Mary Deyle awarded Hall of Fame honor

By Jan Schultz
The Imperial Republican
At the annual Business Retention and Expansion Awards Program May 7, six businesses, two service groups and an individual were recognized for their service to the Chamber of Commerce and community.
Co-sponsored with the city of Imperial, the awards program was held at Pinnacle Bank during a social hour.
Randy Vlasin, executive director of the Chase County Hospital Foundation, announced the awards.
Prior to those awards being distributed, Jason Tuller, Imperial’s community development director, noted the city contributes to the funding for this awards program from its LB840 sales tax money.
“It’s a way to say thanks to those in the community who go above and beyond in building their businesses here,” he said.
Mary Deyle, a long-time Chamber member who has served on many committees and in several offices, earned the Hall of Fame Award. The award is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution both to the community and the Chamber for more than 10 years.    
Previous Hall of Fame honorees include Don Newman, Connie Dart, Sue Moore and Merrilyn Leibbrandt.
All of the honorees recognized last Tuesday received attractive statuettes.
Here are the recipients:
Rising Star
Platinum T-Shirt & Embroidery was started by Dianne Way two summers ago and offers a wide array of t-shirt designs and embroidery services.
The Rising Star Award recognizes Chamber businesses that have been in operation less than five years and provide a new or improved product or service to the area.
Best Store Front
McNair Agency, in business in Imperial 54 years, earned this award recognizing businesses for making substantial improvements to their business or store front in the last 12-18 months.
Additional offices, a reception area and large conference room equipped for video conferencing were included in the 2012 remodeling project.
Customer Service Award
Adams Bank & Trust earned this award given to a business that excels in customer service and is considered a good corporate neighbor.
Founded in 1916, the bank has grown to $500 million in assets at 16 locations including Imperial. Adams Bank & Trust is family-owned and is one of the largest ag banks in the nation.  
Special Recognition Award
This award recognizes Chamber businesses that have invested in new or expanded facilities or major equipment upgrades.
Veterinary Services added a new office/exam/surgery building in 2012, and the old building was remodeled to add more kennel space. A new large animal processing barn is up and final additions are being made on a hydraulic tip-over chute.
Good Neighbor Award
Imperial Super Foods earned this award that recognizes owners or employees who make an overwhelming contribution of their time and talents to the community. Super Foods is a repeat recipient of this award, also receiving it in 2010.
Super Foods has been in business in Imperial since 1979, and before served the community as Hoff’s. Brad and Jill Moline purchase the grocery store 11 years ago. They credited a dedicated staff and five long-time managers.
Best Foot Forward Award
Troxell’s Heating and Appliance earned this recognition given to a Chamber business  that has performed exceptionally the past year to improve its business.
Owners Aaron and Michelle Troxell purchased Robb’s Sales and Service in 2010, and recently moved to their current location at 533 Broadway, which underwent major renovation. The business has four full-time employees.
Friend of the Chamber
Imperial EMS and Imperial Volunteer Fire Department shared this award given for the first time this year. The award was created to recognize an individual or group who volunteer many hours to the community and are not Chamber members.    
Imperial EMS has 25 members and the IVFD consists of 35 firefighters.
Imperial EMS has anywhere from 240 to 275 calls per year, while the fire department in 2012 had 84 calls for service.

By Russ Pankonin
The Imperial Republican
Pumping at the Rock Creek augmentation project has reached the capacity of the pipeline with a total of 10 wells operating.
During the Upper Republican Natural Resources District meeting last week, board member received updates on the progress of the project.
With 10 wells operating, the field is producing 12,736 gallons per minute. The pumps are operating at various levels, ranging from a high of 1,465 gpm to 1,108 gpm with pressures running between 50-70 lbs.
At present pumping levels, the amount of water flowing into the Republican River should total 16,000 acre-feet (AF) by the end of the year.
The URNRD gets 69 percent credit towards compact com-pliance for each acre-foot pumped. At that rate, URNRD will get credit for slightly more than 11,000 AF.
To remain in compliance, the Department of Natural Resources has told the  URNRD that it needs  to offset 10,680 AF of over-pumping that occurred in 2012.
Should a big rain event occur in the district, pumping from the project could be reduced, according to Assistant Manager Dirk Dinnel.
Stream flow up
Dinnel said historic stream flow in the Republican River at Parks totalled 13-15 cubic feet per second (cfs) prior to irrigation development.
Flows in the river now measure 33 cfs, which is more than double historic levels. When pumping at the project began, stream flow in the Republican stood at 7 cfs.
Dinnel said pumping costs are running from $55,000 to $60,000 per month during the non-irrigation rate season. That figure will increase to around $70,000 per month during the irrigation rate season.