Fall is upon us and the Holidays are soon to be here, providing an abundance of opportunities to serve our customers, each other, and the communities in which we operate stores. Football season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s mean parties, family gatherings, and celebrations, all of which need food! How about that? We just happen to sell food so let’s make sure we have what our customers want, when they want it, and at a fair and competitive price. We must make sure the quality of what they buy and the service we provide meets or exceeds their
expectations. If we make their experience memorable and enjoyable, they are our customers for the entire upcoming year while if we don’t, they obviously will find somewhere else to shop. This is the perfect time of year to “turn our service up a notch” and get closer than we’ve ever been to our customers. They will reward us with their loyalty if we do.
This is the perfect time of year to take great care of each other. Our stores will be busy and not all departments will have the ideal number of people to take care of the business. Be on the lookout for opportunities to help where needed. We’re a team so let’s act like one. If you find a member of the team struggling with their work, help them out. Find a spill on the floor? Clean it up. Carts in the parking lot? Bring a few in. Someone needs their shift covered? Fill in for them. Wherever help is needed, be willing to pitch in. Grocery, Frozen, Dairy, Meat, Produce, Deli, Bakery, Floral, HBC/GM, Spirits, Front End; it’s all the same and it takes a team to get it all done. By being a team, willing to help one another, we are much stronger than by being many individuals who say “it’s not my job”. Remember, someday it might be you who needs help.
The communities we serve appreciate who we are and there is no better time to grow their appreciation than now. Our stores have a great reputation and our company has a 61 year history of supporting the communities where it operates. We don’t “crow” about it, shouting from the rooftops how great we are to our communities with news stories and social media posts; instead, we are humble and we are grateful for the opportunity we have been given to loyally and genuinely serve our communities.
Let’s approach the rest of the year with a renewed spirit of service by taking great care of our customers, each other, and our communities.
Thank you,
Mark Griffin
Allen’s Food Mart proudly celebrated the 45th Annual July Jamboree on Saturday, July 13. What began 46 years ago as a special sale for the department store side of Allen’s has grown to include the grocery store and has remained a highlight for customers across the region.
Originally designed as a way to show appreciation for loyal customers and bring excitement to a slower month, the July Jamboree has become much more than just a sale. This year’s celebration once again delivered incredible savings, family fun, and community spirit. Shoppers enjoyed some of the year’s best prices, daily deals, and a full slate of family-friendly activities. The always-popular Family Fun Day featured kids’ games, cookie decorating, temporary tattoos, and exciting prizes. Customers also took part in guessing games, trivia contests, and drawings for both daily and grand prizes.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, food vendors and the Nebraska Lottery were on-site, making the day feel like a true community celebration. Many customers, as in years past, planned their vacations around the event, ensuring they didn’t miss out on the fun and tradition that the July Jamboree brings.
Allen’s Food Mart extends heartfelt thanks to all who joined in to make the 45th Annual July Jamboree a success and looks forward to many more years of celebrating with the community.
Allen’s Hastings - July Jamboree
AJ Slater - Russ’s Glenwood
Jackson Vanboening - Russ’s Hastings
Juanietta Schultz- Russ’s Havelock Ave
Michael Gray - Super Saver 27th & Cornhusker
Sheryl Mccoy - Super Saver 27th & Cornhusker
Patty Kaiser - Super Saver 27th & Cornhusker
Alexis Renner - Super Saver Columbus
Luidmila Rodriguez Garcia - Super Saver Columbus
Suzanne Seeger-Jensen - Super Saver G.I. 2nd St
Ritch Havranek - Super Saver G.I. W State St
Aaron Hovinga - Super Saver 56th St
Jamie Brown - Suport Center
Lawson Ballard - Russ’s 66th & O St
Malinda Williams - Russ’s 66th & O St
Rachel Nehls - Russ’s S Coddington
Brianna Vandewalle - Super Saver 48th & O St
Evon Hesso - Super Saver Fallbrook Blvd
Erica Punko - Super Saver 56th St
Levi Fleecs - Super Saver 56th St
Steven Simmons - Apple Market Kearney
William Poetker - Russ’s 17th & Washington
Angela Loutzenheiser - Russ’s Hastings
Pam Rodgers - Support Center
Jeff Dondlinger - Super Saver Columbus
Susie Shaw - Super Saver Five Points
Noah Pagel - Super Saver Five Points
Kari Gillming - Apple Market Kearney
Melanie Foote - Super Saver Council Bluffs
Blanca Popoca - Super Saver G.I. W State St
Susan Shaw - Super Saver G.I. W State St
Breanna Sinclair - Super Saver 27th & Cornhusker
Marilin Pandorf - Super Saver 27th & Cornhusker
Daniel Montelongo - Super Saver G.I. W State St
Anthony Garivay - Russ’s 17th & Washington
Joe Conroy - Russ’s 66th & O St
Alex Waldron - Russ’s Hastings
Kaleigh Page - 27th & Cornhusker
Barb Rooney - 27th & Pine Lake
Rian Floyd - Fallbrook Blvd
Rachel Madsen - Super Saver 48th & O St
Georgia Miller - Super Saver S 56th St
Richard Hense - Produce Manager - Super Saver 48th & O, 21 Years of Service
Lynn Lucas - Pricing Analyst - Support Center, 11 Years of Service
Diane Rogers - Bakery Manager - Allen’s Hastings, 39 Years of Service
Carol Cook - Cashier - Super Saver Columbus, 1 Year of Service
Robert Lancaster - Russ’s S 33rd St
Joyce Sohl - Super Saver Columbus
Nick Kelso - Support Center, 4554 W St
Mathhew Clark - Super Saver 27th & Pinelake
John Knoell - Support Center
Beth Turek - Russ’s Havelock Ave
Allen Stover - Super Saver S 56th St
Cheryl Bratt - Super Saver S 56th St
Lonnie Mulder - Support Center
Sandy Collins - Pharmacy Tech - Super Saver Fallbrook, 18 Years of Service (Formerly Service Manager)
Susie Shaw - Scanning Manager - Super Saver 5 Points, 10 Years of Service
Gretchen Harl - Store Director - C&R Boonville
Cole Blake - Store Director - C&R California
Raven Kottke - Bakery Manager - Russ’s Market 17th & Washington
Jennifer Puls - GMD Manager - Russ’s Market 17th & Washington
Leodicia Gabriel - Bakery Manager - Allen’s Hastings
Samantha Arner - Deli Manager - Mason’s Minden
Aimee Osler - Scanning Manager - Super Saver Council Bluffs
Kent Micek - DSD Coordinator - Support Center
Justin Tucker - Service Manager - Super Saver Fallbrook
Erin Osienger - Store Director - Russ’s Market 66th & O
Tyler Schumacher - Store Director - Russ’s Market Havelock
Taron Banks - Store Director- Russ’s Glenwood
Wyatt Kile - Pharmcacist in Charge - Super Saver 5 Points
Jeanette Wermy - Service Manager - Russ’s Havelock
Richard Hense - Long time produce Manager, retires after 21 years of service
For Anita Cheng, becoming a U.S. citizen was more than a personal milestone—it was a family celebration shared with her loved ones and her coworkers at B&R Stores.
Anita, who has been part of the B&R team for four years, says the support she’s received at work has been constant and deeply meaningful. “Working at B&R Stores was kind of an unexpected opportunity but has been a great journey,” she reflects. “I thought there would be a transition process to me starting with this amazing team, but all of my knowledge and experience was taken seriously and it could not have been a more welcoming environment.” From her earliest days, she felt heard and respected by senior employees, administrators, and even younger part-time staff.
When preparing for citizenship, Anita chose to change her name to honor her in-laws. “Citizenship means so much to me because of my family,” she explains. Carrying their history with her is a way of honoring their roots as she steps into this new chapter.
She describes the naturalization ceremony as “a unique and wonderful experience,” filled with patriotism, joy, and commitment. Surrounded by legal representatives, administrators, and the National Guard carrying large American flags, Anita recalls the moment her name was announced: “It was like a new and secure chapter of my life started.”
As she looks to the future, Anita hopes to share her story to inspire others. “I think my next step or goal is to be a peacekeeper on the internet,” she says. “There is so much negativity out there these days, and I just want to remind people of the beauty of gaining citizenship and the value of diversity.”
“I feel so honored to be entering this new chapter of my life with not only my personal family, but with my B&R family as well.”
CHS Student Honored for Heroic Actions at Pawnee Plunge
What started as a summer evening at Pawnee Plunge quickly turned into a life-changing moment for Columbus High School junior Ashley de La Cruz Martin.
As Ashley and her family arrived, she noticed a crowd forming. A man had collapsed and wasn’t breathing normally. Drawing on the CPR training she learned through the school’s Healthcare Pathway, Ashley immediately stepped in to help while others called 911. She stayed calm and focused until paramedics arrived to take over.
“It was stressful and happened so quickly, but I just knew someone needed help,” Ashley said. “I remembered what I was taught and tried to do everything I could.”
The man later recovered, and word of Ashley’s quick response spread through the community. The Columbus Public Schools Board of Education recognized her for her courage and life-saving actions. The experience has deepened Ashley’s passion for healthcare and strengthened her dream of becoming a nurse. “I’m just thankful that everyone has been so supportive,” she said. “It’s an incredible feeling knowing he’s okay.”
At only 17, Ashley showed that compassion, confidence, and preparation can truly make a difference. Ashley is an outstanding employee and always is willing to help out across the store. Her family members also have worked or are currently employed by B&R Stores. Her mom, Veronica, works with the Front End Team, her brother Frank as a grocery clerk and previously her cousins (Christopher, Brayan, Jonathan) and aunt, Adelaida.
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