Kiger's Notebook

Mayo Clinic and Elgin biz + Fed contract $

Here's interesting tidbit that showed up last week from a trial subscription from a news service that tracks Federal contracts. Two local operations – including Mayo Clinic –  landed money from the Feds for projects.

I have no real details on these yet. But I'll see if I can find out anything more on more.

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FEDERAL CONTRACTS AWARDED TO COMPANIES IN MINNESOTA

Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- The following federal contracts were announced by federal agencies as having been awarded to companies operating in Minnesota.

$499,997 Federal Contract Awarded to Mayo Foundation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn., won a $499,997 federal contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Md., for research on "Early Therapeutics Development with Phase II Emphasis".

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$52,800 Federal Contract Awarded to Zumbro Valley Forestry

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 -- Zumbro Valley Forestry, Elgin, Minn., won a federal contract valued at up to $52,800.20 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Ill., for vegetative maintenance services. Place of performance will be in Lake Red Rock, Knoxville, Iowa.

Lock and load - indoor gun range coming

Looking for a local spot to empty a clip into a target without worrying about the weather?

A Rochester gun shop owner is taking a shot at creating an indoor shooting range.

Gary Schoenmann, who owns American Gunsmith & Gun Shop in northeast Rochester, is building a 5,700-square-foot facility with seven shooting lanes and a retail area in the Elgin Industrial Park.

“There is a great demand for it,” he says. “We think it will be a pretty big hit.”

Construction of the new Patriot Indoor Range & Gun Shop is under way. The hope is for it to be finished between late August and early September.

Schoenmann and his wife, Kristi, are teaming up with Frank and Julene Horstman of Plainview in the new project.

“Frank brings to the table his military experience as a gun trainer, and Julene also does training, particularly in self-defense courses for women,” Schoenmann says.

The plan is to make training a big part of the Patriot range, offering classes for youth and adults with skill levels ranging from novice to advanced.

He also hopes to strike group-plan agreements with area law enforcement agencies for their officers to use the range.

Right now, Schoenmann plans on keeping his American gun shop in Rochester open even after the Patriot range fires up. However, he expects to eventually shift all of the retail to the Elgin site, though the gunsmithing will remain in Rochester.

Once all chambers are firing at the range, Schoenmann estimates about six to seven people will staff it. He expects to attract customers from an 85-mile radius, if the Patriot Indoor Range hits the bullseye he is aiming for.

HBC on the move

Here's a little bit more on the Hiawatha Broadband Communications Inc. dividend. Actually, this is just a portion of a story I have set for print Tuesday. Three Fastenal founders including Bob Kierlin are on the board. Another Fastenal founder, Rochester Athletic Club owner Jack Remick, also is in involved. This is includes the Olmsted County/ Rochester specfic questions:

HBC offers high speed Internet, local and long distance telephone, cable television, and video production services in Winona, St. Charles, and Wabasha. It also offers dial-up Internet to Lewiston and surrounding communities.

The company is also building new networks in Lewiston, Stockton and Rollingstone this summer as a back-up fiber ring that runs near Plainview, Elgin, Dover, and Eyota.

“That sets up the potential to build networks in those communities,” Evans said.

Is HBC coming to Rochester?

“We’re inching closer and closer to Rochester,” he said with a laugh. “Seriously, we have made no decisions as to Rochester.”

HBC did conduct a broadband-over-powerlines study in Rochester in 2004 and 2005, though there are no plans to offer that service in Rochester or elsewhere.

Bob's Ribs = Elgin

The Rochester catering business opening a restaurant in Elgin is, as many people guessed, Bob's Smoke Stack Ribs.

Look for it open before Elgin's Cheese Days later in June. And don't worry, Bob will still be doing catering.