plainview herald readers’ choice
TRANSCRIPT
PLAINVIEW HERALDREADERS’ CHOICE
The Best Businesses of Hale County
Nov. 19, 2017
2017
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2017 Readers’ Choice Awards | MyPlainview.com | 3
BBQGold: Weekends BBQSilver: Lance Moore
BISCUITS & GRAVYGold: McDonald’sSilver: IHOP
BOOT SELECTIONGold: Masso’sSilver: Gebo’s
CHICKEN FRIED STEAKGold: Cotton Patch CafeSilver: Just 4 Fun
FAJITASGold: Leal’sSilver: Jalisco’s
FEED STOREGold: Gebo’sSilver: Tractor Supply
HAT STOREGold: Masso’sSilver: Gebo’s
HOT SAUCEGold: Leal’sSilver: Jalisco’s
JEANSGold: Gebo’sSilver: It’s a Girl Thing
QUESOGold: Leal’sSilver: Jalisco’s
STEAKGold: Chili’sSilver: Plainview Country Club
WESTERN WEAR STOREGold: Gebo’sSilver: Masso’s
BEST OF THE WEST
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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
CABLE PROVIDERGold: SuddenlinkSilver: NTS
CELLULAR STOREGold: VerizonSilver: Sprint
ART GALLERYGold: Llano EstacadoSilver: O’Briens
INTERNET PROVIDERGold: SuddenlinkSilver: NTS
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Gold: Sharp’s MusicSilver: Hubbard Jewelry and Pawn
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERGold: Don’sSilver: Bobby’s
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MEDICINE
ASSISTED LIVING/RETIREMENTGold: Christian ManorSilver: Prairie House
CARDIOLOGISTGold: Dr. Kevin JonesSilver: Dr. Paul Overlie
CHIROPRACTORGold: Dr. Thomas CunninghamSilver: Dr. Nate Pochucha
DENTISTGold: Dr. Oliver RusherSilver: Plainview Family Dentistry
FAMILY PRACTITIONERGold: Dr. Mark McClanahanSilver: Dr. David Wright
HEARING CAREGold: LivingstonSilver: Grand Hearing
HOME HEALTH PROVIDERGold: Area Home CareSilver: Interim
HOSPICEGold: Area Community
HOSPITALGold: Covenant HospitalSilver: Mangold Memorial Hospital
INTERNAL MEDICINEGold: Dr. Sergio LaraSilver: Dr. Salman Ahmad
MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANYGold: Star MedicalSilver: B&I Enterprise
NURSEGold: Kendra GuerraSilver: Nancy Kernell
NURSE PRACTITIONERGold: Christina FlanaganSilver: Misty Holt
OB/GYNGold: Dr. Charles SmithSilver: Dr. David Wright
OPTOMETRISTGold: Webb & WebbSilver: Dr. Richard Morgan
ORTHODONTISTGold: WentzSilver: Dr. Abercrombie
PEDIATRICIANGold: Dr. Ruth Rector-WrightSilver: Dr. Hima Jyothi
PHARMACYGold: Hometown PharmacySilver: CVS
PHYSICAL THERAPYGold: Covenant HospitalSilver: Joe Switzenberg
PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTGold: Krisanne ShultzSilver: Krysta Eugenis
PSYCHIATRYGold: Dr. Victor GutierrezSilver: Dr. Tricia Clay
RADIOLOGISTGold: Covenant HospitalSilver: Dr. John Garvish
SURGEONGold: Dr. Benjamin FarrSilver: Dr. Douglas Cummings
URGENT CAREGold: Covenant HospitalSilver: West Texas Clinic
UROLOGISTGold: Dr. Michael GravesSilver:
VETERANARIANGold: Dr. Blaine LongSilver: Dr. John Scott
WALK IN CLINICGold: Covenant HospitalSilver: West Texas Medical
WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMGold: YMCASilver: Just for the Health of It
2017 Readers’ Choice Awards | MyPlainview.com | 7
COVENANT HEALTH PLAINVIEW 2601 Dimmitt RoadPlainview, TX 79072806-296-5531
Offering big-city medicine with small-town compassion, Covenant Health Plainview is bringing advanced care to the rural communities of West Texas.
Covenant Health Plainview is a thriving 68-bed medical facility that is growing every day. Currently, the hospital is undergoing a $40 million renovation that will allow our caregivers the capabilities to provide only the best and most-modern care available.
Completed construction phases so far includes the opening of the James and Eva Mayer Surgical Center, which provides Covenant Health Plainview’s team of talented surgeons eight massive surgery rooms filled with the latest amenities and state-of-the-art technology.
Going into 2018, construction will continue on the first floor as work has started in the Radiology Department, in order to build more room for a new MRI machine. Renovations have also started in the Physical Therapy department, with plans to move to the lobby, gift shop and more.
At the Covenant Healthcare Center of Plainvew, located at 2222 West 24th, the hospital has given the clinic a fresh new makeover, to better accommodate their services, including OB/GYN, Family Medicine, Ophthalmology,
and their brand new pediatrician, Dr. Jyothi Hima.
While the renovations move smoothly into the second phases of the plan, Covenant Health Plainview caregivers have not missed a beat as their work and dedication to their patients have earned them a number of awards in 2017 including a Gold Achievement Award from national healthcare research leader, Professional Research Consultants, as well a 4-Star distinction from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Covenant Health Plainview is proud to service the needs of our community and our surrounding neighbors; whether that be by providing emergency care in our Level IV Trauma Center or caring for your little bundles of joy in our Labor and Delivery Department.
We are also proud of our Covenant Health
Plainview Medical Group, who brings advanced services to the heart of the plains. Services like orthopedics, cardiology, general surgery and more are available in the comfort of your community thanks to Covenant Health Plainview physicians.
Reach out to Covenant Health Plainview for all your medical needs; we are here for you.
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EVALENE’S GIFTS AND MORE1401 S. Columbia806-296-93939 a.m. -6 p.m. M-F, 9 a.m.-5p.m. S
If you are looking for that hard to find item, perhaps even that impossible to find item, you’ll want to take a drive down Columbia Street in Plainview and check out Evalene’s Gifts and More.
Owner Doris McDonald said that if you can’t find the item there, she can order it for you, but odds are pretty good you can find what you are looking for at Evalene’s
“The thing I love most is when someone comes in and they say they have been looking for something and they are relieved they found it here, or that they came in because they wanted to find something for the person who has everything,” McDonald said.
McDonald has a little bit of everything at Evalene’s, which was originally named after McDonald’s mother-in-law, who originally opened Evalene’s Imports in Dec. 1972.
In addition to a large housewares
section, McDonald offers small appliances, Texas souvenirs, including collegiate items, not only for Texas Tech, but also UT, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Evalene’s also has a large selection of western gear, toys and puzzles for the little ones and quite a lot for the adults too.
Evalene’s offers several lines of candles, crystal, three lines of pewter, including recently added Beatriz Ball line of pewter. The store also offers collectible items such as Willow Tree. Evalene’s offers a large selection of frames and an outdoor section.
McDonald also does bridal selections, which is one of her favorite aspects of the store.
The store is over 16,000 square feet, but unlike some big-box retailers, McDonald said you can come and park right by the door.
“We pride ourselves on customer service,” she said. “We try to have different items, hard to find items that others don’t have.”
The store even offers free gift wrapping for that special gift, just in time for Christmas shopping.
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725 VINTAGE Renate Holloway725 Broadway St.806-293-782610 a.m.-5 p.m. T-S, extended hours during the holiday season on Thursday until 8:30 p.m.
Owner Renate Holloway describes herself as a “collector by birth” and so it is only appropriate that she owns a store dedicated to the collector at heart.
725 Vintage is actually two buildings operated under one business, with 22,000 square feet over three levels, the store features around 60 dealers offering a variety of goods.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Holloway said. “I think it works because the dealers have different tastes and the public have different tastes so everyone is going to find something they like.
Two full time and one part time employee are on hand to help customers find that special item they may have been searching all over for.
“I love dealing with other kindred spirits,” Holloway said. “People who enjoy collecting as much as I do. I think people who come here do it because it takes them back. People come in for what we call shop therapy, it is very relaxing for people.”
Holloway said that the hot items right now are farmhouse type décor items, but that there are a
variety of other items which sell rapidly as well.“The good stuff comes in and leaves
immediately,” Holloway said, noting that inventory from the various dealers changes constantly so that customers come in regularly to make sure they don’t miss something.
725 Vintage attracts local customers, but also a large out of town business due to the very reasonable prices.
“Prices here are much less expensive than the surrounding areas such as Lubbock and Amarillo,” she said, adding that the store even has an international appeal.
If you are worried about traversing 22,000 square feet of space, don’t, Holloway has established rest areas throughout the store so that patrons can take little breaks while they shop.
The location is part of the charm of 725 Vintage as it is located in downtown Plainview, next to the Fair Theatre.
“Part of the charm is the old building,” Holloway said. “It is like a big maze, people love to just wander around. That is a huge asset to the business. Having the Fair Theatre right next door is very quaint.
From now until Christmas, the store also has extended hours on Thursday evenings until 8:30 p.m. and Holloway said that vendors are already stocking their shelves with hard to find Christmas items. PI
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SHOPPING
ANTIQUESGold: Uniques and AntiquesSilver: Plainview Antiques
APPLIANCEGold: SearsSilver: Ramsower’s
BOOKSTOREGold: WBUSilver: Barnes and Noble
BUILDING SUPPLYGold: McCoy’sSilver: Tractor Supply
CARPET & FLOORINGGold: King CarpetSilver: Laird Carpet
CHILDREN’S CLOTHINGGold: Walmart SupercenterSilver: It’s a Girl Thing
CONSIGNMENT SHOPGold: RuRu’s KlosetSilver: Play it Again
FLOWER SHOPGold: Rose ShopSilver: Black Forest Floral
FURNITUREGold: Ramsower’sSilver: Furniture Expressions
GIFT STOREGold: Evalene’s Gifts & MoreSilver: Old World Gifts & Decor
HARDWAREGold: McCoy’sSilver: McDonald’s Trading Post
HOME DÉCORGold: Evalene’s Gifts & MoreSilver: Old World Gifts & Decor
JEWELRYGold: Artisan JewelrySilver: V’s Jewelry
MEN’S CLOTHINGGold: BeallsSilver: Gebo’s
NURSERY/GARDEN CTRGold: Robert’s Tree HouseSilver: J&J Garden Mart
SEWING SUPPLYGold: Walmart SupercenterSilver: Richardson’s Sewing Center
SHOE REPAIRGold: El VaqueroSilver: Stephen White
TIRE SPECIALTY STOREGold: Willie’s TireSilver: Plainview Tire
TRENDY FASHIONSGold: It’s A Girl ThingSilver: The Rusty Rose
WEDDING GIFT SHOPGold: Evalene’s Gifts & MoreSilver: Cynthia’s Heart Desire
WOMEN’S SHOESGold: BeallsSilver: It’s A Girl Thing
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VALLEY AG ELECTRIC1005 Mesa Dr., Plainview1405 W Highway 70, Olton806-285-2648806-291-9300
Ricky Smith, the owner of Valley Ag Electric with his wife Deborah is a farmer at heart, so he knows what local farmers need to get the job done each and every day. He also understands that area farmers are like family and his company has always exhibited that family trait.
The company, which started in 1979, was bought by Smith’s bother Nicky in 1986, Smith himself bought the business from his brother’s family in 2001 and has kept the family tradition going.
Smith said he has 15 employees in his Olton facility and that many of them have been with the company for decades including his service manager.
The company sells and installs Valley brand sprinklers, but Smith said the company has experience working on all sorts of sprinkler lines.
“It is just like any other piece of farm equipment,” he said. “From time to time it needs maintenance to keep it working properly.”
Vally Ag has been a leader in the industry for decades. Smith said that some of the most important innovations in the field were made right in Olton.
“A lot of pioneering work was done in this area,” Smith said.
Valley Ag also has a dedication to getting the job done no matter the circumstances. Smith said at times staff is required to work 24 hours a day seven days a week. He said when the company receives a service call they complete the work that day, not a moment later because a lost day can mean a lot to a local farmer.
Smith, himself a retired farmer said that the best part of the job is working with his customers.
“Whenever things are going good for our farmers things are good for us,” he said.
Smith said his goal is to continue the high quality of service his customers have come to expect from the business.
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FOOD
ALL AROUND RESTAURANTGold: Leal’sSilver: Cotton Patch
BAKERYGold: Mrs. K’sSilver: Frisco Bakery
BREAKFASTGold: Jalisco’sSilver: IHOP
BUFFETGold: Furr’sSilver: China Dragon
BURGERGold: Jumbo Joe’sSilver: Just 4 Fun
BURRITO’SGold: Chayo’sSilver: Nena’s
BUSINESS LUNCHGold: Broadway BrewSilver: Cotton Patch
CATFISHGold: Cotton PatchSilver: Chicken Express
CHICKEN Gold: Chicken ExpressSilver: KFC
COFFEEGold: Broadway BrewSilver: Java Hut
CORN DOGGold: SonicSilver: Jumbo Joes
DELIGold: United AmigosSilver: Walmart Supercenter
DESSERTSGold: Furr’sSilver: Casseroles to Go
DOUGHNUTSGold: The Donut ShopSilver: Benjamin’s Doughnuts
FOR CHILDRENGold: McDonald’sSilver: Cotton Patch
FRENCH FRIESGold: McDonald’sSilver: Jumbo Joe’s
GATHERING SPOTGold: Broadway BrewSilver: Leal’s
ICE CREAMGold: DQSilver: Sonic
ITALIAN FOODGold: Mia’sSilver: Pizza Hut
MEAT DEPARTMENTGold: United Silver: United Amigos
MEXICAN FOODGold: Leal’sSilver: Jalisco’s
MIXED DRINKGold: Chili’sSilver: Red Door
NACHOSGold: Leal’sSilver: Jumbo Joe’s
ORIENTAL FOODGold: Tokyo’sSilver: China Dragon
PIZZAGold: Pizza HutSilver: Mia’s
PRODUCE DEPTGold: UnitedSilver: United Amigos
RESTAURANT FAST FOODGold: Jumbo Joe’sSilver: McDonald’s
RESTAURANT SERVICEGold: Leal’sSilver: Cotton Patch
RESTAURANT HOME COOKINGGold: Cotton PatchSilver: Casseroles to Go
SALAD BARGold: Furr’sSilver: China Dragon
SANDWICHGold: FieldhouseSilver: Broadway Brew
SEAFOODGold: Long JohnsSilver: Mia’s
SUPERMARKETGold: UnitedSilver: United Amigos
SWEET TEAGold: Chicken ExpressSilver: Tea 2 Go
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PLACES
AUTO ACCESSORIESGold: Apex CollisionSilver: Kiser Auto
AUTO BODY PAINTINGGold: Apex CollisionSilver: Quality Body Shop
AUTO PARTS STOREGold: O’Reilly’sSilver: Autozone
AUTO MECHANICA REPAIRGold: TJ&DSilver: Paul Waller Garage
AUTO REPAIRGold: Apex CollisionSilver: Paul Waller Garage
BAIL BONDGold: Vera’sSilver: Central Bail Bonds
BANKGold: Happy State BankSilver: Prosperity Bank
CAR WASHGold: Champion Xpress CarwashSilver: Soak and Suds
CARPET CLEANINGGold: Sun-Brite Cleaning Silver: Carpet Tech
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITYGold: WBUSilver: SPC
CONSTRUCTION COMPANYGold: Thrasher IncSilver: JV Garza
DANCE STUDIOGold: Rebel CheerSilver: Lone Star Ballet
DAY CAREGold: Wee Care ChildcareSilver: 1st Baptist Mother’s Day out
DETAIL SHOPGold: Apex CollisionSilver: J’s Mobile
DRIVE THRU BANKGold: Happy State BankSilver: Prosperity Bank
DOG BOARDING FACILITYGold: Pampered PupSilver: Dirty Dog
DRY CLEANERSGold: Vick’s CleanersSilver: KC Cleaner
EQUIPMENT RENTALGold: Fonty’s RentalSilver: Milsteads
FUNERAL HOMEGold: KornerstoneSilver: Bartley
GLASS REPLACEMENTGold: Reed GlassSilver: Plains Plate Glass
GOLF COURSEGold: Plainview Country ClubSilver: Tule Lake Country Club
HAIR SALONGold: K’s SalonSilver: CJ’s Salon
HEATING AND COOLINGGold: Bennett Heating & AirSilver: Chilton
HOME MORTGAGEGold: Prosperity BankSilver: Centennial Bank
INSURANCE COMPANYGold: State FarmSilver: Mouser
INVESTMENT FIRMGold: Edward JonesSilver: Investment Centers of America
MOTEL/HOTELGold: Holiday InnSilver: Comfort Suites
MUSEUMGold: Llano EstacadoSilver: Hale County Farm & Ranch
NEW CAR DEALERGold: Reagor DykesSilver: Bill Wells
PACKING, MAILINGGold: USPOSilver: Pak Mail
PEST CONTROLGold: McIlroy’sSilver: Teminex
PLACE TO WORKOUTGold: YMCASilver: Anytime Fitness
PLACE TO GET MARRIEDGold: FUMCSilver: Walmnut Tree Weddings
PLACE TO WORK Gold: Covenant HospitalSilver: Happy State Bank
PRESCHOOLGold: Calico CabooseSilver: Headstart
PUBLIC SCHOOLGold: Plainview High SchoolSilver: Highland
REALTY COMPANYGold: Billington Real EstateSilver: Street
RENTAL STOREGold: Fonty’s RentalSilver: Furniture Expressions
RETIREMENT CENTERGold: Westridge ManorSilver: Santa Fe
STORAGE FACILITYGold: EZ StorageSilver: Plainview Storage Zone
TANNING SALONGold: Xclusive TanSilver: Anytime Fitness
USED CAR SELECTIONGold: Reagor DykesSilver: Bill Wells
WIFI SPOTGold: Broadway BrewSilver: McDonald’s
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APEX COLLISION CENTER2603 Olton Road806-293-88887:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. M-F
For 12 years APEX Collision Center has been leader in auto body repair, offering a variety of services for your car care needs.
APEX Shop Manager Spike Dunlap said that the company has highly qualified painters and technicians.
“We have the best technicians and painters in this entire area including Lubbock and Amarillo,” Dunlap said.
For APEX that area includes the Texas Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico, with facilities in Plainview, Clovis, N.M. and Muleshoe to serve customer’s needs.
“Having an accident is very time consuming and it messes up and disturbs your busy schedule,” Dunlap said. “We can help you through the entire process. We can talk directly to the insurance company to get your claim started all the way to getting their vehicle back to you in a timely manner.”
Dunlap said that APEX not only performs collision related repairs but also does hail repair, windshield replacement, towing, vehicle painting and car rental services.
“Enterprise is on site,” Dunlap said. “After we help them get their claim started we can also take them over to Enterprise to get them a rental
car while we work on their vehicle.”
Dunlap said that APEX has a large facility including 12 bays, four technicians and two painters. There are two separate buildings on site in Plainview, one that handles all vehicle accessory work and a second building where all body work is performed. APEX has a state of the art computerized frame machine that allows APEX to get vehicle frames back into specification.
APEX is also a Ford certified aluminum body shop meaning they are certified to repair F-150s and F-250s. APEX also does spray in bedliners for a variety of vehicles.
Dunlap said that fundamentally the customer comes first at APEX.
“Our customers are very important to us and we do everything we can to make the process go as smoothly as possible,” Dunlap said.
TYE ROOFING Brent & Cody Tye3010 Olton Rd.806-729-97219 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F
Family owned businesses are the bedrock of the U.S. economy and when it comes to Plainview businesses, Brent and Cody Tye run a family first
operation from their family to yours. Brent Tye is a GAF certified roofing contractor
with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He and his wife Cody started Tye Roofing back in 2012 because Brent wanted to take care of his customers his way.
Tye Roofing has experience in a variety of roofing styles from metal roofing to wood, composition and roofs for commercial buildings.
Brent says his goal is to provide honest work for an honest price.
Cody said the company does its best to make its customers happy.
“We want to make sure our clients are taken care of and that they are happy with their roof,” she said noting that while some roofing companies may try to get customers to pay for work up front she never encourages customers to pay up front, instead wanting them to be happy with the finished product first.
Brent said that while the company offers a variety of roofing needs for various circumstances, lately there has been a huge upsurge in residential roofing due to hail storms over the last couple of years.
Brent, who started in the business after getting his insurance adjusters license, has seen his share of storm damage having worked as an adjuster in the southeast. He noted that the area went over 15 years without a hail storm before seeing frequent storms beginning in 2015.
Unlike other companies that popped up during recent storms, Tye Roofing is a part of the community and wants to be here for their clients.
“We want to be able to provide the best possible service we can,” Cody Tye said.
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FARM & RANCH
AG CHEMICAL DEALERGold: Tri Star ChemicalSilver: Plainview Farm Chemical
AUCTIONEERGold: Five Star AuctioneerSilver: Larry McNutt
CENTRAL PIVOT DEALERGold: Valley Ag ElectricSilver: South Plains Irrigation
COTTON GINGold: Service GinSilver: Edcot Gin
ELEVATORGold: Attebury GrainSilver: Producers Coop
FARM & RANCH SUPPLIESGold: Gebo’sSilver: Tractor Supply
FARM FUEL DEALERGold: All Star FuelSilver: Plainview Coop
FARM TIRE SERVICEGold: Plainview TireSilver: Willie’s Tire
FERTILIZERGold: Martin Resources
IMPLEMENT DEALERGold: Western EquipmentSilver: Wylie Manufacturing
IMPLEMENT MECHANICGold: Brewster GarciaSilver: Panhandle Tractor
IRRIGATION SUPPLIERGold: Valley Ag ElectricSilver: South Plains Irrigation
MOST POPULAR TRACTORGold: John DeerSilver: Branson
PUMP SERVICEGold: Rodgers Well ServiceSilver: Scott’s Water Work’s
SEED DEALERGold: Coffee SeedSilver: Delta Pine
SPRAYING SERVICEGold: Bailey Flying ServiceSilver: Crop Production Services
TRACTORGold: Western EquipmentSilver: Wylie Manufacturing
TRUCK REPAIRGold: Shack’s Truck ServiceSilver: Wilkens Trailer
TRI-STAR CHEMICAL1515 Industrial Boulevard806-291-8784
Tri-Star Chemical owner/Managing Partner Brandon Joy has developed his company as a leader in the crop protection business, and has recently expanded his offerings into crop seeds, specifically Americot cotton seed and Hoegemeyer corn and sorghum seeds.
Tri-Star is first and foremost in the crop protection business. Joy said that the company sells pesticides and offers agronomic advice to customers to help them solve their pest problems.
Joy is no stranger to the field, he has an agriculture business degree from Lubbock Christian and a Master of Science degree in crop science from Texas Tech University.
Tri-State not only serves the needs of local farmers, but their business stretches into New Mexico as well as reaching customers north of Amarillo and south of Lubbock.
Tri-Star employees can usually determine what a farmer’s issue is simply by talking to them on the phone and looking at photos of crop
conditions. What can’t be solved through a phone call, Joy said will require a site visit to help out the customer.
The addition of seeds as part of the business lineup was to expand the services offered to customers Joy said.
“We always was to try to take care of the customer by having more products and services available,” he said.
Joy said he is very thankful to be where he is today with the company, which he has owned
since 2007. “I enjoy working with farmers, they are the best
people around,” he said. “It is kind of like a big family. I don’t look at this as a job but something I get to do.”
Joy said his customers are very satisfied with Tri-Star’s services.
“The feedback I get from our growers is very positive,” he said. “We are definitely doing what we set out to do. The most important thing that we do is help the grower.”
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PEOPLE
ACCOUNTANTGold: Rogers, Cross & HambySilver: Lewis Kaufman & Co
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTGold: Vanessa CruzSilver: Veronica Hall
ATTORNEYGold: Terry MCEachernSilver: Paul Holloway
AUTO MECHANIC Gold: Dan ShaferSilver: Paul Waller Garage
BANK TELLERGold: Monica RogersSilver: Rebecca Sauceda
BARBERGold: Kevin SarabiaSilver: Tommy Lopez
BUILDING CONTRACTORGold: Snipes Center ConstructionSilver: Wirth Construction
BUSINESS LEADERGold: Willis McCutcheonSilver: Wendell Dunlap
CAR SALESPERSONGold: John CruzSilver: Joe Barrera
CLERGYGold: Ed JenningsSilver: Nelson Gonzales
COACHGold: Danny Wrenn Silver: Leon Hagerman
COUNCIL PERSONGold: Susan BlackerbySilver: Teressa King
DENTAL HYGENISTGold: Leann McNuttSilver: Regina Boedeker
ELECTRICIANGold: City ElectricSilver: Xcel Energy
FINANCIAL PLANNING CONSULTANTGold: Gary MassingillSilver: John Bertsch
FLORAL DESIGNERGold: Deborah ChandlerSilver: Johnnie Hernandez
GROCERY CASHIERGold: LaDonna MooneySilver: Dorothy Green
HAIR STYLISTGold: Nancy CraftSilver: Norma Galvan
HOME REMODELGold: Harris HomesSilver: Matlock Marble
HOME BUILDERGold: Scott SnipesSilver: Jack Wirth
INSURANCE SALESMANGold: Jan AlfordSilver: Jennie Laird
JUDGEGold: Sheron CollinsSilver: Craig Hukill
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERGold: Amos RodriguezSilver: Scott Young
LAWNCAREGold: J&L LawncareSilver: Jim Harris
LOAN OFFICERGold: Shayla WhalenSilver: Frances Barrera
MAIL CARRIERGold: Jessica VargasSilver:
MASSAGE THERAPISTGold: Rhonda HellerSilver: Kelsey McMillian
NAIL TECHGold: Susan PhanSilver: Shelly Bull
PAINT CONTRACTORGold: Ramirez PaintingSilver: Harris Homes
PET GROOMERGold: Pampered PupSilver: Bow Wow
PLUMBERGold: Robert’s & SonsSilver: Danny Aguirre
PRINCIPALGold: Vicki YoungSilver: Becky Buxton
REALTORGold: Kim StreetSilver: Keith Billington
RETAIL SALESPERSONGold: Rosa Limones Silver: Devin McQueen
ROOFERGold: Tye RoofingSilver: Dickerson Roofing
SCHOOL TEACHERGold: Karen LatimerSilver: Terry Higgins
STOCK & BOND BROKERGold: Gary MassingillSilver: J Pat Manning
TATTOO ARTISTGold: Kevin CustomsSilver: Kevin Hernandez
WAITRESS/WAITERGold: Melissa Dominguez/LealsSilver: Kendra Ross
2017 Readers’ Choice Awards | MyPlainview.com | 41
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE SHERON COLLINSHale County JP 1Hale County Courthouse, Suite 10500 Broadway806-291-5201
Judge Sheron Collins has been Hale County JP1 for over three years, but her experience with the court system goes back over 27 years.
Collins said she started out as the criminal clerk, in the same office she now supervises as a justice of the peace. During her tenure she became the chief deputy when Kaye Phillips was the justice of the peace before throwing her hat in the ring to take on the role of judge herself.
“I just love the work,” Collins said. “No two days are alike. I guess it just got in my blood.”
Collins, who was raised one of four kids by her single mother in Floydada, said that of all the cases she oversees, the nearest and dearest to her heart are the truancy cases. Collins told
the story of one of the kids she saw in her court who had his eighth case filed when she took the bench. Collins said the mother came out in her and eventually she was able to see the young man graduate from high school.
Collins, a mother herself with two boys, Chris, 36 and Zavien, 12, knows the importance of faith and family when it comes to helping others. Collins and her husband Jimmie are members of Happy Union Baptist Church.
“One reason I am able to do this job is my church family is my greatest support,” she said. And that support is important sometimes as a justice of the peace.
“We are considered the coroner or medical examiner for the county,” Collins said. “Being the medical examiner can be very difficult. You get to work with families at one of the hardest times of their lives. It is an opportunity to minister to the family.
Collins work also involves small claims cases, evictions, debt claims, traffic offenses and Class C
violations. As part of her
role as a justice of the peace she has been very involved in helping to create successful programs.
“Two of the most common traffic tickets we see are no insurance and no driver’s license,” she said. “When I have someone come in I may put them on a deferred sentence and make them go and get their license or insurance. It has been a pretty successful program.”
Collins has no plans of slowing down soon as she plans to run again in 2018.
“I do love it,” she said. “I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
HAPPY STATE BANK & TRUST CO.3110 Olton Road806-296-22659 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F
J. Pat Hickman, Chairman and CEO of Happy State Bank, says he wants customers to have a “Happy Experience” when visiting the bank. In fact, the mission and credo of Happy State Bank is “Work hard, have fun, make money, while providing outstanding customer service and honoring the Golden Rule.” Founded in 1908
as First State Bank, Happy, Texas by L. T. Lester, the bank operated only one banking office located in the town of Happy during its first 81 years. Hickman and other investors purchased the bank with its one banking office in 1990 and formed Happy Bancshares, Inc. A plan to serve the Panhandle as a whole was implemented with the concept of providing area residents with a regional bank dedicated to serving multiple communities. As a result of an aggressive growth strategy tied to buying healthy banks with great bankers and providing exceptional customer service, Happy now has a presence in 25 communities with 34 branches across the Texas Panhandle, the South Plains, Lubbock, Abilene and the DFW Metroplex.
Now named Happy State Bank & Trust Co. to reflect its attitude and identify its roots, the bank has been the fastest growing bank in the Texas Panhandle, increasing from six employees to approximately 650 employees and from $13 million in total assets in 1990 to over $3.2 billion in total assets in 2017. Hickman says “we like, know, and understand the Texas Panhandle as well or better than anyone. We understand agriculture, oil and gas, and real estate. We know the people of the Panhandle.” That understanding gives Happy the ability to offer a full array of banking services including personal and commercial banking, investment and trust services, and cash management services for commercial customers. As a leader in the banking industry, Happy provides online banking, ATM/MasterCard debit cards, text banking, and offers a free mobile app for Android, Apple, and Blackberry devices.
Happy believes in the strong Panhandle culture where it’s customary and normal to be genuinely friendly and courteous. What sets
Happy apart is that it wants its customers to have a Happy Experience where the level of service exceeds the normal standard. Hickman says, “We want people to talk about us.” When good service is commonplace, people don’t talk about good service, exceptional service is what “gets people talking” and that’s their objective.
As an excellent corporate citizen, Happy State Bank supports and serves the Panhandle by being involved in the arts, faith-based charities, and “kid related” activities. Happy has stayed involved with education and has supported schools across the Panhandle. Employees are encouraged to serve on school, hospital, and civic boards. The goal at Happy is to keep serving the Panhandle by making people happy and helping them fulfill their personal and financial dreams at Happy State Bank and throughout the community.
Plainview Happy State Bank President Willis McCutcheon said this attitude of giving back to the local community is very present in the Plainview community. Several of the star employees at the local branch in Plainview are home-grown talent.
“One of the caveats of our company is there are lots of ways to reinvest in our communities,” he said.
In that vein, the bank has identified potential local candidates as early as high school and works to develop them into future bank employees and leaders of their community. McCutcheon said several recent hires have already displayed their potential, not just in the banking industry, but as leaders in the community.
“I am proud we are investing in our own local kids,” McCutcheon said. “They are the future here. It has been a godsend filling our positions with skilled local candidates.”
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