait & Tackle

Hwy. 23, Richmond, MN • 320-597-5975www.channelmarineandsports.com

Channel Marine & Sports is the ideal place to go for outstanding products and exceptional service

By BoB HarePeach Contributor

Channel Marine & Sports is aptlynamedandideallylocatedonachanneloftheSaukRiverChainofLakes.Theyevenhavetheirownmarinaonthechan-nelsothatyoucaneitherdriveyourcar,oryourboat,whenyouneedservice. Channel Marine offers new and usedboats and pontoons, as well as Hewittlifts and docks. They sell boats for allpriceranges,fromaJonboatuptotop-line pontoons such as a G3 Elite Sun-catcher. “Thepontoonisyour#1sellingboat,”saysownerJohnArndt,“morepopularthanthedeckboat.” JohnhaslivedontheSaukRiverChainof Lakes since 1973, and has been inbusinesswithChannelMarine&Sports,formerly Richmond Marine & Sports,forover30years. Onereasonfortherisingpopularityofthepontoonistheadditionofthethreetube “tritoon” to the market. A top ofthelinetritoonwitha150hpmotorcango up to 36 mph and turn more like aboat than a traditional two tube pon-toon. Channel Marine & Sports also offerssporting goods, bait and tackle, fishingequipment, ammo, archery equipment,and year-round boat storage. In addi-tion, they accept trade-ins and will sellboats,liftsanddocksonconsignment. A major part of their business is ser-vice. Their certified technicians serviceall makes and models of boat motors

andiceaugersintheirshop.Insummer,Channelemployeeswillcometoyoutoinstallandworkondocksandlifts. Also,until theendofMarch,there isa15percentdiscountonrepairs.More-over,theyofferindoorarcheryandhostanafter-schooljuniorleague. Another feature is Channel Rental,a separate business owned by Josh andSabrinaKraemer.ChannelRentaloffersrental boats, wet jets and pontoons. Itisanidealserviceforthosewhowishtotourthechainoflakes. However,forthoselookingtoowntheirown boat, or trade up to a better one,thereisnotimelikethepresent.ChannelMarine’s Annual In-House Boat ShowissetforMarch16-17andMarch23-24.Theywillbeopenfrom9-5onSaturdays,and12-5onSundays. There will be refreshments and doorprizes,andnoneed toworryabout theweatherduringthesale,asthereisanin-doorshowroom.Soif youwishtopur-chase a new boat, check prices, or justbrowsethroughthenewG3andWeeresmodels,comeonout! Johnenjoysworkingwithhisstaff andcustomers. “It’s a lifestyle,” says John.Anothermajorbenefitistheopportunitytospendtimewithhisson,JonJr.“Hehasbeeninvolvedinthebusinesssincehewas12yearsold,”saidJohn. Sowhetheryouwishtobuyorrentaboat,pickupbaitandtackle,needser-vice on your boat, motor, lift or dock,orneedtobuyfishingorarcheryequip-ment,ChannelMarinecanhelpyou.

Pictured (from left) are: Frank, Brian, Marty, Jeff,amanda, Jon, John and Casey.

Annual In-House BoAt SHow

2 Weekends Only!

March 16-17 &March 23-24

Open 9-5 on Saturdays & 12-5 on Sundays for this huge event!• Register for Door Prizes •


INNOVATIVE • DURABLE • PERFORMANCE“A Quality Team Selling Quality Equipment”

404 County Road 50 • Avon, Minnesota 56310 • South Side of I-94

877-356-2407 • www.midsotamfg.com“Remember, if you’re going to be HAULIN you need to be CALLIN Midsota Manufacturing in Avon!”

Your team (from left): Brad Rodenwald, Tim Burg, Craig Dold,Dale Hamann, Joel Bauer, Skylar Uphoff

Go to www.midsotamfg.comto see the Midsota round bale processor and brush mower

in action

Spring is Here!Stop in for all your trailer & skidsteer

attachmentneeds!

Standing By Our Service & Serving Central MN for Over 35 Years


by KERRY DRAGERPeach Contributor

Trailer owners understand the importance of their hauling tool. A trailer is required to be dependable and strong so that it may help get the job done. Tow-master ensures that their trailers are trustworthy and surpass ex-pectations with unprecedented quality and durability. Towmaster has been build-ing trailers since the 1970s. The business was started by Har-lan Palm and the manufactur-ing took place on Palm’s farm. In 1994, the growing business moved to a manufacturing plant in Litchfi eld. In 1998, Towmas-ter became an employee-owned business. They continue to grow with building expansions, new product lines, a parts and ac-cessory store that is open to the public and even a truck division that started in 2008. The truck division has seen exceptional success, and no won-der with their experienced staff and the same high quality stan-dards that go into building their trailers. They carry a line of truck bodies that go onto snow movers, dump bodies and small utility trucks. “Our trucks are successful. We sell about 150 trucks a year. It has grown tremendously fast. As a whole, our company has been successful,” said Towmas-ter’s Marketing Manager, Shane Zeppelin. Much goes into their superior product. Towmaster trailers are digitally designed using the lat-est SolidWorks 3D CAD soft-ware with FEA tools, which are

used in testing for stress spots. Steel is added and blueprints are changed to reinforce those stress spots. Towmaster utilizes thicker steel in their trailer, making for a heavier, more durable product. To make a Towmaster trailer even more useful and convenient, there are hundreds of options to choose from. One option is gal-vanized steel as an alternative to paint. Galvanizing makes a solid trailer even stronger. It protects your investment from damage due to rust and daily use. “Our galvanizing company has dipped a lot of different products, and we’ve been told that our trailers go in and come out nice and straight. That there is enough engineering and steel in our trailers that they don’t need to be braced,” said Zeppelin. Utilizing technology and thriving to be an environmen-tally conscious company has prompted some important, ex-citing changes. Their manufac-turing procedure allows for less waste, creating their new smart-phone application means less paper waste by digitalizing their brochures, and they were one of the fi rst companies to bring i-Pads to their sales department. “Towmaster has always been ahead of the curve in technol-ogy. We utilize our website often. We were one of the fi rst trailer manufacturing places to use so-cial media. We are using effi cient welders that use less energy. We recycle many of our products, like our steel. We capture our paint, and we recycle this as well. We are as clean and effi cient as we can be in manufacturing. We

even have an air fi ltration sys-tem. Plus, we build our trailers to last. The longer the trailer lasts people, the better we’re being on the environment. We do our best to cut down on the energy we use,” said Zeppelin. Locally built, Towmaster has its community in mind. They employ over 140 experienced employees. To keep their manu-facturing local, they use a Min-nesota-based company to do their galvanizing, and they play a role in supporting their deal-ers and the community they call home. “Towmaster is loyal to their dealers. We have a huge dealer network across the U.S. and Canada. We will not undercut or under sell a trailer. Even to local buyers, we have to send them to the dealer, but we have a data-base to help buyers fi nd the right dealer,” said Zeppelin. They also play a role in keep-ing their community content and healthy. They donate to the Pink Ribbon Riders, a fundraiser de-signed to help ease the fi nancial strain experienced by breast can-cer patients. Participation in lo-cal school and city events is im-portant to Towmaster as it will often donate its trailers for the use of fl oats in parades. With the use of thicker steel, many useful options, precise and research fabrication and ef-fi cient, green technology, Tow-master trailers are superior to their competitors’ products. Proudly made in America right here in Minnesota and with their community in mind, they are the standard in trailer quality and design. Hours: Monday - Friday 7 AM - 5 PM;

Saturday & Sunday Closed

West of Litchfi eld on Highway 1261381 US Hwy. 12

Litchfi eld, MN 55355www.towmaster.com

Towmaster Trailers and Trucks are Minnesota built. They currently employ over 140 highly qualifi ed Minnesota employees.

The new Towmaster App is availablefor their dealers. It works on both iOS and Android

smartphones and tablets.

Towmaster employees proudly put the fi nishing touches on a high quality trailer.

Towmaster truck bodies are manufactured with carbon

steel, stainless steel or

aluminum.

A walk-in parts store supplies the public and their dealerships with genuine Towmaster parts.

Towmaster uses technology, thicker steel to lead the trailer industry


Pride of Main Street’s plant produces and offershigh quality dairy products to area consumers

By KERRY DRAGERPeach Contributor

AtraveldownMainStreetinSaukCentrewilltakeyoupastanoldbrickbuildingthathasstoodproudsincetheearly1920s.PrideofMainStreetDairyhasalonghistoryinthatbuildinganditcontinuestoplayanimportantpartinthecommunity. Pride of Main Street Dairy has been known bymany names throughout the years. They have beenthe Blue Valley Creamery, Sauk Lake Co-op, SaukCentreCreameryandtheCentralMinnesotaCo-op.Asthenamescameandwent,sodidtheproductsthattheyprocessedandbottled.Initiallyabutter-churn-ingfactory,thefacilitynowhandlesfluidsandsemi-fluidslikemilk,teaandsourcream. TheproductsthatPrideofMainStreetDairypro-ducesaresimpleandsimplygoodforyou.Theirmilkcomesfromlocaldairyfarmsandtheyofferanarti-ficialhormonefreelineofmilkproducts.Theyarea

Kosherandorganiccertifiedplant. Theirmilkisprocessedusingcoldbowlseparation.Before the milk is pasteurized, skim and cream areseparated. It is brought back together to make thedesiredfatpercentageofthemilkandthenisheated.Thisprocessallowsforlessheatingofthemilkandahigherqualitycream,which is thenusedfortheircreambasedmixesandsourcreamproducts. PrideofMainStreetDairyalsooffersasuperfoodknownasKefir,aculturedbeverageofdrinkablecon-sistency.Itcontainsmanydifferentstrainsofbenefi-cialbacteriathatareaddedtomaketheKefirgoodforthebody’simmunityanddigestiontonametwo. Office Manager, Joan Beilke, has been with thecompany since 1991. She works hard to promoteunderstandingof theproducts that the facilitypro-duces. “When we started doing Helios Kefir, we didn’tknow much about the product. We educated our-selvessowecaneducateeveryone.Weteachpeoplehowdrinkingithelpsyourbody.”

“Wesentoutconsumerkitsandhaverecipes,”saidSharonQuistorff,plantmanager. Aside from handling Helios products, Pride ofMain Street Dairy also does co-packing for othercompanies. They have the facility to manufacturemanytypesofdairyproductsandarealwayslookingfornewpartnerships. “We’ve always done co-packing and we’re alwayslooking for more of them. Companies who have aproductbutnotaplant,wecanmakeandpackageithere,”saidQuistorff. For consumers interested in their dairy products,PrideofMainStreetDairyoffersasmallretailstoreonlocation.Theycarryeverythingtheplantproducesandevensomethingsthatitdoesn’t,includingskimtowholemilk,chocolatemilk,sourcream,ArgoTea,manyflavorsofKefirandevenbutterfromaneigh-boringMinnesotabusiness. ArgoTea,basedinChicago,Ill.,istheirlatestco-packing customer. They brew tea from leaves andfruit,flavor,andfilleightkindsofteainsingleserveglass bottles. They range from no caffeine to highcaffeine and are sold locally to internationally. Thefourmostpopularflavors,CarolinaHoney,HibiscusTea Sangria, Green Tea Ginger Twist, and Pome-granaTeaaresoldattheretailstore.

“Buying our product here saves you money. Youdon’thavetoleavetobuyqualityartificialfreehor-moneproducts.Theyarerighthere.Plus,becauseweareproducingandsellingitinthesamelocationwecanpassthosesavingsontoyou,”saidBeilke. Sauk Centre has been a home to Pride of MainStreet Dairy since the city was young. This is thedairycompanythatcreatedcitywideeventslikePan-cakeDaysandofferedfreeDixiecupsfilledwithhighquality icecreamduring thecarnival.Today, item-ploys23employeesanddonatestolocalbenefitdin-nersandschoolevents. It isaSaukCentreoriginalcompanyandisanimportantelementinthehistoryandfutureofthecity. “Wearehereinyourtownandneighborhood,”saidBeilke. “We are producing high quality dairy prod-uctsthatweareproudof.Communitysupportissoimportant.Weurgemorepeople tobuy local.Thiswillkeepourcommunitystrong.”

In an economy struggling to offer employment in small communities, Pride of Main Street Dairy provides Sauk Centre a good place to work.

214 Main Street South, Sauk Centre320-351-8300

Co-packing is an important aspect to Pride of Main Street Dairy. They have recently begun pro-duction of tea products.

Plant Manager Sharon Quistorff and Office Manager Joan Beilke, are proud to offer their products to the public at their on-site retail store.

Pride of Main Street’s Retail Outlet Store is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.


1320 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN320.351.2227

HOURS: Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm; Sat 9 am - Noon

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT & FEED •PET SUPPLIES •WILD BIRD SUPPLIES •AND MORE

by KERRY DRAGERPeach Contributor

Sauk Centre Country Store understands that running a farm is stressful and hard work, but obtaining the goods you need to maintain your assets shouldn’t be. It strives to make your shop-ping experience as comfortable and easy as pos-sible. The humble Country Store has always called Sauk Centre home. The business opened in 1996 but has made some changes over the years. In October 2010, it became a part of the Centra Sota family. It is one of 13 company locations throughout Minnesota, making it a part of a strong cooperation. As business in Sauk Centre grew, a need for a warehouse and a larger store became a real-ity. They moved to their current location in 2006. The original Sauk Centre Country Store directed most of its business to the local dairy farmers. Today, the new space has allowed the company to cater to a wide array of customers. “Since we’ve moved to this location, we’ve been

able to expand on companion animal goods, like pet food and toys. We have more animal health supplies available, and a big warehouse allows us to keep more product and selection on hand. It improved the way we do business,” said Assistant Store Manager Kate Stalboerger. Being a small town store that works closely with their farmers allows them to become an ac-tive part of their community. The Sauk Centre Country Store understands the importance of involvement with their individual customers and keeping their community healthy and strong. The business regularly donates to the Isaac’s Foundation, Holy Family Shelter, Pheasants Forever and Sauk River Phantom Bucks. In hon-or of their agricultural roots, the business has played an active part in cattle seminars and 4-H programs. Last year, it purchased a sheep from a youth in the Stearns County 4-H program for $1,400, making for one happy future rancher. “What I really like is that I get to know my cus-tomers by name. These customers have turned into my friends,” said Stalboerger. Such a tight knit community has allowed the Sauk Centre Country Store to develop superior customer service. They are laidback, friendly, knowledgeable and hands-on. Their produce is high quality, fresh and varied. “Our staff is trained on the product, not just trained to sell it. If we don’t have the answer, we have a large network of people that can be called to answer any question you may have. You can’t get customer service like that anywhere else,” said Stalboerger. Where can a novice go to discover that her six-month-old calf should no longer be on milk replacer? Sauk Centre Country Store has nutri-tionists on hand to assist even the most inexperi-

enced with their livestock needs. “We have a wide range of nutritionists. We are successful because of them,” said Stalboerger. Having such great service and product, while providing the personal touch for every customer, allows this little business to keep growing even when times are tough in the agriculture business. It says a lot about a company when they not only care about their personal profi ts, but the profi ts and success of their customers and the commu-nity that they call home.

The Sauk Centre Country Store located at 1320 Sinclair Lewis Avenue, has a wide selection of companion pet foods and toys,

wild bird seed and accessories and carries all your livestock nutrition and health needs.

The Sauk Centre Country Store has helpful, friendly staffto help with all your livestock and companion pet needs. Front Row (from left): Greg Klasen and Kate Stalboerger

Back Row: Arlan Schroeder and Mike Denny

The Sauk Centre Country Store provides a personal touch for every customer


Stoen’s Hydrostatic Service began in 1991 at the home shop. Jeff Stoen worked out of the small shop for 10 years, estab-lishing a reputation for repairing anything fl uid power driven. The business quickly outgrew the limited space. In 2001, Stoen’s Hydrostatic built the present shop “on top of the hill.” Located in Glenwood, Minn., the business is known nationwide for hydraulic and hydrostatic repair. In 2010, they expanded the shop, making the facility over 10,000 square feet. The shop houses fi ve rebuilding stations, test stand, machining and welding area, and hose making section. “Repairing pumps for water well drill-ing as far away as Haiti is one of the many requests we have served over the years. Whether we are designing hydraulic sys-tems to operate weed choppers used in the Everglades or repairing skid loaders for our local dairies to designing and install-ing wet kits on water trucks used in North Dakota oil fi elds — every customer is im-portant to us,” says Stoen. The mainstay of the business is rebuild-ing hydrostatic transmissions, drive mo-tors, and hydraulic pumps and motors. They rebuild hydraulic cylinders from the smallest application to telescopic cylinders for trucks and construction equipment. No job is too big or too small for their technicians. Rebuilt units are available to exchange for many applications, keeping costly down time to a minimum. “We strive to provide quality service as quickly and cost effi ciently as possible,” says Stoen. Hoses, from 1/4-inch to 2-inches in stan-dard and metric, are a big part of their business. They carry hose and ends for

most applications, including high temp and high pressure. Stoen’s has one of the larg-est fi tting inventories in the Midwest. They also have assorted belts, bearings, pulleys and sprockets for your convenience. Next day delivery is available for most parts if they do not have it in stock. “In the last few years, we have begun handling attachments for skid loaders, in-cluding the quick attach plate, snowblow-ers, buckets, pallet forks, post hole auger, and wood splitters,” says Stoen. “Attach-ments are for sale or rent, along with as-sorted skid loaders and excavators for your do-it-yourself projects.” Stoen’s Hydrostatic employs three cer-tifi ed technicians: Jeremy Moen, Garrett Steiner and Jason Plotz. Derek Klimek works part-time around his school sched-ule. Jeff Stoen, owner, and Iris Scott, offi ce manager, round out the team. With over 50 years combined experience, they are ready to serve your needs. “Your Problem is No Problem” at Stoen’s Hydrostatic.

16084 State Hwy 29, Glenwood, MN

320-634-4360 • www.stoens.com

The company is known nationwide for hydraulic and hydrostatic repair

No job is too big or too small at Stoen’s Hydrostatic Service

“Your Problem is No Problem”

at Stoen’s Hydrostatic

Front Row (from left): Derek Klimek, Jeff Stoen, Garrett Steiner & Iris Scott. Back Row: Jeremy Moen, Jason Plotz


For the past six years, Ace Hardware has received the best of service rating from J.D. Powers and Asso-ciates, a company which rates major hardware stores for customer service. The Sauk Centre store opened in January 2009 and has always strived for customer service. It is one of two Ace Hardware stores owned by Coborn’s. “We pride ourselves with being knowledgeable with almost everything we carry. If not, we will fi nd the answer,” said General Manager Dave Sobotka. From “A” to “Z”, Ace Hardware in Sauk Cen-tre is a fully stocked hardware store and car-ries appliances, lawn and garden supplies and has brands such as Craftsman, Stihl, Speed Queen and Daewoo. Also under consideration is an expansion in the line of appliances. The location offers in-house repairs on small en-gines, factory warranty work on Craftsman and Stihl products, and window and screen repair. It has key duplication abilities and sharpens knives, scissors, lawn mower blades and chainsaw chains. The store also delivers larger items (such as appliances, snow blowers, etc.) without a charge and takes away the old items for free. Ace Hardware participates in a Mystery Shopper program. Twice a month an unknown shopper comes into the store and grades them on 25 different items such as cleanliness, service, friendliness, etc. They are the only Ace Hardware in the state to achieve a 100 percent rating nine times. Their average is 97 percent. These numbers indicate the caliber of employees Ace has.

Ace Hardware is not a franchise but instead it is considered a co-op. There are 4,400 Ace Hardware stores nationwide, and each store is independently owned. The store has nine employees. General Manager Dave Sobotka said, “One of our best selling products is our paint. Clark & Kensington paint is top quality, and our customers just love it.” The facility is 10,000 square feet and includes sev-eral specialty sections. The Battery Place carries batteries for just about anything: from cars, motorcycles, cell phones, watch-es, hearing aids to specialty items. It has a large variety of bird supplies including spe-cialty feeds, houses, feeders and baths. They also carry lawn and garden ornaments. A large rental department is on site. Rented by the hour or day are summer items for the yard, a brush cutter, power rakes, power edgers, cement mixer, vari-ous sanders, one-man post hole digger, fl oor sham-pooer, Host® Dry carpet cleaning system and more. Sobotka, who attends the Faith Baptist Church in Long Prairie, is a pulpit supply speaker for other churches and a support member of the 5th Marine Regiment in Dana Point, Calif., said, “We offer an ex-tensive line for the fi sherman, both for summer and the winter. We also carry parts and supplies for RVs.” Sobotka also has a son-in-law, Jeremy Martinez, a 15-year Marine, who has returned from Afghanistan and will be a recruiter for the U.S. Marines in Fuller-ton, Calif. “Since the store opened, we have adjusted our in-ventory to suit the needs of the people in Sauk Cen-tre and the surrounding community. We are proud to serve the Sauk Centre community and take pride in our employees’ knowledge and dedication to our cus-tomers,” said Sobotka. The store is located at 226 12th Street, right next to Coborn’s Superstore. Its hours are Mon-day through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s the ideal place to go for outstanding products and exceptional service

Ace Hardware receives best of service rating for customer service

The helpful place. Get In, Get Help, And Get On With Your Life!

226 12th Street ~ Next to Coborn’s SAUK CENTRE • 320-352-0309

The wide variety of paint serves as a background to Ace Service Representative Gary Schultz.

Jackie Middendorf with the

Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill.

Starting At$299.95 Mini

to$999.00 X-Large

We carryBig Green Egg natural lump charcoal &

accessories.Sharpening chainsaw chains are one of Ace Ser-vice Representative Derek Uhlenkamp’s duties.

Host® Dry Cleaning Service•All Natural •Safe for People & Pets

Assistant Manager Marilyn Schroeder withClark & Kensington Paint Associate “Leon”.

Several times a year Clark & Kensington offersa FREE 1 quart paint promotion.

Clark & Kensington is rated #1 in a leadingconsumer magazine.

Discontinued,Damaged, Overstock Inventory

At Reduced Prices.NEW INVENTORY ADDED WEEKLY!


The pictures tell the story of MBC Drainage LLC. Overhead shots of a rectangular manure lagoon. A feedlot with a runoff pad which fi lters out all the sediment from the water before it runs into a ditch and surrounding fi elds. A big tile drainage plow laying down tile to drain a wet fi eld. A deteriorating dam near Grove Lake replaced and a parking lot for boat owners installed. “We are in the drainage and land improvement busi-ness,” explains Dave Bailey, co-owner of MBC Drainage, located in Sauk Centre. The other owners are broth-ers Jason and Howard Marthaler and Karl Larson. Each partner has his specialty. One or more of the owners is on the work site nearly all the time. A job such as draining a wet fi eld begins by sur-veying the land with a laser, which is usually Dave’s

job. Next, an owner-operated tile drainage plow, which they refer to as the heart and soul of the busi-ness, lays down rows of fl exible perforated tile three feet underground, 40 to 60 feet apart. These are all

tracked with a GPS system and marked on a map so that they can be found if more tile is needed later. “This dries out the ground and gives a little longer grow-ing season,” Howard said. “The perfect growing condi-tions are one-third air, wa-ter, and soil. When you have wet ground you don’t grow a

healthy plant.” Jason explains how the company fi ltered a feed lot by removing trees, leveling a 1000-foot area leading from the feedlot, and creating a row of dams out of small rocks, similar to landscaping rock. “It dams up the water so the sediment has no choice but to

settle out,” he says. “The water runs through all six dams. When it’s done, this area will have foot-tall grass.” Another project lined a gully with nylon fabric and turned cement blocks on end in a bed of sand to produce a runoff chute to slow down erosion. “Everything you see upstream drains through a 60 foot wide waterway,” Jason says. “The blocks will eventually fi ll with sediment and grow up with grass and that in turn will slow the water down. In the old days, the gully would have been fi lled with rocks.” “It’s all about clean water,” says Dave, who started on his own over 35 years ago. He and four other farmers incorporated as MBC Drainage, Inc. in 1975, and a year later Karl

became an employee. Howard and Jason joined in the 1990’s. The four became partners in 2004 when the company became MBC Drainage, LLC. “The group of us has a combined work experi-ence of over 100 years,” Dave says proudly. They plan on being in business for a long time, as more pollution control regulations go into effect and the public becomes increasingly aware of water quality problems. Dave says, “With over 2,500 feed lots in Stearns County, there will be many more ag-waste systems installed in the future.”

MBC DRAINAGE, LLC

Over 100 years of experience assures you of a quality job every time!

Karl Larson, Howard Marthaler, Jason Marthaler, and Dave Bailey of

MBC Drainage have a combined work experience of over 100 years.

Photo by Randy Larson, www.candadcamera.com Photo by Randy Larson, www.candadcamera.com

MBC DRAINAGE, LLC

Dave 320-352-6961Jason 320-249-6062

Howard 320-250-2984Karl 320-808-8012

Pictured on left: This drainage ditch is one of the many projects MBC Drainage has worked

on over the past 35 years.

Pictured on right: MBC Drainage uses an owner-operated tile plow to lay down drainage tile.

“We are in the land improvement business. We do farm drainage, ag waste

systems, site work for farm buildings, silage pads, as well as miscellaneous work.

We also do county, township, watershed and soil conservation work.”

-Dave Bailey, Co-Owner of MBC Drainage, Sauk Centre

43965 450th Street, Sauk Centre


In 1901, 10 years after Freeport’s founding, George Uhlenkott — grain shipper, land owner and highlyesteemed farmer — founded a private bank. His son Herman took it over in 1908 and along with brother Simon, incorporated as the Uhlenkott State Bank. New owners in 1912 changed the name to Freeport State Bank. They built a new building in 1922, still the bank’s headquarters today. In December 1926, rival Farmer’s State Bank merged with Freeport State Bank to form one sol-id and sole fi nancial resource for the community. In 1959, Virgil (VJ) Hemker, who had joined the bank as a bookkeeper 18 years earlier, bought con-trolling interest in the bank. In 1978, a branch opened in New Munich. VJ’s son Jim purchased the bank in 1983 when his father retired and today serves as its president. Another branch opened in Melrose in 1999 and most recently a branch was established in Greenwald. Since it was founded 105 years ago, Freeport State Bank has been committed to personal service and community involvement. In addition to the tradition-al banking services provided throughout the years, Freeport State Bank has supported the community with donations to the area churches, parochial and public schools and civic organizations. Local towns have been part of Freeport State Bank’s Community Partnership Program with do-nations towards the Senior Center, City Hall, High School Musicals, School Papers, Scholarships, Com-munity Center, Tornado Siren, Fire Departments, Healthcare, Town Message Centers, Scoreboards, Black Sox Park, and the Message Center at Melrose Area Public Schools. Freeport State Bank also gets involved by spon-soring recreational teams such as softball, baseball,

volleyball and bowling for youth and adults. Services provided by Freeport State Bank include debit and credit cards, ATMs in seven locations, Internet banking, QWIK ACCESS, direct deposit, bank by mail, cashier’s checks, telephone and wire transfer, notary service, night depository, and much more. Freeport State Bank works to meet the needs of everyone in the community, and the “Young at Heart Club” gives customers age 55 and older opportuni-ties to save and socialize with monthly meetings and out-of-town trips. Children are recognized as im-portant customers at Freeport State Bank. Through the bank’s “Smart Saver’s Club” children up to age 16 can start their own special account. They earn a great rate, monthly incentives to save, a birthday treat and an annual movie outing. The “Christmas Savers Club” is a year-long savings plan for Christmas that you can start anytime. Every October, you will receive a check for the full amount you have saved, plus inter-est — just in time to buy those Christmas gifts. While others speak of strength and stability, Free-port State Bank lives them. For 105 years, it has been serving the people of Freeport and the surrounding communities with sound, trusted banking services. Freeport State Bank offers a variety of loans such as real estate loans, home equity loans, agricultural loans (FSA), business loans (SBA), new and used car loans, recreational loans and any other types of per-sonal loans. No matter what your need, their local and personal staff will provide quality services and the respect and attention their customers deserve. To celebrate Freeport State Bank’s 105th Anniver-sary, join them on Friday, March 22, 2013, for coffee and cookies at all locations.

4 Locations To Serve All Your Financial Needs!

Freeport (320) 836-2126 • (800) 252-9856New Munich (320) 837-5297 • (320) 256-7342Melrose (320) 256-7208 • (800) 337-0292Greenwald (320) 987-2265 • (800) 337-0292

www. freeportstatebank.comMember

Freeport State Bank is Celebrating Its 105th Anniversary

New Munich Branch 601 Main Street

Melrose Branch 219 East Main Street

Greenwald Branch 450 1st Ave North

“Customer ServiceIs Our Priority”

Freeport State Bank 111 Main Street East

For 105 Years They Have Served Their Customers With Sound, Trusted Banking Services

Join Us For COFFEE & COOKIESFriday, March 22, 2013

At All Locations

105th Anniversary Customer

CelebrationFreeport • New Munich • Melrose • Greenwald


BENUSAAPPLIANCES SALES SERVICE

Benusa Appliance offers variety, prompt service and knowledgeable staff at new Sauk Centre location

By BOB HAREPeach Contributor

Benusa Appliances, already a well-known business in St. Cloud, is making a name for itself in the Sauk Centre area as well. Benusa opened its new store at 711 Beltline Drive in southwest Sauk Centre in May 2012. “The larger portion of our business has always been contract sales, or project sales,” says Jeff Seifert, part owner and general man-ager for Benusa Appliances. Now with new stores having recently opened in Paynesville and Bemidji, as well as Sauk Centre, they are looking more to the retail market. At Benusa, they feel that with their prompt service, knowledgeable staff, customer rela-tions, and factory direct pricing, they can compare favorably with the big box stores. With Benusa you don’t call an 800 number for servicing or wait a week or two until a technician is in your area. “We answer your call and we get there the next day, within two days for sure,” Jeff said. “Most of our business is sales,” Jeff said, “but sales complement service and service complements sales.” Jeff said, “It is easy to sell product when you have [a] service depart-ment to back up your sales.” One part of moving to the Sauk Centre store that has made expansion easier and less costly is that it can use the St. Cloud store as a hub. Delivery, service and warehouse stor-age is handled at the main location, helping keep overhead down at the new store.

Furthermore, “we like to package together popular appliances,” Jeff said, “so that we can offer you a better price.” Benusa, due to its purchasing power, is able to keep costs down, and offers a wide range of appliances including over 16 major brands, such as Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and Kitchen Aid. In addition, they travel over a wide area for in-home service, as far out as the Alexandria lakes, Longville, Browerville, Willmar and Brooten. They also welcome phone calls from cus-tomers looking for advice or tips on how to repair their appliances, and they sell parts for repairs. Jeff did note that people should turn off the power to any appliance they are work-ing on, and appliances, such as a microwave that retain power when turned off, should be left to professionals. Benusa will be holding a parking lot sale at the St. Cloud store at the end of April, and should be grilling on its 1500 btu Holland gas grill and its Green Egg smoker/grill. The green egg is a Japanese Kamado grill that has a 3/4-inch thick ceramic covering that you can grill on, or slow cook on for 8-10 hours. “It’s a ceramic grill that keeps moisture in food,” Jeff says. “If you’ve never had food off a green egg you need to come in and sample some when we’re grilling.” Also, Terri Ritter, who is just starting as the new store manager in Sauk Centre, will have a booth at Sauk Centre Ladies Night Out, so drop by and welcome Terri to Sauk Centre.

Expansion of new stores allows Benusa to provide faster delivery and service

Sauk Centre 320.351.5000St. Cloud 320.252.2314 • Paynesville 320.243.4706

Toll Free 800.275.2314Open Monday 8am-8pm, Tuesday thru Friday 8am-5pm & Saturday 9am-2pm

711 Beltline Road, Sauk Centre Locations also at 707 Hwy. 55 East in Paynesville •& 2525 Co. Rd. 74 in St. Cloud

Jeff Seifert, part owner and general manager for Benusa Appliances, fi nds it easier to sell their products because they have a service de-partment to back up their sales.

Dwight Kaiser, salesman at the Sauk Centre Benusa Appliance location, welcomes phone calls from customers looking for advice or tips on how to repair their appliances. They also have parts available in stock for repairs.


3019 Division Street, St. Cloud • 320.251.4943 • 800.635.6983www.gillelandchevrolet.com

Gilleland attains GM Business Elite status, catersto both commercial and personal customers


Gilleland Chevrolet has been a fixture in CentralMinnesota for26years.Now ithasbecomeoneofthefew(8atlastcount)dealershipsinMinnesotatohaveattainedGMBusinessElitestatus. “Gilleland has always had a fleet/commercial de-partment,” says Dawn Gustin, the commercial fleetmanager.Now,however,asnewcarmanagerMichelle

Widmanadds,“Dealershavetomeetcertainrequirements tobeaBusinessElitedealer.”

“Dawnhastobecertifiedandgo through training,” Michellesaid. “Our managers and salesrepsarerequiredtogotocertaintraining.”

Inaddition,Dawnsaid,“Wehave Business Elite certifiedtechnicians.”

Thesearebutafewofthere-quirementsGillelandhashadtomeettohaveitscommercialfleetbecomeapartofGMBusinessElite.Italsohastoprovidebusi-

ness customers with round-the-clock towing, havereliableloanercarsavailable,meetbusinessfinancingstandards, has to have certain vehicles available forcommercialfleetsandprovidepriorityservice. Inanutshell, ithas toprovideareliablecommit-menttobusinessfinancing,qualityandservicetoitsbusiness customers, beyond what is expected frommostotherdealers.

They will work with farmers, contractors, policeandfire,aswellasanyprofessional serviceneedingfromoneto300vehicles. Dawn and Michelle provide helpful and friendlyassistancetobothcommercialandpersonalcustom-ers.Theypointoutthatthenew2014SilveradosandImpalaswillbeoutthisJune. Furthermore,onedoesn’thavetonegotiateapriceatGilleland.“We’reaonepricestore,”saysMichelle. Instead,theyprovidetheirbestpriceupfront,“Ourpricingisveryaggressive,”saidDawn.Theyalsooffercouponsonoccasion,suchastheoneincludedhere. Theyalsohaveaconsistentpolicyontrade-ins.Nomatterwhatcaryouarelookingat,theywillgiveyouthe actual cash value of your trade-in, even if youchoosenottobuyacarfromthem. Infact,MichelleandDawnrelatedthestoryofoneladywhohadhercartowedtheretotradeitin,and,aftertheylookedatit,theyaccepteditintrade.DawnandMichellelaughedastheyrelatedthisstory,exem-plifyingoneofthebestreasonstoshopatGillelandChevrolet:therelaxedfriendlyatmosphere. So whether you are looking for a new or usedvehicle,Gillelandemployeesaregoingtoworkwithyoutofindacarthatisrightforyou.Youdonotstayinbusiness foras longas theyhavewithouthavingdevelopedagoodreputationandloyalcustomers. Moreover, Gilleland has a staff of certified tech-nicians,agoodservicereputationandanA+ratingfromtheBetterBusinessBureau.ItisnowalsooneofonlyafewdealershipstohaveearnedGMBusi-nessElitestatus. Shopping foracarcanbestressful, so if youarelookingforamorepositiveexperience,whetheryou

arelookingforanewcaroranewfleet,comeseeMi-chelleandDawnatGillelandChevroletconvenientlylocatedat3019DivisionStreetinSt.Cloud.Theywillbehappytoserveyou.

Dawn Gustin, Commercial

Fleet Manager at Gilleland Chevrolet

Gilleland Chevrolet has attained GM Business Elite status and has one of the largest selection of work-ready vehicles in the area. Providing a reliable commitment to business financing, quality and service to their business customers, Gilleland works above and beyond what is expected from most other dealers.

The Purchase Of A New Vehicle!

COUPON

$500 OFF3019 Division Street, St. Cloud320.251.4943 • 800.635.6983

www.gillelandchevrolet.com

Hurry In! Coupon expires May 31, 2013. Not compatible with any other special offers.


Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center (AAHMC) de-livers quality health care services to the people of Albany, Avon, Holdingford, Freeport and the surrounding areas. The organization includes the hospital, a medical center in Al-bany, and a satellite clinic in Avon. AAHMC is one of the largest employers in Albany with 92 employees and is part of Unity Family Healthcare in Little Falls, Minn. Unity Family Healthcare is owned by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). CHI is a national non-profi t health organization with headquarters in Englewood, Colo. The faith-based system operates in 17 states and includes 78 hospitals; 40 long-term care, and residential-living facilities; two community health-services organizations; two accredited nursing colleges; and home health agencies. CHI facilities are located in both rural and urban communities and each year provides millions of dollars in charity care and community benefi t, including ser-vices for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With approximately 83,000 employees, CHI ranks as the nation’s second-largest faith-based health system and has a deep-rooted commitment to rural health care.

MEDICAL STAFF AAHMC offers a host of primary care, urgent care and emergency care services through its medical staff. •Dr. Daron Gersch, board-certifi ed in Family Medicine •Dr. Nathan Brever, board-certifi ed in Family Medicine •Dr. Libby Brever, board-certifi ed in Family Medicine •Charlene Gerner, RN, PA-C, special interests: family medicine and women’s health •Teresa Hamiel, PA-C, special interest: family medicine •Eric Fly, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care •Esther Doele, CFNP, emergency medicine and urgent care •Dan Rickard, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care •Josh Arickx, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care

URGENT CARE AAHMC provides extended hours for acute illnesses and injuries to better serve our patients. The urgent care service is available from 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. Urgent care allows increased access to our providers for annual physicals, well-baby and well-child check-ups, and the time needed to manage the care of each patient as well as to establish new patients. Urgent care provides immediate care for acute, non-life threatening illness and injury and is a critical component of our health system. Some symptoms appropriate for urgent care include: upper respiratory infections, urinary tract in-fections, minor burns, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, acute sprains and strains. Cooperation between patients, their pri-mary care providers, our emergency department and our ur-gent care team creates a network of care options that puts the patient in the right hands for the right level of care at the right time.

COUMADIN CLINIC The Coumadin Clinic helps patients monitor and manage the medication they take to prevent blood clots. Clinic hours

are Monday through Thursday mornings. Providers have es-tablished guidelines for a registered nurse to check patients’ blood and adjust their dose of warfarin (Coumadin), as well as other medications patients may be taking or need (such as heparin shots or vitamin K, the antidote to Coumadin).

DIABETES HEALTH COACH The Diabetes Health Coach method is a person-centered approach to wellness, not just disease management. When you visit the health coach, the certifi ed diabetes educator will get to know you as a person and work with you to create a personalized wellness plan that educates, motivates and em-powers you. It is designed to help you fi nd the tools within yourself to make positive changes in your behavior and life-styles. Coaching appointments are Monday through Thurs-day afternoons.

FOUNDATION The mission of Albany Area Healthcare’s Foundation is to raise funds needed for the continued improvement of the services and facilities in order to serve the needs of patients in our service area. Through donations from families, individu-als and organizations, the foundation builds partnerships be-tween the area communities and AAHMC to improve area health. Currently the foundation is working on raising funds for a digital mammography unit.

SWING BED PROGRAM Albany Area Hospital also offers a swing bed program. The transition to swing bed is after a three-day hospital stay and includes skilled nursing, physical or occupational therapy, medication administration, as well as a weekly visit by the patient’s attending provider. Patients in the swing bed program can be transitioned to AAHMC from any health care facility. A requirement is that the patient is actively par-ticipating in making progress towards established goals. The swing bed program allows our area residents to be close to home while patients maintain or return to their highest level of independence. The swing bed program offers rehab services to allow pa-tients to “come back home” near their family and friends while they recover from major illness or surgery. By receiv-ing services locally, patients can maintain ongoing contact with their friends and loves ones. The low staff-to-patient ratio provides for more personal contact during the recovery process. Our therapy staff is highly qualifi ed and has a great reputation for delivering rehab services in a positive caring

manner, focused solely on making patients well.

HOSPITAL & CLINIC SERVICES The hospital and emergency department are open 24 hours a day. The emergency room is staffed with an on-call provider and trained registered nurses. Licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, imaging and lab technologists and technicians are also available 24 hours, 7 days a week. In keeping with the commitment to provide exceptional and up-to-date patient care, Albany Area Hospital installed a bone density machine. A bone density (DEXA) exam is the most accurate way to test for bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. In addition to inpatient medical and surgical services, AAHMC continues to expand its surgery and outreach spe-cialty services. Surgeries are performed on both outpatient and inpatient basis. General, orthopedic, ophthalmology, and urology surgeries are performed by surgeons from Little Falls and St. Cloud. Outreach specialty services include or-thopedics, cardiology, stress testing, podiatry, urology, inter-nal medicine, gastroenterology, MRI, mammography, and nuclear medicine. Physical, occupational and speech thera-pies are performed by the AAHMC staff. COMMUNITY HEALTH The staff is active in sharing information on health care careers through high school students. Tours are given to kin-dergarten students and human anatomy classes as well as education presentations to students in the area schools. AAHMC has also collaborated with Dr. David Kroska to offer the LIFE (Lifestyle, Food & Exercise) program. LIFE program participants learn how many chronic diseases, in-cluding heart disease and cancer, are frequently associated with unhealthy food choices and a lack of physical activity. The eight-week educational program consists of two-hour seminars each week. Sessions provide extensive education on diet, exercise and nutrition, as well as practical and behav-ioral aspects of healthy living. The fi nal session covers menu planning and food preparation tips. These sessions are held twice a year. The administration and the Advisory Board of Directors of the Albany Area Hospital and Medical Center are contin-uously developing strategies and looking for opportunities to enhance the services offered locally. For more information about any of the programs or services provided by the Al-bany Area Hospital & Medical Center, visit our website at www.albanyareahospital.com or call (320) 845-2121.

Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center iscommitted to providing quality rural health care

Albany Area Hospital 300 Third Ave., Albany • 320-845-2121

Albany Medical Center 320 Third Ave., Albany • 320-845-2157

Avon Medical Clinic 108 Stratford St. W., Avon • 320-356-7602www.albanyareahospital.com



Jim Mergen and Dave Mareck founded AMPS Inc. in 1991 with one goal in mind. “When Dave and I took over in 91, that’s the one thing that we said,” Jim said, “that we want service to come fi rst.” Today service is still the backbone of their business. “What’s driving the appliance sales is the service that we have,” Jims says. Indeed, most of their business comes from word of mouth, referrals and repeat busi-ness. Most of their motor work comes from the farm-ing community. “We work on electric motors, battery chargers, electric fencers. Pretty much anything with an electric motor in it, I’ve worked on already,” says Jim. Although normally the motors are brought to the shop, sometimes they go to the motors. In Jan-uary, Jim climbed a silo to work on a motor there. Although he descended safely, he then slipped on a patch of ice and broke his ankle. He hopes to be back to climbing silos again as soon as he is able. AMPS stands for Appliances, Motors, Parts and Service. Jim and Dave, though, do more than just

work with appliances and motors. They also sell and service generators, install and service Dish Satellite Network and Direct TV, and are an authorized Radio Shack dealer. “We do sell all the Radio Shack products from your car stereos, speakers, home theatre systems, TVs, your connectors for all those things, computers, computer networking components,” Jim said, “pretty much a full Radio Shack store.” AMPS used to be located on Railroad Avenue in downtown Albany; however, they have just moved on March 1 to the south side of the freeway, to 105 County Road 10, just after the road turns past NAPA. “We were looking for some place with a bigger showroom, more convenient shop area .... something on one level,” Jim said. In their new, more spacious showroom there is a large variety of appliances. Whirlpool, Maytag, Kitchen Aid, Frigidaire, Crosley and Danby are among the more common brands. They also can provide authorized warranty service on all the appli-ances they sell. Besides new sales, they offer quality used sales. “We do take trade-ins ... have used machines, used motors, (when available),” says Jim. They will only sell used appliances and motors, however, when they are in re-liable condition. “I don’t want it to come back in a month or two,” said Jim, “I want it to last.” In addition, they have a full-time technician to provide on-site repair and service for appliances, and they are willing to help people who call with ques-tions. “If you can give us a call, we will help ... get their products in working order,” Jim offers. Jim and Dave are always willing to go that extra mile to provide better service. Dave tells the story of a customer who wanted his freezer in the basement even if it meant removing the door frame. Dave, with the customers help, removed the door frame, took the lid off the freezer, and fi nally, they were able to squeeze it through the opening. Dave and the customer were pleased; however, Dave muses, “the next guy that’s got to take it out is probably go-ing to be upset!” AMPS Inc. is a little harder to fi nd now that they are no longer on the main drag, yet they have shown

for the last 22 years that, if you want superior service, they are worth looking for. So, come and check them out at their new location. Jim and Dave and their staff will be happy to serve you.

When Jim Mergen (left) and Dave Mareck founded AMPS in 1991, they wanted service to be the backbone of their business. Years later, their Appliances, Motors, Parts and Service busi-ness is still going strong.

AMPS Inc. continues providing superior customer service along with quality products at its new location

AMPS Inc. moved to their new location off County Road 10 in Albany on March 1. Their new showroom is more spacious and their shop area is now all on one level, making it more convenient to provide superior sales and service.

Jim Mergen stands in the shop area at AMPS where they repair appliances, electric motors and more. Although most items are brought into the shop, they do go on service calls to their cus-tomer’s home or business.

DEALERAMPS, INC.AMPS, INC.360 RR Avenue, Albany, MN • 320-845-4690 • www.ampsrs.com


The Dairyland Peach, owned by ECM Publish-ers, Inc., is one of Minnesota’s earliest shoppers. Started in 1967 by Dennis McCoy and his brother Joe, it was originally printed on peach colored pa-per and served the heart of Minnesota’s dairyland; hence, the name Dairyland Peach. In 1969, Dennis and Joe McCoy’s brother, Brian, joined the business. The Dairyland Peach moved to its current location in the Oak Street Mini Mall in 1980. The brothers also sold the business that year to Mark and Jeanette An-derson, who successfully ran it for 14 years. TheAndersons sold the business in 1994 to itscurrent owner, ECM Publishers, Inc.

Brian McCoy served as general manageruntil 2010 when he semi-retired. He continues to work in sales. Tom West, an ECM regional man-ager, now oversees the Dairyland Peach.

The Dairyland Peach is published every Mon-day with complete coverage of approximately 27,000 homes and businesses. Thousands of read-ers have found that the Dairyland Peach is the most dependable weekly advertising source for high quality products and low prices, including groceries, merchandise, vehicles, real estate, equip-ment, electronics and more. It is also the go-to source for auctions, employment opportunities, sales and services. Over the past year, the Peach has added news about your friends and neighbors, including obitu-aries, features on farm families and stories about interesting people in your community. A weekly recipe column was also added to provide timely ideas for cooking at home or entertaining. To go along with the changes in the print edi-tion of the Dairyland Peach, the Web site (www.dairylandpeach.com) was also expanded and a Facebook page created. Readers can now go on-line, read the Peach and articles, and share with their family and friends via social media the same interesting news, recipes, opinions and feature sto-ries printed in the paper. The Peach also publishes obituaries daily on the Web site, which are then printed at no charge in the print edition of the Peach. The Dairyland Peach offers a full line of ser-vices from display ads to inserts that are available in black and white, spot color or full color. Its trained, experienced and talented staff designs the ads in the paper along with offering graphic de-sign and typesetting services for inserts, brochures,

posters, business forms, letterheads and more. The Dairyland Peach is unique from other shop-pers in that it offers free want ads. An individual can place one free four line personal want ad per week, as long as it meets the Dairyland Peach guidelines. In addition to the weekly shopper, theDairyland Peach also publishes the free monthly “Buyers’ Choice Real Estate Guide”. The Buyers’ Choice Real Estate Guide is a great source for buy-ing, building or remodeling a home. Approximate-ly 29,500 copies are published on the fi rst Monday of each month (February through November) and delivered along with the paper to every home in the Dairyland Peach coverage area. Additional copies are available at many retail outlets, real es-tate offi ces and at the Dairyland Peach offi ce. Both the Dairyland Peach and Buyers’ Choice Real Estate Guide are award winning publications.

The Dairyland Peach is a member of the Minne-sota Free Papers Association (MFPA), an organi-zation of approximately 60 free circulation publi-cations. The Peach also has a Community Affairs Coun-cil (CAC) that raises money with various fund-raising activities. $2,042 was raised in 2011 to help local families or organizations and $1,749 in 2012. Through ECM’s grant program where a portion of the company’s earnings at the end of the year are given back to the communities they serve, the Dairyland Peach was able to distribute $4,274 to local organizations in 2011 and $4,657 in 2012. For more information about the Dairyland Peach, contact our offi ce or one of our sales con-sultants — Brian McCoy, Joe McCoy, Sherry Ol-son or Lynnette Ostendorf — and put our award winning design team to work for you.

The Dairyland Peach Staff, Front Row (from left): Beth Claussen, Sharon Arnzen, Sherry Olson, Annette Gruber, Karen Banal and Lynnette Ostendorf. Back Row: Ruth Bertram, Mary Jungers, Linda Kraemer, Brian McCoy, Tom West, Joe McCoy, Delores Jenc and Laura Bromenshenkel

Where BUYERS and SELLERS Meet...The Award Winning

320-352-6569www.dairylandpeach.com

Email: [email protected]

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Oak Street Mini Mall601 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre


Minnesota has some of the best tourist destina-tions in the country with its beautiful north woods and endless lakes. Known for its top notch family resorts, it is the lakes and resorts that reel in the tourists to Central Minnesota. The hospitality in-dustry needs to provide a comfortable place for the Minnesota vacationer to rest, but furnishing the guest rooms with quality furniture can become ex-pensive for the small and independent business. To meet this need, a local family with a combined 35 years experience in the hospitality industry created Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators located in Alexandria, Minn. John Klinkhammer has been in the hotel industry most of his career as a hotel de-veloper and owner. His granddaughter, Robyn Got-vaslee and her husband, Einar Gudjonsson, co-own the business with John. They have been offering new and used hotel furniture to the public since 2009. Upscale hotels that belong to large franchises with brands such as Marriott, Sheraton and Holiday Inn amongst others, are required by company rules to remodel and purchase new furnishings regularly. The existing furnishings and appliances are often times only a few years old. Midwest Hotel Furni-ture Liquidators assesses the value and wear of the product before liquidating the hotels by arranging for the trucking and labor to move the goods. This provides smaller hospitality companies and the public a means of obtaining furniture that is built

to last at a fraction of the cost if purchased new. Midwest Hotel Furni-ture Liquidators purchas-es furniture from across the country through their business partnerships cre-ated over the last several years. They are current-ly liquidating over 500 rooms worth of product in 3 states. Most of that furniture is sold to lo-cal motels and resorts in those states while some is brought to their Alexandria warehouse to sell to the public out of their Hwy. 29 North store. “Over the past fi ve years we have sold or liquidat-ed product from almost every state. We have accom-plished this with the website my husband designed and maintains: www.hotelfurnitureguy.com,” says Gotvaslee. Although they have a national business reach, Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators is still a small town, local business. Unlike large corporations, they are willing to negotiate their prices. They listen to the needs of their customers and are fl exible and willing to seal a deal. “We have been surprised how much furniture we have sold to families and cabin owners that live

around the lakes,” remarks Klinkhammer. “They appre-ciate the stronger upholstery on the chairs and couches and how solid and heavy the nightstands, desks, dressers and tables are.” “Our reputation of being able to actually deliver the quality used hotel furniture that motel and resort cus-tomers require brings us re-peat business. We have had customers drive to our store from as far away as South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and even across the border from Can-ada,” Gotvaslee comments. They have shipped furniture

from their warehouse to motel customers as far away as Florida, Texas and along the east coast. Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators is currently running a special that will run until August 2013 to support the Hartford Breast Cancer Ride. Got-vaslee will be biking approximately 50 miles a day in the two day event and is donating 20 percent of her profi ts from the sofa sleepers and lounge chairsin the store to help benefi t cancer research. A pink ribbon is placed on select items to help raise the money. John, Einar and Robyn are enjoying their adven-ture together. Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquida-tors looks forward to continued growth nationally and locally as they keep building relationships and maintain their reputation of offering quality furni-ture at affordable prices.

915 Hwy. 29 North Alexandria

320-763-5361Open Monday-Friday

10AM-5PM, Saturday 10AM-4PM

•Used & New Quality Furniture•Mattresses

•Decor•Appliances •Furniture•Bedding

Alexandria’s Best Kept Secret!

Alexandria’s best kept secret

Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators sells new and used furniture to the public from their Alexandria store location. Delivery and shipping is available.

A large selection of quality used and new furniture in the showroom is just a sampling of what Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators stores in their warehouse.

Friendly faces: Cindy Holder (store sales), Einar Gudjonsson and Robyn Gotvaslee (co-owners) are available to help with your furniture needs. Call, email or stop in!


ECM Publishers, Inc. is a publishing, printing, digital media and distribution company that operates in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. ECM started in 1976 as the vision of founder Elmer L. Andersen, with the acquisition and consolidation of two com-peting newspapers in Princeton. The company has grown from one paid circulation weekly newspaper and shopper to its current operations which include 51 publications. In December 2011, ECM Publishers, Inc. acquired the Sun Newspapers from American Community Newspapers II, combining two large Minnesota newspaper groups. “The merger of the Sun Group into ECM Publish-ers continues the growth of ECM, combining two strong, well-managed Minnesota media organiza-tions,” said ECM Chief Executive Offi cer Julian An-dersen at the time. “This combination creates oppor-tunity and capability to enhance services provided to both the readers and advertisers, to be active partners in an extended group of Minnesota communities, and to provide many associates the chance to step up to bigger responsibilities.” Most of these newspapers are printed at the com-pany’s Princeton web printing plant. The market in-cludes more than 650,000 homes. Business and individuals wanting to advertise in any of these publications may do so by contacting their Dairyland Peach sales representative. ECM Publishers and ECM-Sun Group LLC em-ploy more than 480 full and part-time associates in four product lines: publications, printing, digital me-dia and distribution. ECM Publishers, Inc. exists to serve and benefi t our customers, associates, shareholders and commu-nities by: •Gathering and communicating information. •Providing superior products and services. •Promoting and maintaining excellence through-out our operations. •Operating honestly, ethically and with respect for all with whom we deal. •Participating actively in community betterment. •Contributing to individual freedom, peace and justice in the world.

ECM Publishers serves over 650,000 homes

For more information or to advertise in any of these publications,contact the Dairyland Peach offi ce at 320-352-6569

Anoka County ShopperWeekly, free-distribution Wednesday publication.

Anoka County UnionPaid-circulation newspaper published Fridays.

Blaine-Spring Lake Park LifeFree distribution community newspaper published Fridays.

Caledonia ArgusPaid weekly subscription newspaper published Wednesdays.

Carver County NewsWeekly community newspaper delivered via mail to paid subscribers every Thursday.

Coon Rapids HeraldWeekly, paid-circulation community newspaper published on Fridays.

Dairyland PeachThe Dairyland Peach is a weekly free-distribution advertising publication that covers three overlapping zones. Distribution area includes the towns of Sauk Centre, Long Prairie, Browerville, Melrose, Albany and Paynesville, as well as the surrounding region.

Dakota County TribuneWeekly business publication mailed free to requestingbusinesses in Dakota County every Thursday.

ECM Post ReviewPaid circulation newspaper published Wednesdays.

Forest Lake TimesWeekly free-distribution newspaper published Thursdays.

Gold MinerWeekly shopping and entertainment guide delivered free via carrier every Saturday, covering the communities of Chaska, Cologne, Delano, St. Bonifacius, Victoria,Waconia, Watertown and Young America.

Isanti County NewsWeekly, full distribution newspaper published Wednesdays.

The LakerWeekly community newspaper delivered free via carrier each Saturday.

Mille Lacs County TimesWeekly newspaper published Wednesdays.

Monticello Times & Great River WeekendWeekly community newspaper delivered via mail each Thursday to paid subscribers. Great River Weekend is delivered free via carrier every weekend.

Morrison County RecordThe Morrison County Record is a weekly newspaper and is delivered by 9 a.m. Sundays.

Norwood Young America TimesWeekly community newspaper delivered via mail to paid subscribers every Thursday,

The PioneerWeekly newspaper delivered free via carrier each Saturday.

Press & NewsMade up of four community newspapers: Osseo Maple Grove Press, Champlin Dayton Press, North Crow River News and South Crow River News plus two weekend editions.

Princeton Union-EagleWeekly community newspaper published each Wednesday.

ScotsmanCovers East Central Minnesota. Published each Sunday from an offi ce in Cambridge. The Scotsman offers zoned coverage that allows advertisers to effectively reach their entire market.

Smart MoneyMonthly, free-distribution, full color shopping publication published the fi rst Wednesday of each month, distributed with the Anoka County Shopper.

Star NewsWeekly, free-distribution community newspaper.

St. Croix Valley PeachFree distribution shopping guide published every Sunday.

Stillwater Gazette & Valley LifeCommunity newspaper carrier delivered to paid subscribers every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The Valley Life weekend edition is carrier delivered free every Saturday.

Sun CurrentWeekly newspaper, delivered free to homes in Edina,Richfi eld, Bloomington and Eden Prairie each Thursday.

Sun FocusWeekly newspaper, carrier delivered free to homesColumbia Heights, Mounds View and New Brightoneach Thursday.

Sun PostWeekly newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, New Hope/GoldenValley and Crystal/Robbinsdale each Thursday.

Sun SailorWeekly newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes in Excelsior/Shorewood, Wayzata, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka each Thursday.

Sun ThisweekWeekly community newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes in AppleValley/Rosemount, Burnsville/Eagan and Farmington/Lakeville each Friday.

Town & Country ShopperWeekly advertising publication distributed Mondays.

Waconia PatriotWeekly community newspaper delivered via mail to paid subscribers every Thursday.

PUBLISHING • PRINTINGDISTRIBUTION


By KERRY DRAGERPeach Contributor

Whatbeganasayoungman’sdeterminationtocleanuphiscityhasbecomeoneofSaukCentre’slargestrecyclingandgarbagedisposalbusinesses.BueckersCitySanitationhasitsrootsinthebackofapickuptruckdrivenbyayoungErvinBueck-ers.IteventuallygrewintoathrivingSaukCentrebusinesswithninegarbagetrucks,agrowingrecy-clingdepartmentand24employees. AsErvinBueckersgrewhisbusiness,hesoldtheSaukCentrelocationtohisbrother,Gene,in2003.InDecember2010,thebusinessreturnedtoErvinafterhisbrotherpassedaway.ItwasimportanttoErvin that his business remained family-ownedandlocallyoperated. “Ervin likes to keep his businesses small townandlocal.Hedidn’twantabigcompanytocomein and take over,” said Operations Manager Me-lissaBueckers. BueckersCitySanitationhandles localdeliveryroutesofhouseholdandbusinesswasteandrecy-

cling.Theyalsoofferlargedumpsterstobedeliv-eredtoandretrieveddirectlyfromthecleanupsite. Their recyclingprocesshaschangedtomake itmore convenient for the customers. Comminglerecycling allows customers to place all their re-cyclablewaste intothebinwithoutseparatingbytype.BueckersCitySanitationhasastate-of-the-artrecyclingfacilitythatwillseparatetherecycla-blesandpreparethemtobesentouttofactoriesthatwillmakenewitemsoutofyesterday’strash.Paper, glass, aluminum cans, certain plastics andcardboardcanberecycledintheirplant. “Whenweswitchedfromcurbsorttocomminglerecycling,wehiredmorepeoplefromthecommu-nitytosortatourfacility.Withcommingle,we’vegottenalotmorerecyclableproductaswell,”saidBueckers. Aside from the growth and flexibility in recy-cling,thecompanyhasalsotakenstepsinreduc-ingitsownwaste.Anewfurnacethatusesrecycledmotoroilwasinstalledintoitsrecyclingplant.Oilisharvestedfromitsequipmentandusedtoheatits facility.Thishelps theenvironmentbycuttingdown on the processing needed when handlingusedmotoroil,anditisrecyclingafossilfuel.Thisalsosavesthebusinessmoney,whichinturnkeepstheirpricescompetitiveforitscustomers. Local clients have always been at the heart ofBueckers City Sanitation’s business motto. Itstrivestomaintainitscommunitywithdonationstothelocalfoodshelvesandchurches.Aluminumcans are collected and the profits are donated totheSaukCentreSchoolDistrict.Duringtheholi-days,BueckersCitySanitationwillpurchase tur-keysandhamsfromlocalgrocersanddonatethemto area radio stations, that then give them awaytothepublic.TheyalsodomostoftheirbusinessdealingswithotherSaukCentrecompanies. “We like to keep our money in the local com-munity.Smalltownbusinessesneedlocalstokeepthemgoing,”saidBueckers. Bueckers City Sanitation was one of the first

wastemanagement companies in thearea. Ithaskeptitssmalltown,localfamilynameandwaysofdoingbusiness.Ithaschangedinbecomingmoreconvenient for thecustomerandenvironmentallyconscious,animportantmoveforatrashremovalbusiness.Theycontinuetoprovidethesamegreatcustomer service, localbusiness support and em-ploymentopportunitiesthatSaukCentrehaswit-nessedsincethefirstBueckersgarbagetruckrolleddowncitystreets.

Bueckers City Sanitation remains committed to customer service even as trash removal business changes

Bueckers City Sanitation handles local delivery routes for household and business waste and recycling.

Commingle recycling has workers sort recycla-bles for the customer at the recycling facility in Sauk Centre.

Melissa Bueckers, Carrie Wiechmann and Pam Nissen (not pictured) understand that a strong business means a friendly smile in the office.

Company owner Ervin Bueckers passed on a strong work ethic to his children. As seen with his son Brian Bueckers, who is happy to help out in the recycling facility.

Owned by Ervin & Bertha Bueckers

www.bcstrash.com

877-352-287639864 South Hwy. 71

Sauk Centre, MN


320-845-2801 • 800-392-3426Service: 320-845-6723

SALES HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 AM-7 PM; Sat. 8 AM-4 PM PARTS HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8 AM-5 PM

www.AlbanyChrysler.com

“We strive to have a good relationship with our custom-ers,” says Bryan Schiffl er, deal-er principal of Albany Chrys-ler Dodge Jeep Ram. Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram bought out another car dealer in downtown Albany in 1997 and built its present facil-ity in 2001. It has always been a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealership, selling cars, trucks and vans in all sizes. “If we don’t have it on the lot, we’ll fi nd it for you,” says Schiffl er. You can fi nd vehicles perched strategically on rock mounds around the area making eye catching advertisements. Their inventory consists of an average of 50 new and 100 pre-owned vehicles for you to choose from

and has over 150,000 parts and accessories on hand. Not to mention an Automated Touch-less Car Wash to keep your ve-hicle looking great! “We have a lot of rivals not only locally but also outside the area,” says Schiffl er. “Car shoppers are willing to travel hundreds of miles to buy a car. Twenty plus years ago, nobody went to St. Cloud to car shop. Today, they don’t think twice about it. We’ve sold vehicles in North Dakota, Wisconsin and Canada. It’s amazing how far people will go to buy a car. We do the best job we can for them.” Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram provides repairs and ser-vice for brakes, cooling sys-tems, transmissions, air condi-

tioning and more. “Our Service Department is second to none. We service all makes and models,” says Schif-fl er. Each of the fi ve technicians has a computer in their service bay along with the latest Wi-Tech adviser to help them with diagnostics. “Diagnostics today can be very complicated, so our train-ing is very extensive,” says Schiffl er. “We send our tech-nicians and service advisers to factory training on average four plus times a year as well as lots of online training. It is not over once they are out of school, because products and technology of these vehicles change so fast.”

Albany Chrysler strives to be the best dealership in the area

Bruce

Service Dept.

Sue Amy

Lisa Jon

Collin Daryl

Bryan Lynn

Sales Staff

Jim Karla

Chad

SERVICE HOURS:Mon.-Fri. 7 AM-6 PM;

Sat. 7 AM-1 PM

business profiles 2013

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