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Holze Hearing
A hearing on Holze Music Co.’s ongoing financial problems scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today has been cancelled.
The hearing on whether to grant a temporary restraining order to prevent Holze from disposing of any instruments it put up as collateral on a loan was to be heard in Judge Vicki Menard’s 414th State District Court in Waco.
GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corp. has filed suit against Holze, a 71-year-old Waco-based business, claiming it is in default on more than $450,000 in payments to the finance company. Part of that debt, it says, has accumulated because Holze has failed to make payments for the sale of instruments it put up as collateral.
Holze owner Rob Gibson said this morning he and his attorneys continue to negotiate with GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corp. over the debt.
“We’re working things out with all interested parties,” said Gibson. “I’m talking with several different investors, and we’ll see where things go from there.”
Gibson this week paid off a $170,000 delinquent sales tax debt he owed the state comptroller’s office. He said he will reopen his flagship store on Lake Air Drive early next week, but the fate of the other nine stores he operates around the state remains uncertain. He likely will close those not performing well.
“We’re going to identify the most profitable way to move forward,” said Gibson, who has blamed his issues with the state on cash-flow problems.
Buffey E. Klein, an attorney in Memphis, Tenn., who filed the suit on behalf of GE, could not be reached for comment on Friday.
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Jason
Jason, I appreciate your comments and questions, and I assure you, I am checking into the questions that you raise about new businesses in the Waco area.
I am sorry that you have become disenchanted with some of the off-base comments that appear on Mike’s Marketplace.
Please keep tuning in, and I promise to get fresh information to you about the local marketplace as quickly as possible.
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World Trade
Making sure that artisans from around the world receive fair pay for their work is the goal of the Fair Trade Federation.
Its work was the subject of an informational meeting this morning at the World Cup Cafe, 15th Street and Colcord Avenue in North Waco.
The Fair Trade Market inside the World Cup Cafe sells items provided by wholesalers who have been “Fair Trade” certified, said spokeswoman Laura Mitchell.
Profit on the items goes to Mission Waco, which tries to empower the poor of Waco by providing job training, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and GED classes, among other services.
The Fair Trade Federation has eight guidelines that must be followed if an entity is to receive the “Fair Trade” designation:
— Paying fair wages in the local context. — Supporting participatory, safe and healthy workplaces. — Supplying financial and technical support. — Ensuring environmental sustainability. — Respecting cultural identity. — Offering public accountability and transparency. — Building direct and long-term relationships. — Educating consumers.
More information is available at www.FairTradeFederation.org.
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Shrek Downtown
Shrek is coming to downtown Waco.
The Downtown Merchants Association confirmed today that the movie by that name will be shown on a 30-by-50-foot inflatable screen the evening of May 15. The public is invited to attend this free showing at Third Street and Austin Avenue.
DMA board members met at Cafe Cappuccino to talk about the showing of Shrek, which is part of the DMA’s effort to bring more people downtown. It is called a “Third Thursday” promotion that includes the “Movies In The Square” concept. The mixed-use development taking shape in the heart of downtown is called Waco Town Square.
Popcorn will be free at the Shrek showing, and soft drinks will be for sale. Those under age 12 will receive a free day pass to Waco’s water park.
DMA chairman Michael Wray said plans are under way for a community pep rally on Aug. 21 to kick off the fall football season in Central Texas. Players from local high schools and from Baylor University likely will attend.
In other business today, Wray said the DMA will ask the marketing committee of Waco’s Public Improvement District for $5,000. The DMA hopes to use the money to create a Web site that will keep the public informed of downtown activities.
The DMA also is pursuing tax-exempt status and has begun discussing annual membership fees.
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Child Care
Bellmead Calvary Christian Child Care Center will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. May 18 at its new facility at 910 E. Loop 340, just north of Orchard Lane.
This new center will be licensed to care for more than 150 children. It will open in June and hopes to reach full enrollment by August.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by a service of celebration.
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Holze Hearing
A hearing on Holze Music Co.’s troubled financial situation has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday in Judge Vicki Menard’s 414th State District Court in Waco.
GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corp. claims in a lawsuit that Holze Music Co. is in default on more than $450,000 in payments to the finance company. It has requested a temporary restraining order to prevent Holze from doing anything that might jeopardize the status of equipment and instruments it has put up as collateral on the loan.
The state Comptroller’s Office on Friday seized the Holze store at 1210 Lake Air Drive and its contents because Holze still owes $158,000 in delinquent sales taxes.
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Downtown Merchants
The Downtown Merchants Association will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Cafe Cappuccino’s new location at Sixth Street and Washington Avenue.
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Habitat House
Alcoa Fastening Systems is helping to fund construction of a Habitat for Humanity house at 1125 Holt Ave. for Felipe and Mayra Sanchez.
Additional funding for the home is provided by TYMCO, a local maker of street sweepers, and the Waco Association of Realtors.
This is the seventh Habitat for Humanity home Alcoa Fastening Systems has helped fund and build since 2001.
Waco Habitat for Humanit is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes in partnership with low-income families.
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Big Day For Caterpillar
Caterpillar has two big events planned Wednesday in Waco.
First, at 10:30 a.m., it will break ground on a 500,000-square-foot parts distribution center that will employ 140 to 180 and open in 2009.
This facility will provide aftermarket parts for six Caterpillar dealers in North America.
Later, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Holt Cat will celebrate its 75th anniversary as a Caterpillar dealer with a party for employees and customers at Waco’s Holt Cat dealership, 1700 W. Loop 340.
Peter Holt, president and CEO of Holt Cat, will speak at the event, which Cat officials say could attract hundreds of guests. Holt may be better known as owner of the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.
San Antonio-based Holt Cat plans anniversary celebrations this year at all 12 of its stores around the state.
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Scoop Night
The Baskin-Robbins store at 1547 Wooded Acres Drive is having 31-cent scoop night from 5 to 10 Wednesday evening.
It will discount the price of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents and donate proceeds to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. A fire truck will be parked in the parking lot, and firemen will be available to answer questions.
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New Bellmead Biz
Texas Machine-Tool International is getting a new $1.83 million building courtesy of the Bellmead Economic Development Corp.
Company president Mike Sullivan said he will begin hiring additional workers after the 25,000-square-foot plant is ready for occupancy, probably by the end of the year. The company now employs 16, but Sullivan said it has had to turn down business because it does not have enough space in its current location on Old Dallas Road in Waco.
The company has been around since 2003, and has seen its annual revenue grow to $3.5 million. It specializes in building and rebuilding production machinery for oil field and aerospace clients, including L-3 Communications in Waco.
Bellmead is paying to build the company a new home from its economic development fund. It will have 7,850 square feet of office space in addition to the plant space and will be located at 600 Research Blvd.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Thursday.
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H-E-B Earth Day
Just a reminder that H-E-B will celebrate Earth Day from 3 to 7 p.m. today by giving away reusable shopping bags to customers who bring five plastic shopping bags or more to any store for recycling.
The company plans to give away 150,000 reusable shopping bags in a single day.
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Biz After Hours
H-E-B will sponsor Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. May 1.
It will be held at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course, 5200 Bagby Ave.
Anyone with a business card is invited to attend.
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Safe Driver
Christopher Commerford, who lives in Waco with his wife, Lori, has been named Driver of the Month for February by Shaffer Trucking.
Shaffer Trucking, based in New Kingstown, Pa., and York, Neb., is one of the nation’s leading refrigerated carriers. Its specialty is hauling candy.
Commerford works out of the terminal in Wilmer, Texas.
To be named Driver of the Month, drivers must be accident-free for the month of recognition, maintain steady production, keep accurate logs and warrant no disciplinary action stemming from complaints within or without the company.
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Cracker Barrel
If you’ve ever stopped at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Waco, you know that crowds are commonplace. Fortunately, the country store is filled with toys, clothing, oddities and books that make for fun browsing.
Cracker Barrel obviously is popular in Central Texas, so it was only a matter of time before another location was built.
Temple is getting one at Interstate 35 and Loop 363, according to the local office of Associated General Contractors.
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Cat Groundbreaking
Caterpillar, the heavy equipment maker, has scheduled a ceremonial groundbreaking for the 500,000-square-foot parts distribution center it plans for Waco.
The ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. April 30 at 2901 Gateway Blvd. in the West Waco industrial district.
The distribution center will employ between 140 and 180 people. It will provide aftermarket parts support to six Caterpillar dealers in North America.
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More Goody’s
The Goody’s store in Waco is one of about 20 underperforming stores the Tennessee-based chain is closing, company spokeswoman Kristen Alm said.
Another Texas store in Abilene will be shuttered, as will stores in South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, West Virginia and Louisiana.
The apparel chain will still have 355 stores operating when the closings are completed.
Alm said the closings are meant “to make the chain healthier.”
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Goody’s Closing
The Goody’s family clothing store at 4800 Franklin Ave. will close by June 1. The store already has begun advertising reduced prices for its closeout sale.
Goody’s opened its Waco store in November 1999. Recently it operated as an outlet location for the Tennessee-based chain.
I’m told that other Goody’s locations are closing, and I’m tracking down the details.
Stay tuned.
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H-E-B Earth Day
Baylor University women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey will join other guests in a tree-planting ceremony April 22 at the H-E-B store on Woodway Drive.
The festivities begin at 11 a.m., as H-E-B celebrates Earth Day. Woodway Mayor Donald J. Baker and store director Rick Winters will plant a Southern Live Oak tree grown by Green Valley Growers in Willis, Texas.
From 3 to 7 p.m. that day, H-E-B employees at stores all over Waco will give away reusable shopping bags to customers who bring five plastic shopping bags or more for recycling.
H-E-B stores statewide will give away 150,000 reusable bags that day.
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Near Luxury
Cars.com has come up with a list of the top 10 “luxury impersonators,” which it describes as vehicles offering a luxury look and feel for under $30,000.
Here’s the rundown:
- Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SE priced at $19,850.
- Mazda3, Mazda3 Grand Touring priced at $20,195.
- Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu 2LT, $22,485.
- Honda Accord, Accord 2.4 EX-L, $25,160.
- Honda CR-V, CR-V EX-L FWD, $25,500.
- Nissan Altima Coupe, Altima 2.5 S w/premium package, $25,770.
- Saturn Vue, Vue XR FWD w/premium trim package, $25,875.
- Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Limited FWD, $28,100.
- Buick Lucerne, Lucerne CXL, $29,400.
- Ford Edge, Edge SEL FWD w/premium package, $29,405.
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Tax Tips
Today is “tax” day.
If you’re expecting a refund, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants offers these tips for using it wisely and improving your financial situation:
- Pay down debt, especially balances on high-interest credit cards.
- Fund your retirement. Consider investing all or at least some of your tax refund in a tax-favored retirement account.
- Establish or replenish your emergency fund. Generally, CPAs say you should have six months’ worth of living expenses set aside in case of a job loss or emergency.
- Do some preventive maintenance or improvements to your home.
- Take a vacation. Spending quality time with your family is a good investment, as long as you are not under any other financial strains.
Latest comments
Oh come on people! If Fred’s comments bother you why don’t you just stop reading them? I do it all the time. Anytime I see Fred has posted an entry I just skip that one. Try it! Goodness.
... read the full comment by sue | Comment on Shrek Downtown Read Shrek Downtown
Fred, “If” is my favorite poem. I may have to go reread it for the umpteenth time. Thanks for quoting it. You do know that it was written by Kipling for his son. I have read it to my 2 sons so many times.
... read the full comment by Hal | Comment on Child Care Read Child Care
Yes, I agree. Either shut down the blog or shut down Fred. Fred can be blocked off the blog. Fred is an idiot.
... read the full comment by Sandy | Comment on Shrek Downtown Read Shrek Downtown
Yeah, it might be time to shut down the comment sections.
I hate to see it happen, but the comments just get more and more off-base.
... read the full comment by Publius | Comment on Big Day For Caterpillar Read Big Day For Caterpillar