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Two great signs - $3.46/gallon gas and a parade of power crewsTuesday, September 2, 2008
As I was heading into work this morning, I drove by a local gas station, where the price of gas was about the same as when I left Friday for an out-of-town Labor Day weekend trip. With all the fears of rising gasoline prices, it's good to see that some analysts were wrong in their predictions that fuel would dramatically rise in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Building on Gustav, an encouraging scene was a steady stream of power crews heading toward hurricane-ravaged areas Sunday evening. Ameren spokesman Michael Cleary said that so far none of their crews have been sent to the Gulf Coast. However, he added, more than 200 tree-trimming and electrical contractors who have been working for the power company are ready to go there if needed. Right now, he said he's not sure how many of them will actually go. The weekend brought back some anxious memories for myself. I remember watching in my Central Louisiana home with my wife and an evacuated family member as Hurricane Katrina made landfall three years ago. I and others were fearful that Gustav may once again destroy property and lives along the Gulf Coast. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin called Gustav the mother-in-law or ugly stepsister of all storms. But while Louisiana did not come away unscathed, thankfully lightning didn't strike twice.
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Brian Blackwell is the newest reporter at the Southeast Missourian, focusing on business. A May 2008 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Brian is an avid Cornhusker fan. When he is not covering the business community for the newspaper, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife and church family, cheering on the Cubs and Cornhuskers, wishing for snow and hiking on the numerous area trails.
Will it snow, will it snow, will it snow? (November 30, 2008) Cape Girardeau Branding Iron closes (November 29, 2008) Happy Black Friday (November 28, 2008) Wieser acquires Suzuki franchise from Minor's Harley Davidson (November 27, 2008) The Economic Earthquake (November 26, 2008) Are you planning to shop on-line this holiday season? Or are you planning on getting bargains or getting up early on Black Friday? (November 24, 2008) The business buzz: High hopes for Thanksgiving weekend (November 24, 2008) New nail salon set to open next month (November 22, 2008) What do you think of the auto bailout? (November 21, 2008) Is the economy keeping you closer to home this Thanksgiving? Are you planning on doing anything to cut back on the holiday? If so, I want to hear from you today (November 21, 2008) New hospice option offered in Southeast Missouri and my first trip to Marble Hill (November 20, 2008) Austin's of Alto Pass, Ill., closing after 23 years in business (November 19, 2008) Latest mall news (November 18, 2008) Chambers adding members thanks to October drive (November 17, 2008) The start to my Friday morning - running over a deer (November 14, 2008) Guess who's moving into the old Fred's building in Jackson (November 13, 2008) Bott Radio Network expands into four Southeast Missouri cities (November 13, 2008) Renovations, expansion underway at Fireplace Center/River City Masonry (November 12, 2008) Jaspers at corner of Independence and West End Blvd reopens, changes name (November 11, 2008) All the buzz about business (November 10, 2008) Upcoming ribbon cuttings (November 9, 2008) Anyone seen "Beer for My Horses"? (November 8, 2008) VA Clinic to relocate in 2009 (November 7, 2008) It's official - gas is now $1.99/gallon in Cape! (November 6, 2008) West Park Mall lands new tenant; a note to all existing, new and soon-to-be business owners (November 6, 2008) Pet products business opens in Cape (November 5, 2008) Thoughts from an early morning at Arena Building (November 4, 2008) Economics of presidential politics (November 3, 2008) Bahama Tan changes ownership, adds gift store (November 2, 2008) Thoughts and behind-the-scene happenings from the Palin rally (November 1, 2008) Has anyone planning to retire now or very soon been affected by the stock market? If so, I want to hear from you (October 31, 2008) Favorite Halloween memory (October 31, 2008) Infant and children's consignment store opens in Jackson (October 30, 2008) Anyone heard of Palin ticket scalpers? (October 29, 2008) Becoming quakesmart (October 27, 2008) Some cute Halloween dog pictures (October 25, 2008) Greetings from Lincoln, Neb. (October 24, 2008) What stories would you like to see in Monday's business page? (October 23, 2008) Cape Regional Credit Union hoping to open third location in January (October 22, 2008) Marvels & Legends changes ownership; Pacific Rim Market opens (October 21, 2008) Posting information through weekly Business Buzz column (October 20, 2008) Contract Postal Unit to open Oct. 22 (October 17, 2008) Party and planning business in Cape Girardeau scheduled to open Nov. 1 (October 16, 2008) Updates on Qdoba's opening in Cape, new Drury Inn and Suites in Sikeston (October 15, 2008) Marble Hill hardware store closing; space to be occupied by another retail business (October 14, 2008) Solutions to latest mall casualty discussed in my latest Business Buzz column (October 13, 2008) Want a Dallas Cowboys' end zone? Try Neiman Marcus' Christmas catalog (October 11, 2008) Solving the mystery at 2320 E. Jackson Blvd. (October 10, 2008) McAlister's Select closes (October 9, 2008) Jackson Diner closes (October 7, 2008) advertisement
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Kind of funny that BP and Shell on Williams both lowered their price of gas to $3.59 today. Labor Day travelers must be done driving. Hope they squeezed the tourists enough to make an extra buck or two.......
Brian, thanks for the update on Stevie's
Headed up to Farmington this afternoon around 3 and saw literally hundreds of power company trucks heading south. It was quite a site. KCP&L (Kansas City Power and Light) probably had a 2 mile long line of lift trucks, equipment vehicles, fuel trucks and other service/support vehicles. And there was another power company out of Madison WI heading south as well. Hoooper Contracting had quite a few trucks as well.
I wonder how much it costs a power company to send crews and support to areas devastated by mother nature. Does the federal govt pay? Does the state pay them? Or is it all donated services and man hours? Either way it is truly good to see other companies and crews going to areas like LA to help get the people back on their feet as soon as possible.
Last week I reported that Steve & Barry's was closing its Cape Girardeau location. Since then, stores in locations such as Birmingham, Ala., Lincoln, Neb. and Chicago have announced store closures. For those who frequent the Steve & Barry's in Carbondale, Ill., you'll be pleased to learn the company which purchased it out of bankruptcy - BH S&B Holdings - plans to keep the University Mall location open.
cubbytodd,
They're hoping to open this Friday. Stay tuned for further updates.
We may still see gas go up due to the gulf coast refineries being down for two or three days; not as much as predicted, but still some.
cubbytodd,
I'm actually driving past there on my way to lunch. I'll update you later today.
I haven't been down Broadway in a week or so, any updates on Stevie's Burger place? Are they open yet? Anybody been there? Are they good?
I too am shocked that Rhodes and Kidd's didn't take advantage of the situation and raise gas prices. I know that between Wed PM and Fri AM, BP on Williams raised their gas from $3.55 to $3.69/gallon. So did Shell by McDonald's. Nobody else in town did. They must have been trying to squeeze a little extra out of interstate travelers.
I hear Auffenberg bought Cape Hyundai.
FYI--Looks like there is a new business coming to uptown Jackson. The building where the horse is in the windown has vertical blinds and notes advertising what looks like a Christmas store being opened. As these businesses do have a strong following, maybe this one will be a success.