Business Briefs: Realtor Thiel links up with United Country

Local broker and Realtor Scott Thiel has become affiliated with United Country — Sacramento Valley Real Estate and Auction Services, establishing an office at 1103 Butte House Road, Suite C, Yuba City.

A licensed real estate agent since 1987, he is joined by John Putman, with 30 years of experience as a broker and auctioneer; Byron Shinkle, a Realtor since 1962; Mike Smith, a broker for 12 years specializing in agriculture sales; and Nikos Krohn, a junior at the University of California, Davis, studying economics.

Thiel has been a Yuba-Sutter resident since 1987. He and his wife, Kimberly, reside in Yuba City. They have two children, Megan and Trevor.

Y.C. PIP franchise earns top-25 award

PIP Printing and Marketing Service at 753 Sutter St. in Yuba City has been recognized as one of the top 25 businesses in the entire PIP franchise network.

The local site, owned by Bruce and Kathy Dickinson, received a Top 25 Sales Volume Award.

The awards were announced during the annual PIP convention and vendor show held June 23 to 25 at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Water-saving guide offered by Orchard Supply Hardware

Orchard Supply Hardware customers are eligible to receive a free copy of Sunset magazine's "Easy Water-wise Gardening" guide.

Supplies are limited.

The guide includes ideas on landscape design, plant selection and ideas to reduce the need to use water. The website www.saveourh2o.org includes a version of the guide online.

Customers can present an email coupon previously sent to them to the customer service desk at an OSH store.

Save Our Water, a statewide water-conservation public education program, joined with Orchard Supply Warehouse to spur water conservation.