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Contributions of business owners lauded at luncheon

By Caroline Trowbridge - | Jul 2, 2003

The achievements of numerous businesses in Leavenworth County were applauded last week during a luncheon hosted by Leavenworth Area Development.

Tonganoxie’s Himpel Lumber and Building, owned by Charlie and Sheri Ussery, received recognition from the Tonganoxie Chamber of Commerce for expanding its showroom and storage space.

“They are also adding employees and are currently interviewing for a newly created sales position,” said Kevin Gallagher, president of the Tonganoxie Chamber of Commerce.

“The customer base is up, and sales are up.”

In addition, Leavenworth Area Development recognized the work of Overland Park developer Steve Kelly, who owns Highland Ridge Business Park, which is near Stone Creek residential subdivision in Tonganoxie.

The Basehor Chamber of Commerce presented awards to four groups:

  • Kelley’s Grill and Bar, owned by Bill and Diane Buchholz. The restaurant, which opened in 1996, continues to attract many people to Basehor, according to Debbie Bonee, chamber president.
  • Holy Field Vineyard and Winery, owned by Les and Michelle Meyer, which is one of six wineries in Kansas.
  • Dennis and Debbie Breuer, owners of Town Square retail center, for their work making improvements to the center following a fire in December 2001.
  • Basehor Field of Dreams, operated by Basehor Athletic Association, which contributes to the local economy by hosting numerous tournaments and games. “The kids, the parents and the community are really what make this so successful,” Bonee said.

Leavenworth Area Development presented an award to Bonee and her husband, John, their work on Parkway Place business park, which is north of Parallel Road in Basehor.

Other LAD awards for business and industrial parks were given to Deana and Florence Larkin, for J. Larkin Industrial Park, which is south of Gilman Road on 136th Street in Lansing, and Mac and Jeremy Greenamyre for Lansing Business Center, which is north of Gilman Road in Lansing.

And Leavenworth Area Development presented awards to these three companies for making recent significant investments: Hetron Inc., Cubic Defense Applications Group and Studdard Moving and Storage.

The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce also honored: Aldi Inc., Cooper Properties, Abierto Puerto, McDowell’s Restaurant, the Quilters Quarters, Doc’s Deli, Excellent Choice, Marfield’s Smoke House-N-Pub, Sheridan’s Custard and Collateral Services.

In addition, Bill Schulte, executive director of LAD presented the organization’s 2003 Volunteer of the Year award to LAD’s executive committee.

Schulte said committee members stepped up to help operate the organization after the death of executive director Gary Carlson last year.

“And it’s not just because they hired me,” Schulte said.