Karina Ramirez

Carl’s Jr., a fast-food chain with roots on the West Coast, is coming to Denton on Loop 288, where Krystal’s restaurant was once located.

Construction crews are on site demolishing the exterior, and a building permit announcing the new restaurant was filed and approved by city officials recently.

The eatery, started by Carl N. Karcher in the mid-1940s, is known for its charbroiled burgers. For more information, check out www.carlsjr.com .

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The National Retail Federation credited the stimulus check from Uncle Sam with the latest increase in retail industry sales. For the month of May, the federation reported an increase of 0.2 percent from the previous month. The figure excludes sales for automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

With no direct stimulus for consumers this year, retailers were left with tougher comparisons, making May retail sales appear weak, NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells said in a press release. Wells said the slight sales increase from April provides hope that the economic turnaround may not be that far off.

The Commerce Department also reported a total retail sales increase of 0.5 percent in May, which does include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants. The figures were seasonally adjusted over April, a decrease of 11.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

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In other figures, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employers spent an average of $29.39 per hour worked for civilian compensation in March this year. Wages and salaries averaged $20.49, and benefits averaged $8.90, according to the release. Health insurance was the largest individual benefit cost at $2.37 per hour, accounting for 8.1 percent of total compensation costs.

Coming up

The Denton Hispanic Chamber and community members will sponsor the “Helping Others Help Themselves” workshop on July 9 to help people through tough economic times.

Attendees will receive information on where to find employment, health and legal assistance, including food and clothing in Denton.

The free event will be at the Quality Inn and Suites with a social mixer at 5 p.m. and the workshop starting at 6 p.m. More details will follow.

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Texas Association of Realtors Political Action Committee will sponsor an auction at the Denton Country Club on June 26 in Argyle.

The event will begin with a president’s reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by an item preview with cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner and the auction will start at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased at the Greater Denton/Wise County Association of Realtors office. Tickets are $20 per person, payable to GD/WCAR; a $250 contribution, payable to TREPAC, will reserve a table for eight. Ticket price includes entry fee and dinner buffet.

For more information, contact Brandie Kitchens at brandie@denton-wiserealtors.com  or 940-387-8212.

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Marta Dudowicz, co-owner of Kwik Kar of Denton, will host another car clinic just for women on June 30. The clinic will take place at 3507 E. University Drive. Dudowicz said her first car clinic was such a success that people stayed late to learn about their vehicles.

To sign up for the clinic, e-mail md@kwikkardenton.com or call 940-442-6026.

Congrats

Heather Crawford, store director of Brookshire’s in Denton, will be honored in Progressive Grocer magazine’s third annual salute to leading women in the supermarket industry.

Crawford is one of a small group of winners selected in the store manager category and will be highlighted in a “Top Women in Grocery” feature article in the June/July issue. She will also be recognized on the publication’s Web site.

Crawford came to the store in 1999 and went on to serve as assistant store manager with Brookshire’s and another store in the Dallas area. In 2007, she was promoted to store director at the Denton location.

Crawford enjoys mentoring and coaching younger employees, according to a news release, and remains involved in the Adopt-a-School program and assists the local food pantry with donations and support.

Crawford, a native of Lindale, earned a bachelor’s degree in science at Texas A&M University. She is married and has a 3-year-old son.

Staff writer Dawn Cobb contributed to this report.

KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com .