Surry Business

Energy West Inc. (Nasdaq: EWST), a natural gas and energy marketing company based in Great Falls, Mont., has completed its acquisition of Frontier Utilities of North Carolina Inc. The purchase price was $4.5 million, plus certain adjustments for taxes and working capital. Energy West took possession of the Frontier Utilities operation, headquartered at 1927 Bridge St. in Elkin, N.C., on Oct. 1.

Interim President Thomas J. Smith of Energy West said, “We are extremely pleased to complete this transaction. We now have a 138-mile, high-pressure transmission system and a 149-mile distribution system serving an area with 127,000 households in an attractive and fast-growing area. The business should be accretive to earnings for Energy West’s current fiscal year and offers tremendous opportunity for growth as we expand the 1 percent natural gas utilization rate in Frontier’s service territory.”

Frontier Utilities of North Carolina Inc. has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Sempra Energy and the parent company of Frontier Energy LLC. Frontier Energy in 1995 won approval from the N.C. Public Utilities Commission to construct and operate a new natural gas pipeline and distribution system to provide service to four counties (later expanded to six: Surry, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Warren) in North Carolina. Frontier Utilities in 1997 partnered with Sempra Energy Utility Ventures to build and operate the $55-million natural gas-distribution system.

Natural-gas distribution in Surry, Yadkin and Wilkes counties began in December 1998. Frontier Energy’s first customer was Wayne Farms, a leading producer and processor of broiler chickens, which uses natural gas at its feed mill in Elkin to make steam for a chicken feed process. Frontier Utilities Chairman Andrew Rea said at the time, “For the region, this is the culmination of five years of hard work and dedicated efforts by a broad range of community and business interests to develop a natural gas distribution system that will improve the quality of life for North Carolina residents and businesses.”

Sempra subsequently acquired Frontier Utilities and 100 percent ownership of the Frontier Energy distribution system. The pipeline was completed in 2002. Three years later, in 2005, Sempra announced its intention to sell Frontier Utilities to Energy West, pending regulatory approval that was not received until earlier this year.

According to Dun & Bradstreet, Frontier Energy has annual sales in excess of $5 million. It employs approximately 30 people.

Insteel Industries (Nasdaq: IIIN) in Mount Airy will announce its fourth-quarter 2007 earnings during a conference call that will be webcast live over the internet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, following the release of the company’s fourth-quarter financial results at 8:30 a.m. that same day.

The conference call can be accessed from the company’s website at http://investor.insteel.com/ and will be archived for replay.

Insteel Industries is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction applications. The company manufactures and markets prestressed concrete strand (“PC strand”) and welded wire reinforcement, including concrete pipe reinforcement, engineered structural mesh and standard welded wire reinforcement.

Insteel’s products are sold primarily to manufacturers of concrete products that are used in nonresidential construction.

Headquartered in Mount Airy, N.C., Insteel operates six manufacturing facilities in the United States.

The Great American Vacation is just a memory for a slow-growing number of working people who are increasingly forgoing one- and two-week annual travels for far shorter escapes, like the recent four-day-long Mayberry Days celebration in Mount Airy and the upcoming Autumn Leaves Festival, Oct. 12-14, that attracts sightseers to Surry County’s gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are myriad reasons for shorter vacations, according to NewsLink, the weekly e-mail newsletter from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s tourism website, VisitNC.com. The bigger workloads that have accompanied productivity gains are making it harder for employees to get away for long stretches. Also, the large number of dual-income households mean it’s more difficult for couples to schedule time away together.

“Work habits are the driving force,” said Peter Yesawich, chairman of Ypartnership, a travel-research and marketing company. “When you ask people why they don’t take all the vacation time they are entitled to, or they take shorter vacations, they say they can’t get away from their jobs.”

The trend spans a generation. Spikes in fuel prices and the trauma that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks led to sudden downturns in travel and shorter trips. But the winnowing of the average vacation length has been more gradual and shows no sign of reversing.

Dr. Suzanne Cook, the Travel Industry Association senior vice president of research, said the trend toward shorter trips is glacial but significant. It has altered the way Americans think of time off, turning what was once a long weekend into the typical vacation. “It’s hard to even imagine how vacations can get much shorter than they are now and still resemble vacations,” she said.

Cook said destinations that want to continue drawing longer-staying, bigger-spending travelers should study their demographics. The working-age population isn’t likely to begin taking longer trips, she said, but retiring baby boomers with savings and free time are a good market to pursue.

In February 2008, just in time for gardeners planning their spring plantings, Cool Springs Press will publish “The Green Garden Book: Hundreds of Tips for Creating an Eco-Friendly Garden” by Joe Lamp’l of Mount Airy, better known to thousands of newspaper readers and television viewers as “Joe Gardener.”

Lamp’l is a Master Gardener, Certified Landscape Professional, author, syndicated columnist, speaker/presenter, national television host and radio personality. Passionate about horticulture since childhood, Joe has gardened both personally and professionally for more than 30 years.

For three years he hosted “Fresh from the Garden” on the DIY Network. There he was responsible for maintaining a picture-perfect garden with the premise of taking vegetables from seed to harvest in a single episode. Fifty-two shows later, Lamp’s says, there were no other vegetables left to profile.

Now he co-hosts GardenSMART on PBS television. When he’s not trying to re-establish the lawn and landscaping on his home in Mount Airy, where he and his wife and children moved last year, Lamp’l is able to “dig” into spectacular gardens around the country for GardenSMART and to profile the dedicated gardeners who nurture them.

Lamp’l’s lifelong love of gardening led to the founding of The joe gardener Company®, an organization dedicated to bringing eco-friendly resources for better gardening to novices as well as seasoned veterans. Joe practiced and began promoting healthy living along with environmental stewardship long before “being green” was popular, so he said he jumped at the opportunity when Cool Springs Press asked him to write “The Green Garden Book.”

Lamp’l previously wrote “Over the Fence with Joe Gardener,” also published by Cool Springs Press.

Cool Springs Press is a leading regional publisher of gardening books and one of the largest gardening publishers in America. It currently is developing digplantgrow.com, an ambitious gardening Web site that the publisher promises will set new standards in content delivery. Providing a targeted user experience based on where gardeners live, digplantgrow.com will feature 50 micro-sites representing the 50 U.S. states. This region-specific content will be moderated by one of Cool Springs Press’s 125 authors, all trusted gardening experts who live and garden where their books are sold.

Becky’s Glass Works has moved from its long-time home at 618 Bluemont Road in Mount Airy to a newly remodeled building across U.S. 52 at 355 N. Andy Griffith Parkway (south of Pizza Hut).

The company owned by Becky Simmons Gordon has earned its reputation for auto glass replacement and installation, including sun roofs and tinted windows, but it also supplies custom-cut glass, mirrors, glass furniture tops, storm and patio doors and sliding back glass. Becky’s Glass Works also installs glass and Plexiglas for store fronts.

The company’s former office, garage and shop had 4,500 square feet on each of two floors. The new, 10,000-square-foot building provides more space on one floor for work on custom closets, bathroom showers, tub enclosures, storm and patio doors. It also houses the company’s mobile-service vehicles.

Becky’s Glass Works’ telephone numbers are (336) 789-3998 and (336) 983-0978.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that federal disaster loans are available to small businesses located in 96 North Carolina counties, including Surry County and all of the Triad, as a result of drought and high temperatures in 2007.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, SBA issues a declaration to assist small businesses affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA — they should contact the USDA for assistance — but nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

Eligible small businesses may qualify for loans up to $1.5 million at a 4 percent interest rate with terms up to 30 years. SBA determines eligibility for the program based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant’s financial condition.

Interested business owners should contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Oct. 6-8). For more information and to download loan applications, visit the SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Completed applications should be mailed no later than May 12, 2008, to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than May 12, 2008.

In September, 20 new corporations and limited-liability companies in Surry County registered their businesses with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office.

The business corporations, their registered agents and addresses are

•  Cave Rock Estates Inc., H. Lee Merritt Jr., 129 Moore Ave., Mount Airy
•  Interlam Corporation, Alvin Eckenrod, 391 Hickory St., Mount Airy.
•  Michael S. Johnson Inc., 115 Prince Ave., State Road.
•  PRO-Edge Wireless Inc., David Owen Lundgren Sr., 3904 Zephyr Road, Elkin.
•  Rasa Enterprises Inc., John Pulliam, 143 W. Main St., Pilot Mountain.

The limited-liability companies ((LLC), registered agents and addresses are:

•  CHASCO, Charles H. Paul, 265 Cross Creek Drive, Mount Airy.
•  Church/WAG, Monty K. Venable, Suite 200, 210 Airport Road, Mount Airy.
•  Dobson Landscaping, Annie Lopez Sanchez, 1294 Twin Oaks Road, Dobson.
•  Elkin Obstetrics and Gynecology, PLLC, Mark Heiner, 201A Eldon Parks Drive, Elkin.
•  Fairfield/WAG, Monty K. Venable, Suite 200, 210 Airport Road, Mount Airy.
•  Granite/Church Street, C. Richard Vaughn Jr., Suite 200, 210 Airport Road, Mount Airy.
•  Hickory Fleetwood Properties, James A. Nichols, 1460 Edgewood Drive, Mount Airy.
•  Jack and Aces, Stephen J. Kish, 766 Corner Road, Pinnacle.
•  L&M Park Place, Michael D. Park, U.S. Highway 21, State Road.
•  MNM Home Ventures, Melisa Dupuis, 3186 Asbury Road, Mount Airy.
•  Piedmont View Properties, Hugh B. Campbell III (attorney), 667 Cross Creek Drive, Mount Airy.
•  Prima Funds, Monty K. Venable, Suite 200, 210 Airport Road, Mount Airy.
•  T&C Peter’s Creek, W. Todd Surratt, 337 Crossingham Road, Mount Airy.
•  T&C Robinhood, W. Todd Surratt, 337 Crossingham Road, Mount Airy.
•  Venture to Venture, Lisa Smith Landry, 1022 Layell Road, Elkin.

Notes: A registered agent is not necessarily the company’s owner.

A groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, will mark the official start of construction on The Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home at 945 Zephyr Road (adjacent to Surry Central Middle School) in Dobson.

The inpatient and residential facility will serve patients at the end of life in Surry, Yadkin and surrounding counties. The plan for the hospice home calls for 20 patient rooms with access to the outside grounds, large kitchen areas so groups can dine together, a movie room for sharing videos together, a play area for children, RV hookups for visitors from out of town and other amenities to help families through the end of a loved one’s days.

Hospice has raised nearly $3 million toward the cost of building the home, but another $2 million will be needed
to cover those expenses.

The project is being developed by Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care. Barbara Chatham and Robert Merritt are the honorary fund-raising campaign chairmen. C. Richard Vaughn is the campaign chairman.

Dobson-based Carolina Carports Inc. soon will roll out a national advertising campaign featuring NASCAR legend Richard Petty.

Carolina Carports, started in 1997 in Surry County, manufactures, distributes and installs carports, garages and fabricated metal buildings in 36 states. The company employs approximately 150 people, half of them at its headquarters and main manufacturing complex, 187 Cardinal Ridge Lane.

Founder and owner Javier Herrera said he’s amazed and honored to be associated with Petty and Petty Enterprises. Their connection grew out a contact four years ago when Petty Enterprises needed steel garages for its pit crews’ practice sessions. Since then, in addition to supplying Petty Enterprises’ nees, Carolina Carports has donated carports and garages to the Victory Junction Gang, Richard Petty’s camp for terminally ill children.

Petty recently visited Herrera and Carolina Carports to film part of the commercial that will be shown on television and in movie theaters.

To celebrate its 10th year in Surry County, Carolina Carports Inc. will have a “Customer Appreciation Day” from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at its new Mount Airy sales office, 305 N. Andy Griffith Parkway (on the west side of the highway, cater-corner from Colonial Mayberry Mall).

Country-music entertainer Daryle Singletary will perform with special guest Pete Schlegel. WBRF Radio’s own J.D. Higgins, “Mr. Country Gold,” with Billy Smith & the Country Express will play, as will “Rich N Tradition.”

There will be free food and drinks, a Red Cross health booth and children’s activities including a dunking booth, face painting, The Balloon Lady and an obstacle course.

A trailer will be raffled off.

Blue Ridge County 98.1 FM Radio will broadcast live.

There will be free parking at the old Pizza Hut and additional parking and a shuttle service from the former Firehouse Ministry Building, 811 Merita St.

“Merchants & Music on Main,” the first of what may be a series of monthly events attracting visitors and shoppers to Elkin’s historic downtown business district, will begin today, Sept. 28, at 5 p.m.

Many stores will be open at least until 8 p.m. and Main Street will be filled with music.

Outside Snickerdoodles Espresso Bar Cafe, 226 W. Main, “Big Daddy Love, a bluegrass band, will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and “Formerly Known,” a rock ‘n’ roll group, will play from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The music is free, sponsored by Foothills Arts Council.

The Yadkin Valley Craft Guild will show off the results of its new apprentice program. The Elkin-based group promotes arts and crafts in 15 North Carolina counties and three Virginia counties. This year it received a $47,000 Golden LEAF Foundation grant to pair aspiring young artists with master artists and artisans. Five mentors and eight apprentices will show and sell their work at the Guild Gallery, 122 W. Main. Buck Buckner and friends will perform old-time music there from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Brushy Mountain Winery, 125 W. Main, will offer the sounds of the Old Time Jammers throughout the evening.

Royall’s Soda Shop, 128 W. Main, will serve pumpkin ice cream and pumpkin pie along with the melodies of singer/guitarist Libby Haynes.

The John Furches Gallery, 123 W. Main, also will have live music.

The Foothills Arts Council, 129 Church St., will present a preview of its annual Clifford Morrison Juried Art Show from 7 to 9 p.m.

Among the other stores that will have evening hours are Song’s Treasure, Love and Scandal, Time Testers, Diana’s Bookstore, The Circle of Friends Yarn Shop, Surry Gift Shop, Dave’s Antiques, Mom’s Restaurant and the Old Curiosity Shop.