IOWA
The Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire facilityin Des Moineshas beenrecognizedby the Rubber Manufacturers Association for outstanding safety performance, one of only six facilities to receive the award.
Universal Manufacturing of Algona has sold its distribution subsidiary, Universal Distribution LLC, to AER Sales LP of Carrollton, Texas. Universal distributes remanufactured Ford and Motorcraft engines, transmissions, and other powertrain-related components mainly to Ford dealerships. It has warehouses in Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., and Peoria, Ill., and employs 10 people.
Mobile auto body shops, performing minor repair work from temporary sites, soon could be allowed in Des Moines. The Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission is recommending a change in city code that would let temporary "body shop on wheels" businesses set up in the city. Pompano Beach, Fla.-based ColorAll Technologies, a company that runs such repair shops and plans a franchise here sought the changes.
KANSAS
Prairie Ag and Auto has moved to Blaine. Owners Craig and Jill Aldridge also expanded services in the new location of their Bumper to Bumper parts store.
Willie Augerot, after two decades as a mechanic for Hendersons Inc. in Scott City, has opened Willie's Auto A/C Repair in Scott City. Augerot will focus his business on repairs and service for air conditioners in cars, light trucks, and semis.
Oakley Motors Inc. in Oakley iscelebrating its 50th anniversary. Francis Robben and Jim Robben Sr., founding partners, held an open house marking the anniversary in April.
Midwest Collision, based in Louisburg, recently completed the purchase of Minden Body Shop in Paola and plans to open Midwest Collision II in its place.
Daryl Futhey, a service technician with Davis Moore Lincoln-Mercury in Wichita, won the Ultimate Master Technician Challenge at the Kansas Speedway.
In Memoriam: Terry Carter of Carter Automotive Warehouse in Coffeyvilledied June 7. Carter was a member of the Midwest Automotive Industry Association (MAIA) and APSA since 1976. He served on the MAIA board of directors for 15 years and was chairman of the board in 1992. He also served as a trustee of the MAIN Insurance Trust and in 1997 received the MAIS Distinguished Service Award. Carter was the grandson of Orvil W. Carter, the founder of Carter Automotive Warehouse. Carter served as chairman of the board of the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and was active in the Masonic Lodge at local and state levels.
MISSOURI
Vari-Form Inc., based in Ontario, Canada, is opening a parts plant in Liberty. The plant will create more than 40 jobs with an $8 million capital investment, said Bob Marcusse, chief executive of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
Conklin Cars hascompleted the purchase of Major Cadillac Pontiac Buick GMC, said Lee Major III, who will continue to operate Major Infiniti in South Kansas City. Conklin Cars runs dealerships in the Kansas cities of Newton, Salina, and Hutchinson.
Steve Elkins, formerly of Mankato, was named Parts Manager of the Year at Chrysler's National Dealer of the Year Awards. Elkins is employed at Parks Motors of Augusta. Parks Motors was the only Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealer in the nation to be a finalist in four categories and was chosen out of 4,400 dealers nationwide as the No. 2 dealer in the nation, missing the top spot by only a few points.
NEBRASKA
The Farmers Insurance Group of Cos. recently announced that it would recognize new parents in the Nebraska, Michigan, and South Dakotaby offering them a discount on their auto insurance. The discount will be available to all existing Farmers' new-parent policyholders as well as new customers. "Our research confirms a common observation: as a group, new parents are more careful drivers than other drivers of the same age," said Farmers Nebraska State Executive Director John Lucido. The next meeting of the Automotive Service Association of Nebraska (ASE-NE) will be Aug. 1 at the Knolls Restaurant & Lounge in Lincoln. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7:00 p.m. A representative of Nebraska Health & Human Services will discuss antifreeze and A/C machine regulations.
Marvin "Mike" Zastera celebrated 60 years of employment with the Ford Motor Co. in Columbus. He started in the parts department and also worked in sales, was service manager and is now the shuttle and delivery driver for Gene Steffy Ford.
Ernst Auto Center is celebrating 30 years of selling Toyota vehicles in Columbus. "We feel fortunate they came to us," Dave Ernst said. "It's been an evolution. As they expanded their product lines, it's mirrored what's going on nationwide with its market share."
Hullman's Ford Lincoln Mercury Inc. in Falls City has earned Ford Motor Co.'s highest honor, the 2006 President Award.
Bryan Haase, AAM, opened a new business in Lincoln on May 16. The Local Garage is at 7101 Arbor Road on the north side of Lincoln. Haase is the past president of ASA-NE and serves as its vice president. Haase has been in the automotive business for 18 years. He and his wife, Jennah, moved from Granby, Colo., nine years ago. Jennah Haase is currently the executive director of ASA-NE. Tom and Cindy Steinwart have purchased the service station in Madrid. The new name of the business is Buzz In Servicenter
Walker Tire & Auto Service is renovating its service bays at the downtown Lincolnlocation where Vern Walker founded the company in 1951. "We'll finish putting up the first two service bays in a month, and then we'll remodel the whole service bay area in back and knock down the old one" said Nick Vuko Sr., who bought the company from Walker on 1986.
Ronda and Garry Lawyer celebrated 30 years as owners of Grant's downtown NAPA Auto Supply.
Bobbi and Jeff Schmid are the new owners of Northside 66 Inc. in David City.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Sturdevant's Auto Parts has announced the promotion of Dick Lembke from counterman to store manager. Lembke will manage the East 10th Street location in Sioux Falls.
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