It’s that time of the year again, mower fans: Grass is growing and the sun’s hot, leading some to lose their cool around their mowers:

• Mower DUIs—In Virginia, one Glenn Bowers, driving a beat-up Craftsman riding mower, was pulled over in downtown Waynesboro, while pulling a dog named after the Flintstones character Kazoo the Martian in a little green utility trailer. According to officers, Bowers ran a stop sign—an act he denied. Bowers then blew the field test and the breathalyzer, registering a .024 blood-alcohol content.

Times are tough all over, as most dealers will agree, with some of industry’s top suppliers making tough decisions in poor markets. Following are news items taken from a recent edition of OPEESA‘s OPE-In-The-Know on-line newsletter, one of industry’s top news sources, showing how top suppliers are being affected by the economic downturn:

GIE+EXPO has launched a new, enhanced website that includes an online directory of exhibitors. A standard listing is free to all exhibitors, and three other listing options are available to exhibitors and vary in price. Some new features of the various levels will include enhanced company profiles, company logos, trackable hyperlinks to websites, new product listings and more.

The industry is feeling the weight of this down economy on their businesses and purchasing plans for 2010, but missing GIE+EXPO 2009 could mean missing out on the latest industry news and deals. According to Business Media, tradeshows are of immense value to attendees, because tradeshows: help attendees become aware of new products and services; allow attendees to interact with sales representatives; enable attendees to interact with peers; and provide information that attendees can trust.

Husqvarna has developed a quiet, powerful and environmentally friendly ride-on mower for the future garden. The concept mower is made of recycled materials and gives an indication how the future of mowing might come to look.

Husqvarna Panthera Leo is a hybrid made up of two ride-on mowers, Rider and Zero-Turn. A battery that can be charged at any electrical outlet has replaced the traditional gas engine. Five powerful electrical motors partnered with a sound absorbing cutting deck, allow the Husqvarna Panthera Leo to glide effortlessly and silently across the lawn.

Mantis and the National Gardening Assn. (NGA) are once again offering awards to charitable and educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. Any organization that has or wishes to create a community or youth garden is eligible to apply. In Spring 2010, 25 of these programs will receive a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator with a border/edger attachment.

“Mantis is happy to continue its support of gardeners who are striving to improve their communities,” says Mantis Award Program Coordinator Linda Beattie. “We know that gardening is a powerful tool for change, but it’s always amazing to hear about the great impact that dedicated volunteers and innovative nonprofit agencies can make by bringing people together with the soil.”

To apply for the 2010 Mantis Awards, please visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants. The application deadline is March 1, 2010. Winners will receive their Mantis Tiller/Cultivators by April 30, 2010.

The fourth PET Dealers Choice Awards promise more excitement this year at GIE+EXPO 2009, where dealers will vote on the show’s top new products submitted to Power Equipment Trade. This year’s awards will also feature on-line voting that will open in mid September and giveaways for both on-line and on-site Dealers Choice Awards voters. The PET Dealers Choice Awards honor top new products at GIE+EXPO—as voted on by dealers—in five categories: wheeled equipment, hand-held products, power sports/recreational products, accessories/attachments and business management services.

Ardisam Inc. of Cumberland, Wis., manufacturer of Earthquake power equipment and Cumberland Stove Works since 1960, has announced an agreement with Lucky Distributing, Portland Ore., to distribute Ardisam products on the West Coast.

Lucky Distributing is part of a successful, 50-year-old, family-owned business. Lucky has grown significantly over the years and has four divisions: Outdoor Power, Hearth & Home, EnergyEarth Wise and BCS America.

Lucky is the exclusive distributor of Ardisam product lines, Earthquake Power Equipment and Cumberland Stoves for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, California, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii and will provide direct support to the dealer network.

“We are very pleased and excited to have Lucky Distributing as a partner on the west coast representing our product,” says Pat Sifert, sales manager for Ardisam.

Maruyama U.S. Inc., Denton, Tex., has chosen Tidewater Power Equipment Co., Virginia Beach, Va., as distributor of its full line of professional power equipment products. Tidewater Power will distribute Maruyama products in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and central and eastern Tennessee. Tidewater Power has a proven track record of over 25 years. Through the strength of its workforce, modern warehouse facility and general business acumen, the company today is one of the largest and most successful power equipment distributors in Virginia.

“All of us at Tidewater Power are truly excited about our new relationship with Maruyama,” says Todd Winstead, general manager. “Maruyama is an outstanding company with outstanding commercial-grade products. We certainly feel this is one of the best opportunities Tidewater Power has had in its over 25 years of serving dealers in the lawn and garden power equipment industry.”

KYMCO USA, Spartanburg, S.C., a longtime provider of fuel-efficient scooters, motorcycles and ATVs, has announced an agreement with Progressive Insurance. Under the agreement KYMCO dealers will now be able to get insurance for new customers with a phone call or at the web site.

“This partnership with Progressive is a win-win for both dealers and people purchasing our products,” says Steve Lazoff, KYMCO director of sales. “We’re going to make getting insurance quicker and easier, especially for buyers who come in on evenings or weekends.”

The Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Assn. has announced that its Bill Nelson Scholarship Endowment has awarded two 2009 scholarships, each in the amount of $1,500. The recipients are Jessica Andrews of Mesa, Ariz., and Emily Fountain of Glennville, Ga.

Jessica Andrews is currently attending Arizona State University, where she is pursuing a degree in journalism and mass communications. Her father, Jeff Andrews, is employed by Desert Extrusion Corp.

Emily Fountain will graduate from Tattnall County High School this year and plans on pursuing a degree in journalism at the University of Georgia. Her father, Donald, is employed by Rotary Corp.

The Bill Nelson Scholarship Endowment is an educational charity designed to advance the academic pursuits of employees and the children of employees who work for member companies of the OPEAA. The endowment is governed by five trustees who annually review applications and make awards: Chip Armstrong, American Lubricating Co.; David Errick, D.E. Errick Inc.; Bob Phillips, Desert Extrusion; Ed Nelson, Rotary Corp. and Bob Titterington, Phoenix Manufacturing Co.