Accounting firm expanding into Havre's past

Elizabeth Doney Havre Daily News [email protected]

Scharfe, Kato & Co. Is busy adding new offices to the second floor of its historical building. The building is already two stories but the second floor of the old Woolworth's location has laid vacant and unfinished for years. Scarfe, Kato & Co. Is owned by Richard Scarfe and James Kato, who became a shareholder in 2003. Scharfe has been a certified public accountant since 1973, working in various accounting firms until venturing out on in his own in 1990 at his first office in the Atrium Mall. Kato started working for Scharfe in 1995 and became certified in 1999. Korb Construction was hired in mid- December to renovate the second floor which is projected to be complete by February. The first item on their agenda was to close off the outside of the building And put a stairway in to the closed off second floor. The crew is now putting in new framework after which they will wait for electricians and plumbers before they begin to sheet rock, paint and finish up. This will be the second expansion for Scharfe, Kato & Co. Who moved into the office in December of 92. Their small office was in the newest part of the building on the far west side until the company expanded in 2000 to include the old Book Haven office space as their own. This addition built three new offices to house the five staff accountants and five secretarial staff. The current expansion is to accommodate a new staff accountant, Lindsey Erskine of Chinook, and to add a conference room and employee break room. The break room will be in the same place that the Woolworth staff relaxed in. Located at 215 Second St., the accounting firm is gearing up for tax season with an emphaisis on business and personal tax returns and small business counseling. Call 265-1254 for more information.