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It’s unfortunate, but true: The elderly population may be the most vulnerable group in our society. In fact, in an effort to call attention to the problems of physical, emotional and financial abuse of the elderly, the United Nations has designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. If you have older parents, or even grandparents, can you do to anything to help prevent them from being victimized, especially with regard to their finances?
Actually, there’s a lot you can do. First and foremost, you need to maintain good communications and a trusting relationship with your older family members. As long as these elements are present, you should feel free to make the following suggestions:
Here’s one more thing you can do to help your parents or grandparents avoid financial fraud: If they don’t already work with a trusted, qualified financial professional, introduce them to one. If your parents have a relationship with such a professional, they will be less likely to listen to any questionable, unsolicited offers than if they were trying to manage their finances on their own. You’re in a good position to know how much, or how little, help your elderly loved ones may need in terms of avoiding financial abuse. So be willing to do whatever it takes to help them enjoy their retirement years comfortably. Contributed by Edward Jones |
RIBBON CUTTING
Bois D’ Arc Restaurant
Matt Coyle, Owner
Michael Perry, Chef
Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013
Time: 4:00 PM
Address: 208 South Main Street
To those attending the ceremony, Owner Matt Coyle will offer a special featuring 50 percent off of each menu order.
Mark your calendar to welcome this new restaurant to our Chamber family.
Please RSVP to Judy at 903.784.2501 or e-mail judy@paristexas.com.
The minds behind Urway Fabrication are no strangers to business, although their foray into the oilfield equipment industry is proving to be a beneficial shift from the usual.
“We have some family and friends who work on the oil fields,” President Jeff Gilbert said. “The time seemed to be right. This is more my cup of tea, anyway.”
The founders started kicking the idea around in November. By February, Urway Fabrication had become a limited liability company. They set up shop in the former Paris Custom Trailer shop on Airport Road, and by April the first flare stack was ready to roll out the door.
Running a business was nothing new. Gilbert has owned Inflatable Fun Rentals for approximately 10 years. Before that venture, he manufactured dairy waste management equipment for Agpro while Vice President Kevin Pilip has worked as a welder all over the country, including Turner Pipe, power plants and concrete plants.
What many may not realize is there’s much more involved in creating a usable oil well than digging a hole. They don’t just produce oil. Everything is run through a separator to separate the gas, water and oil, allowing the gas to be fed through a flare and burned off.
This step is where Urway (pronounced “your way”) comes in. The company’s main product is the UR-FL40, a portable flare stack used for temporary applications, but they are preparing to start bidding on the separators, as well.
Gilbert has the knowhow and room in the 22,000 square-foot facility at 1540 Airport Road to build a wide assortment of products, which was a reason why he didn’t focus on flares or even oilfield equipment when naming his company.
“I wanted it to be kind of generic, because who knows?” he said. “In 10 years, we might be doing something completely different.”
Lamar County is one of the few counties in Texas without active oil production, Gilbert said, which keeps Urway competitive, since labor costs are lower here than in areas that have a lot of oil and gas production.
“For years, people have been going out west and down south to make the oil money,” he said. “There’s no reason we can’t get some of it up here. Out there, everybody is out in the field making $50 per hour. They can’t get anyone to work in the shops.”
Gilbert plans to be a “virtual” client of the Red River Region Business Incubator. He has experience running his own business, but Urway could rapidly become a much bigger operation than inflatable rentals. R3bi’s business mentoring could be a big asset as he learns about subjects such as managing his assets, marketing and the like.
“We’re going to be successful,” he said. “I’m hoping the incubator will help us be successful quicker.”
The goal is to build up a client base of a half-dozen or so companies. Within a half-year, Gilbert said he’d like to have a couple of dozen people turning out around $500,000 in products each month.
R3bi is assisting with the acquisition of a patent on a new type of portable stack he designed to reduce emissions.
“Flare stacks seemed to be one of the simplest pieces that I felt there is room to improve on,” he said. “Most people use really simple flares, but the EPA is going to start regulating the portable stacks like they do the permanent ones. We’re trying to get ahead of the curve.”
The flare stack is essentially a big pipe mounted on a trailer. Hydraulics raise and lower the stack as wide arms, called outriggers, come off of the sides to support it. Several jacks positioned around the trailer keep it stable, and everything that moves is locked into place with heavy pins.
The flare itself has a propane-powered pilot light that is lit with a spark igniter, similar to modern gas heaters. As a bonus for customers, the flare tip is a separate piece that can be replaced in the case of a burnout. Many stacks are all one unit, and if the flare is destroyed, the entire piece has to be replaced, according to Pilip.
The piece is mounted on a custom-built trailer that doubles as a utility trailer – a unique feature for Urway. One client said that saves as much as $150,000 each year because it eliminates the need for another truck, trailer and driver for more equipment.
“It’s a self-contained piece of equipment. From the time you pull up and unhook it, you can have this thing set up in six, eight minutes,” Pilip said. “We’re trying to do some things that nobody else is doing and improve the quality.”
According to Pilip, such a goal is imperative as most new suppliers only get one shot to establish a reputation, and poor quality and safety will ruin that faster than nearly anything. So far, the company’s equipment is being well-received in an industry Gilbert described as a tight-knit community.
“Everyone is nice to you, but it’s hard to get in to see the guy you need,” he said. “We got lucky with the company we’re working with now. They’re new, too.”
Customers Invited to Round Up Purchases to Benefit Mentoring Youth
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, is joining forces with Jcpenney in June for the retailer’s charitable giving program, ‘JCP Cares‘. By rounding-up purchases both in-store and online at jcp.com, customers support maintaining and monitoring long-term mentoring matches to help children who face adversity in school and life.
“The support that the Jcpenney Cares program is providing Big Brothers Big Sisters will help us match additional children with a caring adult mentor in our local community. Our young people need guides. They need role models. They need a trusted, supportive companion. They need a mentor,” stated Emily Neeley, BBBS Regional Executive Director. “Through these additional resources that jcpenney is providing, it will enable us to provide support to ensure that we have longer, stronger matches and that we are making an positive impact in the life of that child.”
“Our partnership with JCP Cares aligns perfectly with the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Start Something brand message, which tells people and organizations there are many ways they can support mentoring; volunteering is just one of them,” said Charles Pierson, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America president and CEO. “JCP Cares is providing financial support and awareness that will make resources available to help our local agencies carefully match more volunteers and children and provide support needed to keep the mentoring going strong long-term.”
Jcpenney stores in Paris, Texas and across the nation will invite customers to become friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters by rounding up purchases to the nearest dollar and donating the difference to the nationwide mentoring organization. In addition, jcpenney will donate $1 for every $50 gift card sold in June, up to $50,000, giving Big Brothers Big Sisters an opportunity to receive additional funding.
“We are incredibly excited to support an organization that is making such a profound impact on the lives of children educationally, socially and emotionally,” said Miki Woodard, JCP Cares president and vice president of philanthropy for Jcpenney. “Additionally, we’re proud to have our long time brand partner, Haggar, by our side to fortify these efforts.”
Haggar will also support Big Brothers Big Sisters by running an in-store campaign at all Jcpenney locations June 1-30. For any pair of Haggar pants purchased, Haggar will donate $1 to Big Brothers Big Sisters, with a contribution of up to $50,000. Customers will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a trip to the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend in Canton, Ohio.
“I am delighted that Haggar has joined the nationwide mentoring network as a corporate partner,” said Lynn Swann, former professional football player and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America alumnus board member and national spokesperson. “It’s a perfect fit, as Haggar and Big Brothers Big Sisters have a shared commitment to help children, families and communities thrive. I will always be proud to wear my Haggar NFL Hall of Fame jacket, just as I will continue to cherish the years I’ve been privileged to serve Big Brothers Big Sisters.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters will host its Reunite Now national conference in Denver, Colo. June 24-30. On June 26, Jcpenney will sponsor a special luncheon at the conference where the retailer will reveal a fashion makeover for a former “Big” and “Little,” followed by a surprise reunion of the two. Throughout the conference week, Big Brothers Big Sisters employees will encourage Bigs, Littles, family members and friends to replace their Facebook profile picture with a special badge that displays the partnering organizations’ logos.
“We can not thank jcpenney enough for the difference they are making, not only locally, but nationally,” Regional Executive Director Neely said in closing.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey Report reinforces the mentoring program’s evidence base of positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history. With about 350 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters and ways that you can volunteer contact Emily Neeley, Regional Executive Director at 1.888.887.2447 ext. 503 or email eneeley@bbbstx.org.
About Haggar Clothing Co.
Since its beginnings in a one-room office in Dallas, Texas in 1926, Haggar Clothing Co. has grown from a manufacturer of men’s fine dress pants and slacks, into one of the most recognized and original apparel brands in the market. Haggar coined the term “slacks” in 1938 and continued to lead menswear innovation with the introduction of pre-cuffed pants, expandable waist pants, wrinkle-free cotton casual pants, and suit separates. In addition to its Haggar® brand, the company has developed and launched the highly successful and eco-friendly LK Life Khaki™ brand. Haggar is the official clothing partner of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Haggar Clothing Co. today commands the #1 market position in men’s dress pants in the United States, as well as the #2 share in men’s casual pants, and has been a leader in men’s apparel for over 85 years.
On 
Monday, June 24 from 4-8 pm, Paris Regional Medical
Center will host a job fair to recruit and hire Registered Nurses and a
Family Nurse Practitioner for full-time and PRN positions.
Paris Regional will hold on-site interviews for nurses in Behavioral
Medicine, Emergency Room, Float Pool, House Supervisor, Intensive Care Unit,
Labor and Delivery, Medical Surgical, Observation, Oncology, Patient
Transfer Center, Rehab, Step-Down, Surgery and West Paris Clinic.
Registration will be in the front lobby at PRMC,
865 DeShong Drive, Paris, Texas 75460. Interviews will be conducted in Lewis
Hall. Participants should bring a resume and nursing license with them. Job
offers will be made on-site.
Full-time positions offer generous benefits, including medical, dental,
vision, life AD/D, long term disability, short term disability, flexible
spending accounts, 401k, vacation time, sick time, bereavement, jury duty,
major holidays and tuition assistance.
Refreshments will be offered in the cafeteria for those awaiting their
interviews. Participants will also receive a ticket for PRMC door prizes.
For more information on positions available, or if you are unable to attend,
please visit www.parisregionalmedical.com or call (903) 739-7515.
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