Votes are in and tallied up for this year’s Reader’s Choice survey.

Logansport residents sent in or dropped votes throughout the month of November for their 113 favorite things during the recent survey held by the Pharos-Tribune.

This year’s Reader’s Choice contest was a positive for the community and those who received votes, said Chris Anderson, advertising director of the Pharos-Tribune.

“It gives the people voted for a validation that they are doing good,” said Anderson. “It also allows people to have a voice for their favorites in Cass County.”

The Pharos-Tribune has held the Reader’s Choice contest several times and most recently in 2003. Anderson said the paper does not conduct the contest annually to prevent it from becoming stale.

This year several local businesses received votes in more than one category.

Minglin Jewelers, located at 604 E. Broadway, was voted as favorite jeweler and favorite locally owned business.

Owners Bill and Angela Minglin have been in the jewelry business for about 25 years and will celebrate their 12th year of business in Logansport in February.

“Its a big honor to know that the people you serve in the local community think that you are the best at what you do,” said Bill. “Of course you always try to keep your customers as much as you can and they must think we are doing good at it.”

This is the second time Minglin Jewelers has received the most votes for favorite locally owned business, said Bill. However, that doesn’t make it any less of an honor to the Minglins.

Bill credits the success in the community to the business’s customer service.

“We try to treat our customers the way we would want to be treated ourselves,” said Bill. “We also do the servicing at our store where as some other stores do not do that.”

Favorite breakfast and favorite pancake honors went to Bob Evans, located at 3815 E. Market St. Favorite waitress also went to Paula Dillman, who works on the morning crew at Bob Evans.

Serving Logansport for approximately 15 years, the restaurant offers the community a home-style taste, said Bob Evans shift leader David Hunnicutt.

“It’s pretty much what you can get at home,” said Hunnicutt. “We have a really friendly environment also.”

Bob Evans also received the best breakfast and best home-style cooking awards for the Reader’s Choice contest in 2003, which still hang in the lobby, Hunnicutt said.

Martin’s Supermarket, located at 3420 E Market St., received awards for favorite deli and favorite grocery store. Also, Jon Frame was voted as the community’s favorite butcher.

Martin’s will celebrate its 12th year of business in July. The store has set a bar for service to meet, said store manager Tony DeCloedt.

“I think customers have a level of expectation,” said DeCloedt. “It’s nice to know we meet that. ... Consistency is what they expect and that is something that I think we give.”

To DeCloedt, being voted the favorite in the community reflects back on the workers’ dedication and training.

“When you take a look, you have to have the programs in place,” he said. “You also have to have the people to follow through with it.”

Martin’s also received honors in previous categories, said DeCloedt but not three at one time.

The workers appreciate the customers and show their care through daily actions, said DeCloedt.

“It’s just a great honor and privilege to serve the community and to be a positive part of the community.”

Denise Forsberg can be reached at (574) 732-5113 or via e-mail at denise.forsberg@pharostribune.com



The winners for the Reader’s Choice contest are ...

Favorite BBQ: Mr. Happy Burger

Favorite Hamburger: Mr. Happy Burger

Favorite Chinese food: China Lane

Favorite hot dog: B&K; West

Favorite chicken: KFC

Favorite French fries: McDonald’s

Favorite buffet: Pizza Hut

Favorite cup of coffee: McDonald’s/Starbucks

Favorite deli: Martin’s Supermarket

Favorite bakery: Country Bakery

Favorite seafood: Red Lobster

Favorite pizza: U-know

Favorite bread sticks: Pizza Hut

Favorite pancake: Bob Evans

Favorite breakfast: Bob Evans

Favorite beauty shop: Designer Joe’s

Favorite beautician: Kelly Wolf

Favorite Mexican food: El Arriero

Favorite margarita: Applebee’s

Favorite ice cream: Sycamore

Favorite soft drink: Mr. Happy Burger

Favorite cookies: Subway

Best iced tea: Lipton

Favorite liquor store: D&J;

Favorite bar: Old Style

Favorite bartender: Shannon Rottet

Favorite florist: Warner’s Greenhouse

Favorite jeweler: Minglin Jewelers

Favorite antique store: Leather or Knot

Favorite carpet store: Miller’s Flooring America

Favorite furniture store: The Gray Mill

Favorite grocery: Martin’s Supermarket

Favorite butcher: Jon Frame - Martin’s Supermarket

Favorite shopping place: Wal-Mart

Favorite hearing aid service: Beltone

Favorite floor covering business: Partridge’s Home Furnishings

Favorite restaurant for kids: McDonald’s

Favorite restaurant: Applebee’s

Favorite waitress: Paula Dillman at Bob Evans

Favorite childcare center: Peek-A-Boo

Favorite hospital: Logansport Memorial Hospital

Favorite bank: Security Federal

Favorite bank teller: Jean Cooley

Favorite drug store: CVS

Favorite credit union: Beacon Credit Union

Favorite insurance company: State Farm Insurance

Favorite bingo hall: Eagles

Favorite auto dealer/new: Mike Anderson

Favorite auto dealer/used: Offutt Motors

Favorite car model: Ford/Mercury

Favorite second hand auto parts store: Willy Mote

Favorite veterinarian clinic: Twelve Mile Vet

Favorite breed of dog: Golden Retriever

Favorite real estate agency: Century 21 Schwering Realty

Favorite real estate agent: Steve Schwering

Favorite car wash: Soft Touch West

Favorite cellular company: U.S. Cellular

Favorite funeral home: Kroeger Funeral Home

Favorite financial planner: Dave Workman

Favorite CPA: Zehner, Maloy & Assoc.

Favorite golf course: Dykeman Park Golf Course

Favorite golfer: Tiger Woods

Favorite travel agent: Kim Emery

Favorite heating & air company: Wilkinson Heating & Cooling

Favorite plumber: Ted Patacsil

Favorite electrician: Krysevig Electric

Favorite home improvement store: Home Depot

Favorite home builder: Shepler Construction

Favorite optical store: Sears

Favorite photographer: Rich Voorhees

Favorite pool & spa store: Watsons

Favorite sporting goods store: Dunham’s Sporting Goods

Favorite tire store: Logan Tire

Favorite unique gift shop: The Nest

Favorite video rental store: Family Video

Favorite web site: My Space

Favorite clothing store: J.C. Penney

Favorite firefighter: Kevin LoCoco

Favorite police officer/deputy: Ray Bean

Favorite dentist: Dr. Goris/Dr. Dill

Favorite attorney: George Stephenson

Favorite politician: Mike Fincher/Scott Kraud

Favorite local radio DJ: Betsy Jarvis

Favorite locally owned business: Minglin Jewelers

Favorite bowler: Bob Eldridge

Favorite dressed man: Dave Wihebrink

Favorite dressed woman: Lynn Kluth

Favorite church: All Saints

Favorite place to shoot pool: Coonies

Favorite picnic spot: Spencer Park

Favorite family doctor: Dr. Neumann

Favorite local Web site: Logansport Savings Bank/Pharos-Tribune

Favorite singer:Jon Bon Jovi/Carrie Underwood

Favorite movie star: Julia Roberts

Favorite TV provider: Comcast

Favorite reality show: American Idol

Favorite appliance store: Sears

Favorite overall customer service: Logansport Savings Bank

Favorite sales staff: Century 21 Schwering Realty

Favorite barber: Vic Sutton

Favorite waiter: Clemente Uvalle - El Arierro

Favorite DJ: Steve Schwering

Favorite auctioneer: Terry Rogers

Favorite insurance agent: Stacy Cox

Favorite park: Riverside Park

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite school teacher: John Davis

Favorite radio station: Mix 102

Favorite non-for profit organization: Red Cross/Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cass County

Favorite volunteer: Shari Deardorff

Favorite college professor: Barb McFarland

Favorite local event: Winterfest

Favorite EMT/Paramedic: Brenda Bernhardt