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FEBRUARY 2013
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on B
Buchanan Group to Purchase Old Coca
Cola Plant in Scottsburg
Valley Casting Introduces the Memory
Angel Pin to Express Everlasting
Memories and Provide Tribute
MAPLE GROVE,MN—
Valley Casting
has introduced a new original design to
its Remembrance Pins collection, the
Memory Angel. The high quality pin
adds an everlasting memory and trib-
ute to the words of solace that the fu-
neral staff provides.
The Memory Angel is a cutout silhou-
ette of an angel with a bright non-tar-
nishing silver finish. It is attached to a
gift with a poem reflecting the angel’s
meaning. Both the pin and card are
made from recycled materials and de-
signed using 100 percent solar energy.
The pin is a meaningful token of mem-
ory at funerals, both as a gift for the
family of the bereaved and for the pall-
bearers. Some families choose to bury
one with the deceased while the liv-
ing left behind wear theirs as a remem-
brance.
This original design has been created
with great attention to detail and is craft-
ed with state-of-the-art methods. Val-
ley Casting, located in the Midwest, has
provided quality and creativity to thou-
sands of funeral homes for over 60 years.
A leader in the lapel pin industry, Val-
ley Casting takes pride in the commit-
ment to value, quality, and originality.
Valley Casting has secure online ordering
at www.pinsmith.com or call 800-695-
8260 for additional information.
SCOTTSBURG,IN—
The Indianapolis-based
Buchanan Group
has announced that it is
in the final stages of purchasing the former
Coca Cola plant in Scottsburg and will reno-
vate it for use by their newest division,
Fewell
Monument
. This action modifies a decision
to build on another site about a mile away,
where a groundbreaking had already taken
place last March.
Buchanan Group bought Fewell Monu-
ment in October of 2011 and has integrated
the company into its consortium of funeral
homes, cemeteries and casket
distributors across the coun-
try. Fewell had 23 employees
when it was purchased, cur-
rently has 29, and is on track
to double the original num-
ber of employees by 2015.
“TheCocaCola site is a per-
fect fit for our operations,”
said
Carlos E. Figueroa
,
Chief Financial Officer for
Buchanan Group. “Its 22
acres give us more expansion
capability than the other site.
It is 6,000 square feet larger
than the original location,
which will enable Fewell to
design a state-of-the art fa-
cility. We still plan to invest
$2.3 million in the facility as
originally planned.”
“This transaction is a ma-
jor plus for our city,” said
Scottsburg Mayor, William
H. Graham. “The old Coca
Cola plant had sat empty for
quite some time, and our res-
idents will be happy to see it
in use with a more modern
upscale facility. In addition,
it keeps a major asset in town
and promises more opportu-
nities for our workers. Bu-
chanan Group continues to
be a very welcome partner in
our community.”
The move into the new fa-
cility is planned for early
spring in 2013. New equip-
ment that will be used in the
renovated facility will have
the latest technology in laser
inscription and sandblast-
ing that will result in a much
more efficient manufactur-
ing process–producing mul-
tiple granite memorials at
once as well as being much
more precise. It will make
Fewell Monument a nation-
al pioneer in both of these
methods.
Fewell’s retail store will
continue to be located at 161
McClain Avenue in Scotts-
burg. Plans are in process for
how the vacated real estate
on Railroad Street will be
used.
The company has custom-
ers in two-thirds of the coun-
try, from Florida to Pennsylvania to Colora-
do. Its customer base includes granite dealers
who work closely with local funeral homes to
design and deliver personal memorials.
Buchanan Group is owned and operated by
Bruce
and
Brian Buchanan
, who represent
the fourth generation of family ownership.
The company serves Indiana communities
with a network of funeral homes, cemeteries,
granite memorials and a national casket dis-
tribution business. The company celebrated
its 130
th
anniversary last year.
Weiss Reaffirms Physicians Mutual’s
Financial Ratings
OMAHA,NE—
The
Phy-
sicians Mutual
family is
pleased to announce Weiss
Ratings
has reaffirmed their
financial rating. Physicians
Mutual maintains an excel-
lent A+ rating.
“It is an honor to receive
this exceptional distinction
and reinforces the impor-
tance we plan on security, in-
vestment strategies, business
operations, and underwriting
commitments,” said
Mike
Wade
, chief financial officer.
Weiss Ratings recognizes
Physicians Mutual as an out-
standing insurer offering fan-
tastic financial stability for its
employees, customers, and
business partners. Less than
one percent of the nation’s
life and health insurers meet
these criteria, according to
Weiss Ratings.
The Physicians Mutual
family of insurances has near-
ly three billion dollars in as-
sets and consistently main-
tains some of the highest
financial strength ratings in
the nation. Learn more at