New, larger, more accessible fire station about to open

Comings and Goings

New, larger, more accessible fire station about to open
Joyce Lobeck, Business Editor
May 1, 2005

After months of watching the rise of the new city of Yuma Fire Station 3 from sand lot to state-of-the-art building, it's grand opening time. The new station, 508 E. 25th St., will have a ribbon cutting May 16.

Officials say they hope to be moved into the new facility and operating out of it by May 27.

It will replace the station at 2450 S. Madison Ave., built in 1959, which served its purpose but has been outgrown, said Steve Legros, Yuma Fire Department spokesman. The city will hang onto that building, but plans for its future use are still being determined.

The new station is much larger, built to earthquake codes so it can remain operational in case of a disaster, is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and has separate bunkrooms to provide firefighters with more privacy, less exposure to colds and such and space for study, Legros said.

"It was designed by firefighters so it is more firefighter friendly to live and work there," he said.

Legros said the new station is in a more accessible area, and even though it is located near the busy 24th Street-Arizona Avenue intersection, it will be easier and safer for fire trucks to pull out in response to a call, Legros said. That's because the station has a long exit lane so exiting trucks would be more visible to traffic, there is clear visibility in both directions for the fire truck drivers and Arizona Avenue has a center turn lane for vehicles to pull over.

Fisher Kia, 2841 S. Pacific Ave., is slated to become Zamora Kia.

Willy and Kim Zamora are in the process of acquiring the Kia dealership from Joe Fisher Jr.

Willy, general manager of the Fisher Dodge dealership for 10 years, recently was offered the chance by Fisher to purchase the dealership. Kim, who is Fisher's sister, will be active in the dealership with the marketing.

Willy said he is looking forward to having his own dealership. He will be acquiring a recently expanded showroom and a new shop "so I'm getting a nice facility."

The business includes the Kia dealership and used vehicle sales as well as service and parts departments.

"Old, new, used and elegant junque" is how Peggy Pilger describes the offerings in her newly opened shop, Pegtiques at 225 S. Main St. While she's just getting open, she isn't a newcomer to the business or the downtown area.

She had a shop the same name at the same address for nine years, but had to close because of illness. Healthy again, she decided to reopen her store. "I had three sheds full of stuff for the store and such loyal customers," she explained. "I'm thrilled to be back."

This time, her store will be larger, she said, adding that it will take up the entire space which in the past she had set up as a mini-mall with other tenants.

Some of the special things customers will find are "Just the Right Shoe" miniature collectable shoes, depression glass and vintage costume jewelry.

The store hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. She can be reached at 373-3176.

The Russell Coil plant in Yuma, a manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration products, will be expanding.

Because of plans by owner Carrier to consolidate product lines from a Texas site, the Yuma plant will be renovating some of its warehouse space to add assembly lines.

It also is looking to hire 28 assemblers. The company will hold a job fair from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Ramada Inn-Chilton Conference Center, 300 E. 32nd St.

The Russell Coil plant was built in 1986. It is located at 3860 S. Arizona Ave.

Quality Rehabilitation Network Inc. has announced it is opening a Foothills office and has plans for a new facility in Yuma. Currently the business operates out-patient physical therapy offices in Yuma, Wellton and San Luis, Ariz., known as Quality Rehabilitation Network-Yuma, San Luis Physiotherapy and Wellton Physiotherapy.

Monday, Foothills Physiotherapy will be opening at 11611 Foothills Blvd., Suite D. Carl Malmquist will be the clinic’s lead physical therapist and director. It will accept all insurances, including Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Medicare and Workmen’s Compensation.

Yet to come is Family Physiotherapy, a 2,400-square-foot office to be located at Picacho Medical Plaza, next to Julieanna’s Restaurant in Yuma. Projected opening of that clinic is set for Sept. 1.

Quality Rehabilitation Network Inc. is owned by David Gladysz and Sergio Macias, both of whom are physical therapists. The average experience level of all the company's therapists is more than 10 years working with a variety of patients, including geriatrics, pediatrics, athletic and work injuries, strokes and amputees.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the central office at 722-6050 and ask for Maria Avila.

LensCrafters reportedly is in the process of hiring for a shop to be located at Yuma Palms Regional Center as well as for Sun Glass Hut, which the company also owns.

Target opening for LensCrafters, which provides eye examinations and prescription eyeware, is mid-July. Possible opening for Sun Glass Hut is August.

In other Yuma Palms activity, walls are going up for Kohl's Department Store, and finishing touches continue for Chili's, which earlier announced a May 19 opening date. Subway opened Saturday, and Burrito Grill and Kirkland's are slated to open May 15.

Olive Garden is still in the building plan review process, but permits possibly could be issued by mid-May. A liquor license has also been applied for. The restaurant will be located at the northeast corner of Yuma Palms Parkway and 16th Street in the shopping center.

Kevin Whitener and Shelly Woodward have just opened the doors on their new business, Kevco Pools and Spas, located at 1185 S. 4th Ave., Suite K. The store has various makes of spas and above ground pools. It also stocks a line of spa and pool products and cleaning supplies.

Kevin said he's been working in the concrete and swimming pool business since his teen years, and most recently was manager of Specialty Pools.

Deciding he was ready to go out on his own, he's "jumped in with both feet."

Asked how it was going so far since opening in mid-April, he replied, "I made the first month's rent."

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 783-5474.

Yuma was ranked No. 3 on a real estate industry Web site's list of America's Top 100 Places to Live in 2005. (Spencer, Iowa, and Long Beach, N.Y., were first and second.)

The list by Relocate America is based on such nonscientific factors as nomination ballots and number of consumer inquiries about a given area. The Web site, www.relocate-america.com/, says the list "is for fun and educational purposes only."

Communities selected for the TOP 100 are judged on three criteria chosen by Relocate-America.com staff: 1) Is the community represented on our site? 2) Are local residents getting involved with input and town support? and 3) Does the information submitted make us want to live there?

The description about Yuma County states that its "residents take pride in a lifestyle rich with history and culture, blessed with a diverse and healthy economy."

Yuma Business Direct is conducting a survey regarding readership interest in the various features of the business publication. To take part, visit http://yumasun.com/ybdsurvey.

By the way, the newest issue of the publication is now available online at www.yuma businessdirect.com.

The cover story is about Art Elias and Frank Gilmore, co-owners of Quick Refrigeration Co., which turns 50 this month.

To report Comings & Goings, e-mail jlobeck@yumasun.com or call Joyce Lobeck at 539-6853.