Bruning Grocery Awarded for Excellence
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TThayerhayer CCountyounty FFairair The Hebron ournal rresultsesults iinside!nside! $100 J egister Volume 145, Issue 32 20 Pages, Two Sections, Plus Supplements WWednesdayednesday, AAugustugust 1100, 2201016 www.hebronjournalregister.comR Tidbits Bruning Grocery awarded for excellence By Nancy McGill Fishing volunteers to Hebron Journal-Register [email protected] host Carp-A-Thon Bruning Grocery has carved itself a The Alexandria Fishing Volunteers paragraph in the permanent Congres- Club will host the Alexandria Carp-A- sional Record. Thon Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The family-owned business was Alexandria State Recreation Area. one of eight to receive the “Excel- The family fi shing event includes lence in Economic Development a night of camping and morning of award from Congressman Adrian fi shing. Smith, who solicited nominations in The volunteers will be teaching May and ended up with more than on how to snag carp, baits, cleaning fi sh, cooking, handling and they will 50 businesses from 30 communities furnish recipes. in the Third District. In addition, they will assist with “I join your family, friends and casting, tying knots and fi sh identi- neighbors in acknowledging your ac- fi cation. complishments and applauding your A state park permit, fi shing license efforts, and hope they will inspire and camping fee are required for this increased economic development, activity. Participants should bring which will strengthen communities their own poles, bait and archery across the Third District,” Smith supplies. stated in a letter to the grocery last Prizes will be awarded for the larg- month. est carp and the most carp. Paul Philippi, who is third gen- The volunteers promote Lake eration to lead the store, said Smith Alexandria with its safe and acces- stopped in last year. sible shorelines. “We talked about the struggles in More volunteers and fi shing instruc- a small town, like the diffi culties in tors are needed to join to the club. customer fl ow,” Philippi said. Paul and Kurt Philippi of Bruning Grocery. Kurt is second generation and Paul, third, in the ownership and opera- Everyone is welcome to help and A customer nominated the gro- tions of the store. Kurt’s father, Rex, bought the grocery in the 1970’s from Paul’s maternal grandparents. ideas are encouraged. cery. Email ngpc.rock.creek. “We had no clue we had won,” our niche because we do it really We’ve got really good workers,” also added a couple aisles. [email protected]. Philippi said about that Monday well.” he said. We know everybody and “We needed the capacity. Every morning they all came to work, only At the same time, Philippi said we work really hard. It’s comfort- year, we have a little bit of growth,” Beef Cookoff Friday at to be congratulated and learn their they have to work within areas of able. You don’t regret coming to Philippi said. accolade was shared the day before the store to stay current. work.” It’s not easy thriving amidst Dol- Stastny on Facebook. “We are trying to better in our The store’s employees stand out lar stores and Walmarts, but Philippi The Hebron Chamber of Com- The store was hailed on Smith’s freezers and match what the people in Philippi’s view. takes a unique stance. merce Beef Cookoff is Aug. 12 at site for “exceptional service,” ability want,” he said. “Our employees are awesome. He said he’ll never match the the Stastny Community Center to draw shoppers from surrounding His grandfather Rex Philippi We have long standing employees, pricing or hours of the corporate and is a fundraiser for the chamber. communities, for its competitive bought the store in 1973 and in 1984, some for 15 or 20 years. These girls giants, but if he can’t draw cus- Proceeds will go to park improve- prices and the “vibrancy” Bruning Philippi’s father, Kurt, continued the go above and beyond, more than I tomers into the rural experience, ments and projects. Grocery adds to the town’s main evolving legacy. ask them,” he said. then he needs to offer something For more information, email street. “It seems like with each genera- It gives Philippi pride, but it’s not different. tion, new ideas crop up. When dad his doing, he added. [email protected]. In telling the story, Philippi said the “So far, we’ve been able to bal- store builds on the services it provides came in, there wasn’t much for pop “It’s theirs,” he said. ance it and we hope to continue Opening day for area and strives to improve. and chips, so he brought that in,” Consistent expansion is another that,” he said. Always. Philippi said. survival tactic of the rural grocery He encourages shoppers who schools coming “We have a strong meat depart- He said he joined the business right store. haven’t visited the store to “check ment – you want a steak, we’ll cut out of college in 2008, but Philippi Big changes in the 1990s saw it out.” Thayer Central’s fi rst day of has been in retail grocery as far back Bruning Grocery with new areas “Be proactive and come in, try school will be Sept. 6 because of it for you. Our hamburger is ground fresh multiple times a day,” he as he can remember. for its specialty in meat, and storage it out and ask questions,” Philippi the new addition. School begins “The grocery business is fun. loading and unloading. The Philippis said. at 8:15 a.m. Classes will be dis- said. “We just try and keep that as missed at 3:35 p.m. for elementary and 3:41 p.m. for junior and senior high school students. Buses will run accordingly and Toad’s Place open for lunch, supper and late nights times remain the same as last By Nancy McGill Hebron Journal-Register year. New rural patrons wanting [email protected] to ride the bus should contact the Toad’s in Belvidere is now Toad’s director of transportation, Denny Place. It is open for lunch and supper Fangmeier at 402-768-1388. with wings and sandwiches added to Deshler Public Schools open the Toad’s menu. their doors to students Aug. 15. A group of neighboring investors This year, the school will celebrate came together to keep Toad’s open the addition of an eight-lane 400- once owner Mark Sittler announced meter track with nine lanes on the he was closing after 33 years. west straight away. Sittler’s last day was May 28. Ryan An underground sprinkler sys- and Samantha Stradley went through tem will also be installed for the more than a month of cleaning and football field and outside the construction to swing the door open track. for business July 8. Future renovations included the “We had a band our fi rst night. We purchase and installation of new had a good 200 people,” Samantha bleachers and lights, according to Stradley said. the board’s plans posted during the The country-rock band, 7 Days 2015-2016 school year. Sober with local Cole Harris on Bruning-Davenport Unified guitar and vocals, asked Stradley if School begins its year Aug. 17. they could play. Students in pre-kindergarten “It was the fi rst country-ever band in Toad’s,” Stradley chuckled. through grade one will be in Behind the front door, Stradley Bruning, along with students in said they brightened up the fi rst of grades nine through 12. three rooms with new walls, ceiling Students in grades two through and lighting. eight will attend school in Dav- “The day we signed paperwork, enport. we were in there cleaning it out,” Diamond plating illuminates the newly renovated room in Toad’s Place. A group of investors came together for the Preschoolers age three will at- she said. Belvidere business they heard was closing. Mark Sittler left the legendary Toad’s behind after 33 years. tend 8:10 to 11:40 a.m. Four year The renovated dining room and olds attend 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. bar seats 35 with one wall done wants open by the Husker football As for food, Stradley said they Stradley, who is originally from All preschoolers attend Monday in diamond plating to give the bar season. kept Toad’s menu, including the Maine, worked for Carnival Cruise through Thursday and all begin shine. Instead of people leaving the famed Sloppy Toad that was invented Lines. She has a culinary degree in their year Aug. 22. The bar itself also had a facelift. area to watch the football games, when Linda Hudson owned the Dairy fi ne pastry arts. Shuttle buses will run between Stradley is looking forward to she sees Toad’s Place as an excuse Queen in Hebron. Ryan Stradley is a former em- Bruning and Davenport morn- redoing the fl oors and lights in the not to. “She taught that to Toad and he ployee of the Sundowner Bar and ing and evening. Buses meet at kitchen, along with replacing the Several fl at screens are going in brought it here,” Stradley said. Grill in Chester. Carleton at 7:45 a.m. and 3:45 range hood. to give Toad’s Place an edge on They also kept Toad’s Burger, only Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and p.m. Transportation will also be Makeovers are planned for the sports. now, bacon is available for it. 5 to 10 p.m., Sunday and Tuesday provided to home schools after second and third rooms.