Craig Daily Press / Business

Moffat County real estate transactions for April and May

The following are real estate transactions that took place in Moffat County in April: Buyer: Schuster, Cynthia A Seller: Federal National Mortgage Association Address: 97 Becker Ln. Sale Price: $62,500.00

New shop brings exposure to photographer

Getting the whole family together for a picture can be a hassle, but when you don’t have easy access to the person with the right equipment, that difficulty is even greater. But, with close proximity to a specialist, such struggles are now a snap. Since opening at Centennial Mall, 1111 W. Victory Way, Hébert Photography has seen a flourish of new customers. Though he only set up his official studio in May, owner David Hébert has been working professionally in the field for much longer.

Pet store moving to bigger space

As any pet owner knows, the more space an animal has to move, the better their quality of life. The same is true for the business that sells them and their accessories. The Jungle Pet Shop will be moving to a new store space at 29 W. Victory Way. The former location of Sharyn’s Upscale Consignment Boutique offers more room for operations than The Jungle’s store at 565 Yampa Ave. “We’ll be able to have a lot more shelves since we’re moving to less than 1,000 square feet to 1,800, plus it has a basement,” owner Clint Gabbert said. Gabbert said he planned to offer a greater number of aquariums with his increased space, as well as including a part of his inventory he had briefly stopped selling.

Craig Chamber of Commerce Board meeting agenda

When: 11:30 a.m. Thursday Where: Craig Chamber of Commerce conference room, 360 E. Victory Way. Agenda: • Call meeting to order

Centennial Mall shifting toward new direction

Many businesses have come and gone from Centennial Mall in recent years, but now under new operating guidelines, some of them may be finding a more permanent home. Since stepping into the position of leasing and property manager for the mall, 1111 W. Victory Way, Eric Tegl has tried to bring out the best the mall has to offer. Tegl took over in December 2011. “It’s definitely a whole new attitude,” Tegl said. “Aesthetically, it’s been painted, all the landscaping’s cleaned up, and a lot of other things are still going to be done, like improving signage and that big sign out by the highway will replaced.” Tegl added he hopes to see a greater flow of tenants taking available spaces within the complex, joining recent additions like the Moffat County Tourism Association office space and Fastenal, among others. “We really want the community to know that there’s a lot of flexibility with the leasing space and rates and it’s a really great spot,” he said. “All indications are we’ll be having a couple great new tenants coming in soon, so I’m not sure how many vacancies there will be soon.”

Moffat County business owners share concerns Monday with Romney campaign

Anson Excavating & Pipe Inc. could once land jobs totaling $500,000 to $1 million or more, co-owner Mike Anson said. But that was before a recession undermined the economy and, by extension, consumers’ faith in it. Now, his biggest jobs usually top out at around $200,000, he said, or only 20 percent of what he once made in better days. “There’s a lot of uncertainty out there in the world,” he said during a media conference call with the campaign for Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney. “We just can’t get anybody to spend any money.” He and Scott Cook, owner of Cook Chevrolet, were invited to give the campaign a boots-on-the-ground view of the challenges facing small business owners. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., joined them in the call, directing criticisms at President Barack Obama.

Tanning business off to bright start

There’s no lack of solar energy in Northwest Colorado during the summer, but sometimes the brightest thing in the sky needs a little help to keep folks looking good. Tanning salon Under the Sun opened its doors at 504 W. Victory Way for the first time Thursday. Owner Sharla Satterwhite and manager Julie Camp, who have been refurbishing the former location of Craig Sports since mid-March, plan to host a grand opening Saturday. Camp said the event will include one-day-only sales on tanning packages.

Auto retailer offering military special

Showing appreciation for those who have fought for our country is something that can’t be overdone, and those who have served have a short opportunity to take advantage of a great deal. Victory Motors, 2705 W. First St., will continue its special discount program for members of the military through the end of May. The program, offered through auto manufacturer Chrysler, offers a $1,000 rebate for car buyers who have served in the military. “It can be for someone retired, someone active in the military or the reserves (or) pretty much anyone who can show us honorable discharge papers,” sales manager Brian Kitzman said. “I think it’s a great thing because it’s a little heads up that we care about them and all they’ve done for us. We’ve already had a few takers, and I think we should get some more activity this week.”

Plant nursery blossoms in second year

If the heat is getting greater, then you’re bound to see an oasis somewhere, whether real or imagined. But, one such business bearing that name is definitely not a figment of your imagination. The Oasis of Craig has set up its summer location in the parking lot of the Centennial Mall, 1111 W. Victory Way. The plant nursery, owned by Anthony and Gloria Martin, is now in its second year of business.

Moffat County real estate transactions for March, 2012

Burger eatery builds awareness

In a location that has seen several food entrepreneurs come and go, the latest tenant is still cooking up a storm after the rocky first few months. Since opening in January, The Burger Shack has made its mark on the local restaurant scene. Located within Mathers Club, 420 Yampa Ave., the small grilling operation features a menu that includes hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and of course, hamburgers, in addition to a wide selection of appetizers. Owner Michelle Reed said she focuses on providing patrons of the establishment with something that would go well with a drink.

Quicksilver closes deal for Craig office

While energy operators were busy finalizing this year's drilling plans Wednesday, representatives from Quicksilver Resources were closing a deal for a new office building in Craig. The oil and natural gas production company, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has had a presence in the Yampa Valley since early 2011 when it purchased an office in Steamboat Springs to serve as a base of operations in the company’s play for Niobrara shale oil. Steve Lindsey, Quicksilver's senior director of government and community affairs, said the company would keep its Steamboat Springs office despite having no plans to drill in Routt County this year. “It’s just an expansion of our operations in the area and it gives us the flexibility to operate out of (Craig and Steamboat Springs),” Lindsey said. “I could see both offices being utilized as the workload dictates, but for the foreseeable future the bulk of the work will be conducted out of the Craig office.”

Craig Chamber Board takes no action at Thursday meeting

The Craig Chamber of Commerce Board did not have a quorum for Thursday's board meeting and did not take action on any agenda items. Board members Renee Campbell, Missy Bonaker, Ryan Duran, Gail Severson, Audrey Anna Charchalis and Jared Schultz were absent from the meeting. Remaining board members discussed organization goals; volunteers for a Whittle the Wood Rendezvous beer garden; printing bids for a membership directory; policy changes to a review manual; and the 20/20 Vision program to establish long-term goals.

Letter: Craig Chamber thankful for Rotarians

Rotarians make our community a better place. They read to students and distribute dictionaries. They sponsor and host exchange programs. They put out an amazing display of flags for every appropriate holiday. They educate themselves about the community, its programs and politics by encouraging guest speakers and dialogue at their meetings. And, they do so much more. Rotarians believe in four guiding principles: Is it the truth, is it fair, will it build goodwill and better friendships and will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Photography firm celebrating anniversary with promotions

A can’t-miss gift for any mother this Sunday is a plentiful supply of pictures of her children. But, getting snapshots of the kids doesn’t have to be reserved just for Mother’s Day, and one local photographer wants to help capture those youthful family memories forever. As part of her eighth anniversary, Tracy Spencer, owner of Lifetime Photography, will be reinvigorating her business with multiple new facets, the first of which is The Cutest Kid in the Yampa Valley Photo Contest. Voting for the contest is underway on the studio’s Facebook page for pictures of children in Craig and surrounding towns.