PERKINS JOURNAL
Thursday, November 13, 2003-BI
Busin
Financ
Visits
Sheets
in improv-
appearance of their
now has an easy and
option - concrete
Stamping
been offering
for about two months
owner Ron Stites
been amazed at how
has been,
done nine stamp jobs
started two months
said. "And we picked
obs without any kind
at a custom stamp
why. The finished
ust like an expen-
it
a fraction of the cost.
Lg to Stites,
stamping takes a great
time to complete than
)earance of the fin-
isn't its only
however - it is
durable. Just like,
zero maintenance,'"
"You can spill any-
because it is finished
It will last forever
wear off."
the high qual-
used will stand up to
€ high traffic.
¢ offers a variety
stains and finishes of
stamping. Customers
from options like
tile, Roman slate,
granite, fan. and
even offer a
looks like a board-
can produce various
:signs.
even stamp retaining
said.
I the company has the
produce exactly what
an actual sample of
and color for our
before every job so
out business
Ron Stites stands on a recently completed concrete stamping project located at a new home
construction site northeast of Perkins. The patio is finished in a dark gray Italian slate finish (see
inset). Journal photo by Cindy Sheets
they can actually see the stamp
they're going to get and the
color they're going to get,"
Stites said.
Although a concrete stamp
job is much quicker than laying
rock, it is a longer process than
a simple concrete
job. The stamp-
ing involves a
washing and
curing process,
along with what-
ever acid stain-
ing or antiquing
and sculpture or
artwork that might be unique
to each job ...... . :
For example, Stites said one
client selected a sandstone
finish that closely resembles
the natural color of earth for
front porch while an enclosed
back porch is sporting a board-
walk look.
Another client selected a dark
gray Italian slate finish for his
patio.
Patios and porches are not the
only options
for concrete stamping. The pro-
cess can be used on driveways,
garden paths, water or rock
gardens, and swimming pools.
Interior rooms can also sport
beautiful concrete stamp floors
and walls.
According to
Stites, all of the
stamping work
the company
has done to date has been resi-
dential. He attributes that suc-
cess to recommendations made
by a local contracting company,
Roper Construction.
He also said that he has made
it a priority that Stites Concrete
and Stamping earn a good
"ns sales up for August
reputation as a company that
produces quality work.
"Our motto is 'Honesty + Qual-
ity = Service'," Stites says. "We
are a hometown, small business
producing quality work."
The company began operating
in September of 2000. It handles
a variety of large and small
concrete jobs, but is currently
doing more commercial work,
Stites said.
"We have done everything
from patios, to drainage for the
city, storm shelters, and core
drilling for Oklahoma State
University," he said. "Right
Sasser CJ
:received $38,441.24 from the Oklahoma Tax Commission
its share of sales tax disbursements covering sales tax
l of August 2003. This was an eight percent
only the third month of 2003 to show an increase over
year. Total collections for the first ten months of
,, compared to $369,442 for 2002, a decrease
t.
area communities showing an increase in collections
sales were Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Meridian, Ripley,
Tryon, Wellston, and Yale. Area communities show-
in sales were Chandler, Coyle, Cushing, Langston,
Technology Comer
Getting rid of Pop-Ups
By Glenn Goodrich
Pop Ups, what are they and
where do they come from? If
you are a computer user who
surfs the Internet you have
probably seen pop-ups. Pop-
Ups are those annoying screens
that suddenly appear when you
are accessing your favorite
sites. Unfortunately, Pop-Ups
are not the work of a computer
virus, but a type of program
called adware or spyware.
Adware or Spyware are
programs that display ban-
ners or advertising while the
program is running. These
may appear harmless, but
most are also tracking your
web surfing habits and are
trying to tailor themselves
to deliver ads based on those
habits. For example, while
looking at the Ford website,
a pop-up window for Toyota
might appear. Companies
such as Weight Watchers
and Eddie Bauer have sued
Gator, a well-known adware
program provider, trying
and Stroud.
: .... . i"
to prevent these actions.
So, how do we rid ourselves
of these parasites? Many anti-
Pop-Up programs exist; some
even utilize the very pop-up
technology to advertise their
services. One of the cheap- ;
est solutions is Spybot, a
shareware adware removal
program that only asks for
donations as payment for
installation. Offered by
www.safernetworking.org.
Spybot can disinfect and
remove spyware from any
Windows based computer.
It is very effective, and
has a high success rate. •
Attended
60 people atteded the Perkins Chamber of
Thursday, Novemver 6. Enjoying the meal
Glenn Goodrich, owner oJ
Glenn Goodrich Consulting,
has a degree in management ,
science, computer systems
from Oklahoma State Univer- ,
sity and has more than 15 years "
experience in the computer
industry. If you have a ques- Y
tion for Glenn, please write to '
him at g, wgosu@yahoo.com.
What to Look for in a Good "
Financial Advisor ;;
By Mel Campbell
Strategic Professional Advisors
Every one of us, at some point
in our life, will need good sound
financial advice. Questions arise
regarding; retirement savings,
college savings, investments, and
many other import,ant areas deal-
ing with "How can I best grow,
or accumulate, assets to meet my
qualities. Ask to see the numbers;
by using cash flow forecasting
techniques you will easily be
able to determine if the solution
presented will still 'hold water'
many years down the road.
Next; is your advisor objective?
Your needs, wishes, desires and
goals come first; Not your advi-
sors. Your advisor should clearly
,€
¢
now we,re workingona la, r lifofimoneeds?" ....... explaia,how, he/she is being '
job ponrlngon a,n +, ,, Quesns then,'lat i, vendwe, fm.i
gas pipeline job." "How can I protect assets I him/her to be paid; hourly fees, '
Ron Stites was previously
employed as a supervisor with
BOLDT Construction, a large
general contractor.
If you'd like more information
about concrete stamping, please
contact Stites Concrete and
Stamping at 405-547-5300.
Aug.2(X Aug.2tX
Agra 5,055 3,883
Carney 7,298 5,919
Chandler 145,092 149,194
Coyle 2,825 2,843
Cushing 202,612 203,121
Glencoe 8,111 6,968
Langston 8,124 21,053
Meridian 334 234
Pawnee 39,901 43,358
.Perkins 38,441 35,600
Ripley 3,402 2,435
Stillwater 1,689,980 1,593,748
Stroud 72,468 84,644
Tryon 2,317 990
Weilston 18,809 16,124
Yale 13,036 12,401
Bold = Increase Italics = Decrease
.... < !ii: ::5 :
and each others fellowship are (I to r) Jim Hyder, Jo Hyder, R. L.
Benedict, Ynona Benedict, Steve Willingham, Jennifer Davis, Earl
Seat, Rick Kirk, and Harland Wells. Journal photo by David Sasser
have worked so hard to accu-
mulate? Do I need an estate plan
or a business succession plan
giving directions for how I want
my 'stuff' to be handled? Do
I need insurance for my; auto,
home, property, life, or long
term care needs? And if so, how
much.'?" These axe only a few of
the questions that will arise as you
progress through life's stages. If
you are like most people, you
have several different people
giving you advice; none of it is
probably the same.
The real question you should
ask yourself is; "How do I know
if I am getting the best possible
advice? Who is helping me look
at my entire picture, not just
pieces of it?"
There are five key points to
consider when looking for a good
financial advisor.
First; is your advisor knowl-
edgeable? A good advisor has
expertise in a wide variety of
planning methods to accomplish
YOur goals. Evaluate potential
advisor's knowledge by discuss-
ing with him/her your situation
and your goals; ask what kind
of experience he/she has in
working with people who have
been in a situation similar to
yours, interview existing clients
to determine thoroughnes.s of
the plans put in place, ask about
professional training or desig-
nations. Remember; although
designations are nice, hands on
experience planning is best.
Second; is your advisor capable
of showing you multiple solutions
and willing to educate you regard-
ing the good and the bad of each?
You should expect your advisor
to explain each planning option
available to you, the upside as
well as the downside to each and
the long term effect this will have
on your ultimate goals.
Third; can your advisor dem-
onstrate the economic outcome
of your choices? Each solution
presented will have attractive
a sales commission, or possibly '
a combination of both. Recom- :'
mendations from your advisor are
acceptable, as long as you do not '
feel pressured to make a decision
you don't feel good about. If you -'-'
have been educated properly, you :[
will be able to make an informed
decision about what solution best
fits your needs.
Finally; is your advisor willing
to plan first? Although mentioned
in smmnary of this article, this is :'
the most important point, Your '
advisor must take the time to; "
understand your goals, analyze .
and educate you on what you ,,
have in place, and show you mul- ..
tiple options regarding what other ",
solutions are available to further '
meet your needs. A plan that meets ,
your goals is the first step. The
solutions that follow, are the tools :
needed to implement your plan. -
A good financial advisor will
help you understand how each -':
piece of your financial puzzle .
fits together and through proper r;
planning, help you build the best -
picture possible, o
10 ",
o (
Mel Campbell and his wife
Stephanie Hyder, own Strategic
Professional Advisors, an inde-
pendent financial planning busi- ,,
ness located on Perkins Main ,
Street. Mel and Stephanie are ' '.
both Certified Senior Advisors, 3
CSA's. They are recognized "c,,
statewide for their knowledge, ,
professionalism, and have pre- J
sented educational programs , (
to the following groups: OK "'
Independent Agents Association, ,,.
Oklahoma City Society of Certi.
fled Financial Planners, Norman
Society of CPA's, OK Society i'i
of CPA's, Financial Planning :
Conference, Oklahoma Associa-
tion of Insurance and Financial
Advisors, Baptist Foundation oj ",
Oklahoma, Methodist Founda-
tion of Oklahoma, OK Medical
Research Foundation, St. Antho- ",
ny's Foundation, and Gordon
Cooper Technology Center.
