March 17, 2002
Third generation
'gait keeper' continues the family tradition of shoe repair
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
Charles "Chuck" Smith is a third-generation "gait"
keeper. His work product, like that of his father and grandfather,
keeps people walking with a perfect gait.
Chuck Smith,
inspired by his father and grandfather, Otis Coleman, still
uses a Champion Inline Finisher built in 1938. Photo by Rick
Harris
Profits
from Hot and Juicy to benefit teen center
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Hot and Juicy, 411 Forest St., Watauga, has reopened
with Doyle and Cindy Puckett as the co-owners.
Tester:
Many things have changed in 30-year store-managing career
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Richard Tester, manager of the White's Fresh
Foods on W. Elk Ave., says many things have changed in the
30 years he has worked as a grocery store manager.
Richard Tester, manager
of White's Fresh Foods on West Elk Avenue, says many things
have changed in the 30 years he has worked as a grocery store
manager. Photo by Rick Harris
David-Lynn
not only sells men's clothing, but hosts a Saturday morning
coffee club
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
"There's not another town like Elizabethton,"
declares David Pinckard, who with Don McKeehan own and operate
David-Lynn's Men Store on Elk Avenue.
Don McKeehan,
left, and David Pinckard opened the David-Lynn Store downtown
in 1973. The two had previously worked at the Fred Moore Men's
Shop downtown. Photo by Rick Harris
Jeweler's
Bench offers free diamond training session
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
John Holsclaw, manager of The Jeweler's Bench,
says carat, cut, clarity, and color are the four C's of purchasing
a diamond.
John Holsclaw
tediously works on a ring at the Jeweler's Bench. Photo by
Rick Harris
Whitehead
Realty blossoms while economy slumps
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
In the past year Century 21 Whitehead
Realty, 411 Bemberg Road, has experienced a modest amount
of growth. The 2000-2001 year shows a sales increase of 17.6
percent from the previous year.
Family
tradition continues at Horace Broome Real Estate
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
The family tradition continues at Horace
Broome Real Estate, which was started by Horace and Grace
Broome in 1960.
Goodwin: Realty
Executives on the move again
Fred Goodwin, managing broker for Realty
Executives, Johnson City and Elizabethton, says that Realty
Executives is on the move again.
Swanay completing
three decades in business
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Russ Swanay is in his 30th year as a real
estate agent.
Russ began his career on Sept. 29, 1972, founding
his own business some 2-1/2 years later.
John Brookshire
cultivates love for the land into farming and selling real
estate
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
John Brookshire has two full-time jobs -- farming
and selling real estate. "I sell real estate to support my
farming habit, and farm to sell real estate," he says in jest.
Regardless of which supports which, Brookshire has a love
for the land and the open space.
Lake's Edge Subdivision
being developed Shell & Associates
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
Dempsey Shell has seen a lot of changes in the
31 years he has provided real estate services to residents
of Elizabethton, Carter and Johnson counties.
From Staff Reports
Randall Birchfield has made a number of
changes in the past year to better serve the public.
Star Technology
Group constructing new Web site for Richardson Builders
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Star Technology Group is constructing
a new Web site for Richardson Builders, 145 Judge Don Lewis
Blvd., Suite 1, next to the Star Building Systems plant.
Rainbow
Realty maintains steady pace during first years in business
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
In only its third year of business, Rainbow Realty,
517 Broad St., is experiencing a steady increase in sales.
Judy Veeneman and her brother, Dale Williams, are co-owners
of the real estate agency that lists and sells properties
throughout Carter County.
Edward Jones
to open second office in Elizabethton
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Edward Jones will soon have a second office in
Elizabethton, according to Curt Alexander and Dave Wortman,
the company's two investment representatives in Elizabethton.
The new office will be located on the west side of Elizabethton.
Additions,
renovations help Tetrick better serve families
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Additions and renovations are helping Tetrick
Funeral Home to better serve its families.
Once there
were eight, now there is one; Lingerfelt's the only downtown
pharmacy
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
The first day Harold Lingerfelt opened for business
at Lingerfelt Pharmacy, he filled 11 prescriptions. The labels
were typed on an old typewriter.
New local
patio store offers custom service year round
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Patio Store, 1318 West G St., is looking forward
to its first complete year in business. The store sells PVC
patio products, PVC wicker and cast aluminum furniture. The
business offers custom designed cushions and various seasonal
accessories.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
The more things change, the more they stay the
same. That doesn't bother Larry Proffitt, owner of Burgie
Drug, G Street, in Elizabethton, one bit. In fact, that's
the way he prefers it to be.
Carter County Bank to
launch online banking
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Carter County Bank is now testing its newest
product, online banking, which will be launched in April.
Citizens
Bank experiences another good year
Staff Reports
While 2001 held many successes for Citizens Bank
Tri-Cities, the terrorist attack of Sept. 11 made the most
lasting impression.
Reedy: EIC to
help keep local industries
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce
President Robert Reedy believes the newly-created Existing
Industry Council (EIC) will help local industries remain in
business and boost the economy.
Funeral Director
Barnett says funerals have become more personalized
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Funerals have become more personalized, according
to Jerry Barnett, funeral director, Hathaway-Percy Funeral
Home.
Bug Tussel
Landscaping was started in 1990
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Bug Tussel Landscaping, 1377 Gap Creek Rd., has
been serving local residents since 1990.
Custom framing
business going strong after 18 years
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
When Clyde Broyles started a custom framing business
18 years ago above City Drug, 430 E. Elk Ave., Elizabethton,
little did he know that it would become as popular as it is
today.
Mills
Greenhouse's new software helps landscaping customers
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Mills Greenhouse, Hwy. 91, has been in
business for over 20 years and is continuing to make innovative
additions. A computer software system and mulch business have
been added to supplement the landscaping business and retail
garden center.
Peeble's manager
pleased with last year's sales
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
"We're very pleased with last year's figures,"
said Peeble's manager Bobby Sullins.
Travel industry
recovering from 9-11
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Six months after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attack on America, the nation's travel industry is still in
the process of recovering.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Steve and Tammy Hamm recently opened Tri-Cities
Alignment, 420 N. Railroad St., Suite D.
Bachman Airworks keeps planes flying
high
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
When the planes of local aircraft enthusiasts
need attention they bring them to Bachman Airworks. Located
on Airport Road in Elizabethton, Bachman Airworks is the only
commercial aircraft service provider of its kind in the county.
It specializes in yearly FAA inspections and repairs.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Bill and Kathy Isaacs opened Believer's Christian
Books and Gifts on Nov. 1, 1997.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
The current business climate in Carter County
is "off somewhat," according to Carter County Executive Truman
Clark.
From Staff Reports
Today, when you walk into Elizabethton Lumber
& Building Materials it looks rather different than it
did in 1978 when Dennis Guinn and William Hampton opened the
business.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Cable Fencing owner Keith Cable didn't let his
business getting off to a slow start permanently fence him
in.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Leta Hale began her own business and became her
own boss 15 years ago on April Fool's Day. However, she had
been working on Elk Avenue since a teen-ager in high school.
"I grew up on Elk Avenue and have grown old on Elk Avenue,"
she said with laughter.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
The current business climate in Elizabethton
"is not good, as could be said in most of the country," said
Elizabethton Mayor Sam LaPorte.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
When most people reach that golden age, they
settle back and relax -- starting a new business is the farthest
thing from their mind. But not Mary Shepherd, who since reaching
the golden age of retirement, has started a bed and breakfast
in her home on Academy Street, and owns the Merry Mary Antique
and Luncheonette on Elk Avenue.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
The Betsy Town Snow Shak, 2410 West Elk Ave.,
stands a chance of becoming an affordable community hot spot.
The small business opened in June of 2000 and has received
rave reviews from those who have gone to sip ice, coffee,
or hot chocolate.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation in Elizabethton
wants to hire 40 combustion turbine mechanics who are willing
to travel 80 percent of the time and work 12 hours per day.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Star Building Systems began construction
on their offices in Elizabethton in January of 1999. The manufacturing
plant is one of three located around the country with headquarters
in Oklahoma City, Okla. Elizabethton provided Star Building
Systems with a much needed manufacturing site in the east.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
State Farm and the Sams family have been synonymous
in Elizabethton since 1948. That's when Elmer, Gene's father,
hung out his shingle and began selling State Farm Insurance
from his office at 604 E. Elk Ave., where Lingerfelt Pharmacy
is located today.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
JOHNSON CITY -- The staff of the new approximately
15,000 square foot Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services
is what makes the facility so unique, according to general
manager Bo Deaton.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Downtown Elizabethton boasts a certain kind of
shops that gives our historic town a personality of its own
-- it is the antique stores. They can be found on Elk Avenue
and are sprinkled about on side streets, such as Broad Street
and Sycamore Street.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Geraldine Whitely, owner of Joyful Creations,
operated her first florist shop as a home-based business.
