Bad gas

I saved something from a recent interview for a story about gasoline prices that seemed worth sharing in a different form. I was talking to the owner of Field’s Flowers and he was talking about ways the rising cost of fuel could change the way they do business.

“By this summer, people won’t have that disposable income,” he said, adding, “I see a pretty slow summer for us. I’m really nervous about what the summer will bring.”

Rob Fields went on to say his business has already had to cut back on sponsoring several community organizations (youth ball teams and so on) and events they have supported for years. You could tell by the way he said it, those community cuts definitely bothered him on a personal level.

Recognizing efforts

Tickets are still available for the 11th Annual Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards Breakfast, where many of the areas most outstanding businesses will be recognized for their efforts to do their job well.

We won’t know who the winners are until the day of the ceremony, May 22, although the list of nominees include many recognizable names. In the “New & Emerging Business of the Year” category are Walz Family Medicine of Ashland, Tread on Me Rubberscapes of Ashland, Rivertown Performing Arts league of Flatwoods, Providence Hill Apartments of Ashland, Make a Scene Murals of Catlettsburg, HB Elswick Outdoor of Ashland, and Chick-fil-A at Riverhill, Ashland.

Nominees for the “Retail/Wholesale Business of the Year” award are Super Quik Inc. based in Flatwoods, Grayson Truck Accessories of Grayson, Country Finds of Flatwoods, and The Copy Collection of Ashland.

Under the “Service Business of the Year” heading are A’s Custom Powder Coating in Wurtland, EZ Mortgage Loans Inc. of Ashland, Identity Salon & Spa in Ashland, Melini Cucina Italian Restaurant in Grayson, Morning Pointe Ridge Retirement Living of Russell, Pier 17 Salon in Ashland, Studio 21 Salon & Spa in Ashland, and TSG Inc. of Ashland.

Competing for the “Construction/Contracting Business of the Year” award are Genesis Electric, Tim Justice Interiors and Light’s Enterprises, all of Ashland. The “Main Street Business of the Year” award nominees are Lara’s Bridal & Formals of Ashland, Horton Bros. & Brown Pharmacy in Grayson, and Grayson Antique Mall.

Brown’s Mobile Homes of Grayson, The Gallaher Group of Ashland and The UPS Store in Ashland are being considered for the “Family-Owned Business of the Year” award. “Non-Profit Organization/Government Agency of the Year” nominations went to ALERT, ENOUGH and the Greenup County Library.

Kim Whitley Evans of Grayson, along with Emily Cox and Christina Mays, both of Ashland, were the 2008 nominees for the “Women/Minority Advocate of the Year” award.

Ann Newman, Vice President of Compliance & Internal Controls at Ashland Credit Union, will receive the 2008 Kentucky State Small Business Administration Award for Minority Small Business Champion of the Year.

Reservations for the event will be accepted until Thursday. For more information call (606) 329-8011.

Scentless success

I was proud on behalf of local resident Steve Dunlap after a recent stop at Border’s Sporting Goods confirmed his recently released line of odorless products for outdoor enthusiasts are selling well.

The entire line of Weatherlock products by Scent Control Systems is stocked on the top shelf and getting outstanding reviews from customers who have used them. For more information about the locally engineered products for everything from fishing gear to archery equipment and firearms, type the word “weatherlock” into any search engine, or drop by Border’s and check their stuff out for yourself.

If you missed the story, Dunlap was motivated to find an odorless solvent for cleaning firearms after his wife banished him to the deck to do the job when he really wanted to clean his hunting tools inside while watching a ball game.

He went on to formulate environmentally friendly products to meet the needs of nearly anyone who enjoys hunting, fishing or spending time outdoors. Some of the products have also been adopted by documentary and news camera operators who have to use their expensive equipment in harsh environments, including extreme cold.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.