MISSOURI

Kansas City car dealer Steve Oliver has purchased Rob Sight Mazda and renamed it Steve Oliver Mazda. Oliver sold his Sunflower Automotive Group dealerships in 2005. This deal marks his return into the business.

John Chezik Homerun Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Dec. 8, in part because of a $7.8 million class-action lawsuit ruling in May. The suit filed in 2002 was related to a "100 percent money-back guarantee" that John Chezik Honda in Kansas City offered on vehicle service contracts. 

Inland Truck Parts Co. President David Scheer has received the 2007 AAIA Outstanding Service Award on Jan. 21 for his dedication to the causes and ideals of the industry through volunteer time. Scheer played a role in the industry agreement that brought the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network in as an HDAW sponsor.

Community Wholesale Tire, with warehouses in Kansas City and St. Louis, will be the first distributor for Goodyear Assurance Wiper Blades. Savor Automotive Products Inc., based in Baltimore, received the exclusive license to manufacture the Goodyear Wiper Blades. Saver is introducing two new product lines including the premium Assurance brand flat blade and conventional wiper blades. All sizes are in stock for immediate delivery.

KANSAS

Yuman Auto Salvage and Repair in Kansas City caught fire on Jan. 2. The fire was responsible for $240,000 in damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Ed Bozarth Chevrolet added a Saturn dealership to its location in Topeka. The new facility is about 3,500 square feet. Bozarth purchased the dealership from the Vic Yarrington family in 2006.

CARQUEST opened two locations in Wichita, one on 8080 W. Kellogg, managed by Kim Howard, and another 6801 E Kellogg, managed by Charlie Sawyer. "Our customer base is commercial," Sawyer said. "That's what we specialize in. That's what our focus will be."

Some $6,000 was raised for ASA MO/KAN scholarships during the Race 4 the Future event at Sadler's Indoor Racetrack in Olathe. A total of 14 teams participated in the go-cart event, with KH Automotive, sponsored by Myers Brothers, winning first place.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Tom Massey, owner of Auto Air and More in Sioux Falls and Las Vegas, was named CARQUEST and MACS Worldwide best mobile A/C and heat transfer service technician in the United States. The final competition was held Nov. 17 at the Hendrick Motorsports facility in Charlotte, N.C. The nine qualifying finalists tackled a series of mobile A/C service tasks and diagnostic challenges.

South Dakota Senate Bill 103 was tabled Feb. 13 during a House hearing. The bill aimed to establish a certification provision regarding the use of replacement crash parts in the repair of certain motor vehicles. Bob Redding, ASA Washington, D.C., had submitted these comments to the committee: "ASA supports a competitive marketplace. Our members use original equipment manufacturer parts, aftermarket parts, recycled parts, etc. We believe that Senate Bill 103 opens the door for a conflict of interest for those entities that may certify what types of parts are acceptable or not acceptable."

NEBRASKA

Ernst Auto Center in Columbus recently hired Cody Stopak as an auto collision specialist. Stopak received a degree in auto collision repair from Southeast Community College-Milford.

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma State Rep. Daniel Sullivan has reintroduced the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act in the Oklahoma State Legislature on Jan. 18. Right to Repair ensures that vehicle owners can choose where to have their vehicles serviced and repaired.  The Oklahoma bill would require car companies to make the same information and tools available to independent repair shops that they make available to their new-car franchises.