Saturday, September 6th, 2008

Roofing maker setting up shop

Mercer County OKs $600,000 revolving loan for $1.9 million project

By Shelley Grieshop
ST. HENRY - A longtime dream is about to become reality for an area man as he turns his unique metal roofing invention into a $1.9 million manufacturing plant in St. Henry.
The company, Blosser Stephens, plans to begin production by the first of the year at the former Gerlach Machine & Tool building along state Route 118 on the north edge of town. Blosser Stephens is a new division of Diamondbeck Inc., a housing construction business based in Greenville.
The company is owned by inventor James Stephens of Sidney and business co-owner Gaylen Blosser of Greenville. The pair, both retirees from the housing industry, this week were awarded a $600,000 revolving loan by the Mercer County Community Development office. The money is earmarked for the purchase of equipment and for use as working capital.
The company's revolving loan is the second-largest one distributed by the county and boosts the total amount of loans issued by the community development office to more than $10 million, according to Community Development Director Larry Stelzer.
Terms of the 4 percent revolving loan include the repayment of $455,000 in 10 years and $145,000 in five years. The business, which also is seeking funds through a private lender and a state loan, must create 33 new, full-time jobs in the first three years - a stipulation the owners are more than comfortable with.
"We believe we won't have a problem surpassing that," Stephens said.
The plant manager is Bob Parzale of Sidney, a longtime friend of Stephens. Production will begin with about a half dozen employees at first, Stephens said.
Skilled and non-skilled labor will be hired for a variety of "well-paid" positions, Blosser said.
"We've done our research ... and our wages will be competitive," he added.
Stephens has a patent pending for his product, which is a combination of 22-by-33-inch metal shingles and a special sealant that has been proven to withstand winds of more than 240 miles per hour, he said. Average hurricane winds are 100 to 150 miles per hour.
"The last independent lab testing we did was about two or three weeks ago," Stephens said. "It (the metal shingle) still didn't blow away; one of the ends just started to raise a bit."
The sealant is the company's trade secret. Blosser said one "key component" in the mix is a 3M product, although the men would not reveal details. The sealant is strong against UV rays and contracts and expands as weather dictates. The design has a lifetime guarantee.
Stephens said he toyed with his invention for nearly 30 years, waiting for the technology to catch up.
"The concept turned out better than I thought," he said.
Stephens and Blosser say their product has been deemed "green." It is environmentally friendly because it is 100 percent recyclable, unlike asphalt shingles.
"About 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles go into the landfill each year," Blosser said.
They say the shingles are much lighter and more compact then asphalt shingles, making them easier and more economical for contractors to transport and quicker to apply to homes or commercial buildings.
Blosser and Stephens credit Stelzer and St. Henry Village Administrator Don Hess with helping them get started. Blosser said his longtime friend Wesley Jetter, general manager of Fort Recovery Industries, also was instrumental by putting them in touch with people who believed in their dream.
Additional online stories on this date
A go-cart and automobile accident on state Route 219 in Macedon at 4 p.m. Friday claimed the life of C. Stormey Banks, 44, of 1291 state Route 219. [More]
MINSTER - Coming into Friday night's contest, the Minster Wildcats had lost 12 straight games to the Delphos St. John's Blue Jays by an average of over 28 points per game. [More]
ST. MARYS - Celina played its best half of football this season in the first half against St. Marys, but it still wasn't enough to keep the Roughriders from winning the 10th straight game in the Battle of Grand Lake. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Vision impairment won't keep Fort Recovery graduate from tackling college
FORT RECOVERY - Julie Backs puts another stack of clothes into the suitcase on the living room floor as she prepares to embark on yet another challenge in a life fraught with challenges.
A Celina man, who was convicted of rape and then granted a new trial by the Third District Court of Appeals, pleaded guilty Friday morning in Mercer County Common Pleas Court to a lesser charge as part of a negotiated plea agreement.
City officials tell councilors concrete is stable to build on
A concrete water intake structure likely will be built on West Bank Road in Celina after city officials on Thursday assured city council's utility committee of the stability and longevity of the concrete.
VERSAILLES - With several key players banged up with injuries, Coldwater looked to its depth to try and stay perfect on the season against rival Versailles at Hole Field on Friday night.
MARIA STEIN - The Marion Local Flyers continued their early-season momentum Friday night with a 42-14 thrashing of the Parkway Panthers on senior night at Booster Field.
NEW BREMEN - Well played football games, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Friday night the St. Henry Redskins went on the road and strug
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The irresistable force that has been the Fort Recovery offense was hit hard by the immovable object known as Anna on Friday night at Booster Field in Shelby County.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Brandon Stephenson rushed for 180 yards and added four rushing touchdowns as Shawnee remained unbeaten in Western Buckeye League play with a 56-7 win over Elida at Kraft Stadium. The Bulldogs remain one of three winless teams in the WBL with the loss.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Celina girls golf team won a tri-match featuring Western Buckeye League teams on Thursday at Kettenring in Defiance.