News Briefs

Workhorse Offers Upgrade Kit
A kit to improve the performance of the air-conditioning system of motorhomes built on the Workhorse Custom Chassis is now available from Workhorse Parts.

“Hot summer weather, high humidity, heavy loads and other factors can take their toll on the motorhome’s air conditioning system,” said Sal Maldonado, director of marketing and pricing for Workhorse Parts. “We’ve designed this kit for easy and quick installation and motorhome owners will immediately notice faster and more sustained cooling.” Suggested retail price for the kit with installation is $559.95. For information, call (800) 309-7163 or visit www.workhorse.com/parts/ackit.asp.

Camping World to be Tailgate Center
Camping World stores will offer customers a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the college or professional football game of their choice during their Tailgate Center celebration Aug. 19 to 22. The prize includes transportation, game tickets, licensed team merchandise and spending money. Scratch-and-win game cards will be distributed for the chance at the grand prize and other prizes.

Chinook Winds Buys Hotel
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Chinook Winds Casino and Convention Center in Lincoln City, Oregon, have purchased the Shilo Inn Oceanfront Resort and renamed it the Chinook Winds Casino Resort.

The hotel has 61 suites and 186 rooms, with most having ocean views and many having direct beach access. Tribal officials said the acquisition should enable Lincoln City to attract more conventions and special events. The casino has 30,000 square feet of convention space, and the hotel has 7,000 square feet of meeting space.

Spartan Expands Production
After winning new orders from Fleetwood RV and Newmar Corporation, Spartan Chassis has obtained a tax credit grant worth $4.3 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that will allow it to create 415 jobs in the next five years.

The company will invest $7.3 million to expand its business in Charlotte, Michigan, where it currently employs 438 workers. Spartan recently announced that it has been named the exclusive chassis supplier for three of Newmar Corporation’s diesel-powered motorhome models for 2005 and five of Fleetwood RV’s diesel-powered models, starting this month.

Winnebago Revenue Soars
Winnebago Industries reported record revenue from continuing operations for the third quarter, ended May 29, of $310.2 million, a gain of 55 percent over the same period a year ago. That brought revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 to $831.2 million, also a record.

The company said its net income from continuing operations for the first nine months was $51.7 million, a 40 per cent increase over the year-ago period. Bruce Hertzke, chairman, CEO and president of the company, said a 127 percent gain in diesel motorhome sales aided the results. The company also reported a 32 percent increase in motorhome shipments and a 72 percent increase in its sales order backlog.

Parks Portray History
Gary Lentz, a park ranger, is giving presentations on the Lewis and Clark expedition, at Sacajawea and Columbia Hills state parks in eastern Washington weekends through September 5. Lentz portrays Sgt. Patrick Gass, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, in presentations at 7 p.m. Saturdays at Sacajawea State Park and Sundays at Columbia Hills State Park. Sacajawea is five miles southeast of Pasco. Columbia Hills is 28 miles west of Goldendale on State Route 14. General admission is $5 and includes parking. For more information, call (509) 662-0420.

Nevada Awards Tourism Grants
Sixteen rural communities in Nevada will receive nearly $200,000 in state grants to help them build tourism in a program established by the Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

The grants will finance a range of projects, including welcome signs and kiosks in numerous cities, materials for a sculpture park in Ely, the repainting of a mural in Yerington, and a program to market the city of Lovelock as a place to “lock your love.”

Odor Horror Stories Earn Prizes
YARA North America, manufacturer of Odorlos, a product designed to prevent odors in RV holding tanks, has awarded a $100 first prize in its Holding Tank Horror Story contest to Robert Ross of Kalispell, Montana, for his account of a disastrous attempt to empty a holding tank. Two runners-up and five honorable mention winners received product prizes. The winning entries can be read at www.odorlos.com.