You don’t say

May 25, 20114:08 p.m.

“It’s a very unique job. (For) one thing, you get to work for Wink.”

– Former Hartman Arena general manager Eric Blockie, who is helping Wink Hartman Sr. find his replacement since he’s taken a job as GM at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas

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You don’t say

Feb. 22, 201110:40 a.m.

“This is but the first shot across the bow.”

– Wink Hartman Sr., who says the arena business is competitive and he wants to be the best, so parking is now free for every event at Hartman Arena

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Jimmy’s Egg investment partner Wink Hartman Sr. to buy out managing partner Whitney VinZant

Feb. 2, 20119:59 a.m.

WICHITA — Jimmy’s Egg managing partner Whitney VinZant issued a joint statement with investment partner Wink Hartman Sr. in response to Have You Heard? inquiries about the partnership possibly dissolving.

Hartman is in the due diligence phase of buying the remaining interest of five Jimmy’s Egg franchises in Wichita and one in Houston.

VinZant, who is a partner in Mike’s Wine Dive and the Gaslamp Grille & Lounge, among other restaurants, will no longer be a part of the Jimmy’s Egg franchises here if and when the deal is complete.

“I am excited that Wink is focused on taking this concept to the next level by further expanding into Wichita and surrounding areas,” VinZant said in the statement.

Jimmy’s Egg, a breakfast franchise based in Oklahoma City, has more than 125 employees in Wichita.

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Wink Hartman Sr. files to buy State Bank of Leon

Sept. 20, 20104:52 p.m.

WICHITA — It was early August when Have You Heard? first reported that Wink Hartman Sr. was mulling a bank purchase in Butler County.

A confidentiality agreement prevented him from talking.

“I wouldn’t look pretty in jail,” Hartman said, joking.

He’s still not talking, but it looks like that bank is the State Bank of Leon.

On Monday, the legal classifieds in the El Dorado Times published a notice that Hartman, Elizabeth Hartman and Steven Worrell filed a notice of change in bank control with the FDIC.

The parties want to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of the bank, which has $9.6 million in assets as of June 30.

The State Bank of Leon ranks 53rd for deposits out of 57 banks in the Wichita area.

Neither Hartman nor bank representatives could be reached for comment.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Banks | Comments

You don’t say

Aug. 4, 20105:16 p.m.

“Once I know I won’t get fired, I’ll let you know.”

— Michael O’Donnell II, an employee of Wink Hartman Sr., on a couple of big business deals coming up for his boss

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You don’t say

July 30, 20106:02 a.m.

“I wouldn’t look pretty in jail.”

— Wink Hartman Sr.’s response — referring to a potential confidentiality agreement — when asked if he’s buying a bank in Butler County

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Filed under Banks, You don't say | Comments

You don’t say

Jan. 25, 20103:10 p.m.

“I was even told by a couple of banks that I couldn’t do it, which kind of hurt my feelings a bit.”

— Wink Hartman Sr., speaking at the Andover Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Friday, on criticism he heard before building his Hartman Arena last year

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South-side Jimmy’s Egg in question

Jan. 7, 20109:41 a.m.

WICHITA — The future of the proposed fifth Jimmy’s Egg at 47th and Broadway is uncertain.

“We had been negotiating what I would consider in very good faith for months and months, and the other party is delay, delay, delay,” says Wink Hartman Sr. “It’s just been a disaster.”

Hartman says he still loves the location, but he’s not sure if it will ever work out.

“We can’t get anybody up the chain to salute the flag. It’s like talking to yourself in the mirror.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , Filed under Real estate, Restaurants | Comments

Prairie Polo rezoning is approved by planning commission

Dec. 17, 20094:19 p.m.

WICHITA — A rezoning request Jack Shelton first sought in Summer 2008 for his Prairie Polo at 95th Street South and Broadway has now been approved and is on its way to the county commission for final approval.

“We got a lot of slack the first time we went through it,” Shelton says.

Part of the problem was he needed approval from the city of Haysville first, which he now has.

More than a decade ago, Shelton put two polo fields on his 125 acres.

More recently, his goal was to attract people for lessons.

Shelton is former chairman of the United States Polo Association.

This year, the association approved Prairie Polo as a regional training center for the Midwest.

But Shelton ran into difficulties when he erected signs to attract potential students.

Read More »

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You don’t say

Nov. 20, 20094:08 p.m.

“I’m very happy because the first thing those folks thought of was Hartman Arena.”

— Wink Hartman Sr. on how some people wanting Intrust Bank Arena tickets are calling his Park City arena

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Arenas, Intrust Bank Arena, You don't say | Comments