Holton natives Mandy Bontrager (left) and Nikki Rinkes (right) are the new owners and operators of The Pines in Holton.

The Pines has new owners

At the start of the New Year, Nikki Rinkes and Mandy Bontrager took ownership of The Pines of Holton. 

Rinkes has a bachelor’s degree in business from Friends University and serves as the operator of the 12-bed facility. Bontrager is the nurse manager. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Washburn University and is a registered nurse.

The Pines, located a 725 Iowa Ave., was previously owned by Mandy and John Coleman.

“Nikki and I have worked together for several years now and this opportunity came up, and we thought this would be an exciting adventure,” Bontrager said. 

Rinkes and Bontrager previously worked together at Home Health and Hospice at Holton Community Hospital. Rinkes worked as the office assistant and in billing for 10 years, and Bontrager served as the director of the program.

“I feel like there will always be a need in our community for good quality long-term care, and I think it’s important that, at this stage of your life, you deserve the best possible care,” Rinkes said.

Both women grew up in Holton and graduated from Holton High School. Bontrager is a member of the Class of 2000, and Rinkes graduated in 2002. 

In addition to her past role as director of Home Health and Hospice, Bontrager has also served as a staff nurse, charge nurse and nurse manager at St. Francis Medical Center in Topeka, Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita, Memorial Hospice in Chattanooga, Tenn. and Indiana University Health Hospital in Avon, Ind.

The women said that they are still transitioning into their new roles and aren’t planning any major changes at The Pines in the immediate future.

“At this time we’re settling into a good routine with our staff and residents,” Rinkes said. “We do have some good ideas on how to improve the quality of care here.”

Rinkes said that The Pines is considered a “homes plus” long-term care center.

“We’re unique because we have more of a home setting as opposed to being a facility,” Rinkes said. “We cook all of our meals here. Our staff are more than just CNAs and CMAs. They do all of the cooking and the cleaning. I think that the homelike setting is attractive to some people.”

The Pines employs a total of 14 staff members. 

“I feel like we can make a difference in our community,” Rinkes said. 

Rinkes and her husband, Justin, have two sons, Carsen, 5; and Conner, 2.

Bontrager and her husband, Chad, have four daughters, Madeline, 8; Addison, 7; Julieann, 6; and Lillian, 2. 

For more information about The Pines, call 364-3314.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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