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Now batting for Cape Girardeau Area Magnet ... (9/20/21)Retired The Bank of Missouri president John M. Thompson says he's been asked to pinch-hit on behalf of Cape Girardeau Area Magnet, but he downplays his chances of driving in many runs. Thompson was unanimously chosen earlier this month to serve as Magnet's interim director in anticipation of John Mehner's upcoming departure from the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. Thompson's appointment as interim director became effective Sept. 3... -
Jackson chamber relocating to former bank building (9/20/21)After more than 35 years at its current location, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce is packing this week and preparing to move to a new, larger headquarters by the end of the month. The chamber finalized its purchase Thursday of the former First Missouri State Bank branch at 1846 E. ... -
Carvana to occupy former Brennecke Chevrolet location in Jackson (9/20/21)Carvana, which touts itself as the company that introduced the "car vending machine," is coming to Jackson. The pre-owned e-commerce car dealership, based in Tempe, Arizona, plans to occupy the former Brennecke Chevrolet building at 700 E. Jackson Blvd., which is still owned by the Brennecke family... -
Positive Soles opens on Broadway, specializing in sneakers, street wear (9/20/21)After operating an online outlet for several years, Trai Blissett recently opened Positive Soles at 521 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, specializing in sneakers and street wear. "It has been a dream to open my own sneaker store since I started my own online platform my senior year of high school," Blissett said. "That's when I started pushing Positive Soles seriously."... -
Media Leaf, OnBoard relocate to North Kingshighway address (9/20/21)A pair of businesses that have been sharing space in the Marquette Tower in downtown Cape Girardeau — OnBoard and Media Leaf — are relocating their operations to a larger space at 879 N. Kingshighway in a building formerly occupied by Ochs Rent A Car...
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State transfers millions from marijuana sales to veterans programs (9/20/21)More than $6.8 million in fees and taxes generated by Missouri's medical marijuana program was transferred last week from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to the Missouri Veterans Commission. Under the terms of a constitutional amendment approved by Missouri voters in November 2018, fees and taxes generated by the state's medical marijuana program, less operational expenses, are to be periodically transferred to the veterans commission for health and care services provided to the state's military veterans.. ...
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Saint Francis, Southeast to conduct health needs assessment studies (9/20/21)Saint Francis Healthcare System has initiated an online community health needs assessment to gather insights from area residents about the area's health care needs. SoutheastHEALTH, which is on a different reporting schedule, will conduct a similar survey beginning in a few months...
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Shawnee signs 'Step-Ahead' agreement with SIU-C (9/20/21)Representatives from Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale signed an agreement Friday the schools say will provide a more seamless entry for Shawnee students into several SIU online programs...
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Ameren, SoutheastHEALTH receive industry recognitions (9/20/21)For the third consecutive year and seventh time overall, Site Selection Magazine has designated Ameren Corporation as a "top utility in economic development." The recognition, announced last week, takes into account Ameren's economic development work in Missouri and Illinois and was based on several criteria, including business programs and incentives as well as job-creating infrastructure...
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Physician, dietitian have new roles at Saint Francis (9/20/21)Dr. Daniel Griffin and dietitian Ann Menz have accepted new roles with Saint Francis Medical Center. Griffin has accepted a position as an intensivist (a physician who specializes in the care of critically ill patients) at the hospital, while Menz has been named manager of clinical nutrition services there... -
Chambers to host trivia, speed networking events this week (9/20/21)The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's quarterly "speed networking" session is set for 3:30 until 5 p.m. Tuesday at VFW Post 3838, 1049 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The free event is intended to help participants network with others in a fun, fast-paced environment...
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Homestead Steaks opens in West Park Mall, Southern Roots Salon and Spa planned for Broadway (9/20/21)The City of Cape Girardeau's community development office received business license applications last week from: n Corrie Gatlin of Webb City, Missouri, to operate Homestead Steaks LLC at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. The business, which sells prepackaged frozen steaks, chicken, seafood and pork, opened Friday...
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5 steps to help turn a side gig into a full-fledged business (9/20/21)In 2017, Courtney Lynn Ottrix started blogging about things to do in Cleveland. She'd done some freelancing in the past, and the blog offered occasional opportunities for income. But two years later, when her full-time position was eliminated, Ottrix suddenly found herself self-employed...
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Drag strip in Scott County available for new owner (9/13/21)"I feel the need, the need for speed!" — Peter "Maverick" Mitchel, as played by Tom Cruise in the 1986 movie "Top Gun" If you, too, feel the "need for speed," you might consider buying a drag strip in Scott County. The Jeffers Motorsports Park, known by many as the Sikeston Drag Strip and Sikeston Raceway, went on the market last week and is drawing interest from potential buyers from coast to coast... -
Magnet strategic planning process underway (9/13/21)The Cape Girardeau Area Magnet organization is continuing to work this fall on a new economic development strategic plan for Cape Girardeau County. Together with the consulting firm Ernst & Young LLP, the Magnet group recently completed the "competitive assessment" phase of the strategic planning process, which included invitations to more than 100 people representing a broad base of stakeholders to participate in one-on-one interviews and focus groups... -
From Keller's to Beacon 53, Century Casino lounge gets facelift and new name (9/13/21)Century Casino Cape Girardeau is about to open Beacon 53, a lounge area on the property's upper level once known as Keller's. Casino general manager Lyle Randolph said the renovated lounge will have a "soft opening" Thursday and will also be open for cocktails each evening during the Shipyard Music Festival scheduled for this weekend at the casino... -
Cape County sales-tax revenue pushes toward new record (9/13/21)Sales-tax receipts in Cape Girardeau County continue to climb at a record pace. County Treasurer Roger Hudson announced last week the county received $867,729.39 this month in its sales-tax account from the Missouri Department of Revenue, just $1,600 shy of the county's all-time monthly record amount of $869,339.83 set in June. The only other time the county's monthly sales-tax revenue came anywhere close to that level was in December 2017 when it reached $861,930.39...
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University's fall career expo set for next week (9/13/21)Southeast Missouri State University students and potential employers will have an opportunity to connect next week during the university's fall career expo. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Show Me Center...
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Codefi, Vizient to host Give Back Hack event to benefit not-for-profits (9/13/21)Codefi and Vizient are partnering to co-host Give Back Hack, a "hackathon"-style event intended to give tech professionals in the region an opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering their time and talent to create and support websites and apps for area charities and small businesses...
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Delta Regional Authority seeks grant applicants (9/13/21)Applications are being accepted for the Delta Regional Authority's Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP). The program invests federal resources across the Mississippi River Delta (including Southeast Missouri) and Alabama Black Belt region that have been particularly hard hit by industrial downsizing, business closures, and job losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic issues...
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Saint Francis achieves stroke recognition, Gilmer earns certification (9/13/21)For the second consecutive year, Saint Francis Medical Center has received the American Heart Association's Gold Plus Award in recognition of its care for stroke patients and the hospital's commitment to ensuring those patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence... -
Shawnee College seeks new director for school's foundation (9/13/21)Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois, is looking for a new director for its Saints Foundation following the recent retirement of executive director Gene Honn. Honn's retirement became effective Aug. 31. During his tenure with the school's foundation, Honn helped establish a food pantry for students, classroom grants for faculty, and increased scholarships by 650%. ... -
Virtual auction raises funds for cancer, cardiac care (9/13/21)The Friends Gala, an annual fundraising event sponsored by The Friends of Saint Francis to support cardiac and cancer care services offered through Saint Francis Healthcare System, raised more than $100,000 through a virtual auction held Aug. 9 to 25...
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Cape chamber schedules annual dinner, area chambers plan events (9/13/21)The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's 2021 Annual Dinner is scheduled for Oct. 21 at the Show Me Center, with cocktails starting at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. with program and annual awards to follow. Awards will include the Small Business of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, the Drury Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award and the Rush H. Limbaugh Award...
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Cape Girardeau commercial building permits, week of Sept. 6 (9/13/21)The City of Cape Girardeau's development services office issued a pair of commercial building permits last week: n Williams Brothers Contracting LLC for remodeling work at Hempies, 115 N. Main St., at an estimated construction cost of $125,000...
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New businesses include marijuana dispensary, security firm, mobile food truck, hair salon, resale store (9/13/21)Several business license applications were filed last week with the City of Cape Girardeau's customer service office: n Isis Tolua Faught of Oran, Missouri, for the operation of a mobile food service to be known as Waves Mini Donuts, which, according to the application, will begin operating in the Cape Girardeau area starting this week...
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Labor of Love: Not-for-profits raise money at 165th SEMO District Fair (9/10/21)The SEMO District Fair does much more than delight and entertain the area for eight days, it’s also a vital fundraiser for groups that make a difference in the area. Here are stories about three vendors whose products benefit those with cancer, provide support to local scouts, assist local schools, enhance amenities at local parks — and so much more. -
Difference Makers: Charlotte Craig has been a champion for health care, area animals (9/9/21)“I jokingly tell people, ‘I’ll take care of you as much as I’ll take care of a hurt dog.’ And it’s true. And I’ve proven it,” Charlotte Craig said. -
Difference Makers: Tamara Holt-Roth and Storybook Entertainment provide magical moments (9/8/21)Providing a storybook moment — especially for those who need it most — is the mission of Storybook Entertainment and Tamara Holt-Roth. Holt-Roth, who co-owns the business, said her West Coast background helped her develop empathy for the less fortunate...
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Difference Makers: Eric Ticer: On the pandemic’s front line (9/8/21)A registered nurse in a hospital emergency department is about as close to the front line of a pandemic as a person can get. -
Better Business Bureau executive brings people, nature together through bird watching (9/8/21)Whitney Quick, regional director at Better Business Bureau Cape Girardeau, is using her love of bird watching to bring people together to be “at one with nature.” Quick recently started a Facebook group for bird enthusiasts, Murder on the Mississippi, which she said is open for anyone to join, even if they have never been bird watching before... -
Codefi announces winners of 2021 1ST50K competition (9/7/21)Codefi, the digital economy cooperative headquartered in Cape Girardeau, announced winners of its 2021 1ST50K startup competition last week, adding four more companies to the list of entrepreneurial firms that have received funding through the annual competition... -
The city at our fingertips: Cape city, county find uses for geospatial technology (9/7/21)What do decreasing crop yields, an 1854 outbreak of smallpox and missing street signs have in common? They're all problems that could be solved, in part, with geographic information systems (GIS). GIS has existed since the early 1990s, according to Teresa Heifner, GIS coordinator for the City of Cape Girardeau, and the study and use of GIS and geospatial technology has increased exponentially in the last few decades, especially in Southeast Missouri... -
United Way of Southeast Missouri shifts campaign kickoff emphasis (9/7/21)There are many worthy charitable organizations in Southeast Missouri. Each of them plays an integral role in making our region one of the best places in the nation to live, work and raise a family. I've been involved with one of those organizations, the United Way of Southeast Missouri (UWSEMO), for most of my adult life, dating back to the early 1980s. ... -
Southeast Missouri State University ranked among Missouri's 'best employers' (9/7/21)Forbes Magazine has released its 2021 list of the best employers in Missouri, and Southeast Missouri State University has been ranked No. 8 on the magazine's "top 10" list. The list, released in late August in conjunction with the market research firm Statista, was based on an overall survey of 80,000 American workers at businesses with at least 500 employees. The survey was conducted between October 2020 and June of this year and produced rankings of the best employers in every state... -
SEMO establishes Blakemore initiative for family businesses (9/7/21)A new program focused on the development and support of family businesses has been established at Southeast Missouri State University. The Blakemore Family Business Initiative, announced by the university last week, was created through an endowment established by Southeast alumnus J. David Blakemore of Campbell, Missouri... -
New program promotes biofuel infrastructure (9/7/21)Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) has announced the Biofuel Infrastructure Incentive Program, also known as BIIP, to promote the distribution and use of biofuels in Missouri. Funds will be awarded through the program to fuel retailers, distributors, terminal companies and fleet operators that disperse or have plans to store or disperse ethanol fuel blends of E15 or higher or biodiesel blends of B6 or higher...
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Perryville firm lands forest service contract (9/7/21)Franklin Contracting Co. of Perryville, Missouri, was awarded a federal contract in late August in the amount of $28,044 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The contract is for work on the Shawnee National Forest administration and recreation building roof...
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The Digital Foundry receives national LGBT certification (9/7/21)The Digital Foundry, a brand marketing company based in Cape Girardeau, was recently certified as an LGBT Business Enterprise through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce's supplier diversity initiative. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the certifying body for LGBT-owned and operated businesses...
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Arrowleaf buys Cairo location, invests in community (9/7/21)Arrowleaf has completed purchase of a satellite office in Cairo, Illinois, which the social services agency says represents a long-term investment in both Cairo and Alexander County. "We've been providing services to Alexander County for decades and have maintained an outpatient facility for the last five years," said Sherrie Crabb, CEO of Arrowleaf, which was formerly known as the Family Counseling Center. ...
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Three Rivers College seeks nominations for alumni awards (9/7/21)Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, is accepting nominations for its 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award and its Alumni Star Award. The college's Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed on Three Rivers alumni and is given to former students and graduates of the college who have attained significant achievements and respect among their peers...
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Nurse pratitioner Weinhold joins EBO MD (9/7/21)Nurse practitioner Gena Weinhold has joined the EBO MD primary care locations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Before joining EBO MD, Weinhold was a primary care provider at the Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Cape Girardeau, where she managed patients' chronic diseases and treated their acute conditions. She has experience in the areas of diabetes care and endocrinology. She has also practiced in urgent care settings in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, Missouri... -
Cape schools receive donations; blood donors get free haircuts (9/7/21)Buzzi Unicem cement plant in Cape Girardeau donated 2,500 face masks and 240 tubs of disinfecting wipes last week to the Cape Girardeau School District to help the district manage health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Buzzi Unicem continues to be a valued partner to our school district," superintendent Neil Glass said. "They also made a very generous donation last year, which helped us keep our students and staff members safe."...
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Cape chamber to host women's networking event, First Friday Coffee and ribbon-cutting this week (9/7/21)A Women's Network Morning Coffee, hosted by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for 7 to 8 a.m. Thursday in the lobby of the Marquette Tower, 338 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Complimentary coffee and a light breakfast will be available. Although there is no fee, anyone planning to attend is asked to register through the events section of the chamber's website, www.capechamber.com, to assure an ample supply of food and beverage is available...
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Building permit issued for new Scooter's project (9/7/21)The City of Cape Girardeau's development services office issued one commercial building permit last week. The permit was issued to Boulder Construction LCC to build a Scooter's Coffee drive-through kiosk at 2404 William St. in Cape Girardeau at an estimated construction cost of $350,000...
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City receives business license applications for marketing firm, reiki service, food truck (9/7/21)Three business license applications were filed last week with the City of Cape Girardeau's customer service office. They were filed by: n Austin Bollinger of Cape Girardeau, who owns B&B Media LLC, a marketing firm offering website and graphic design services, at 338 Broadway, Suite 601, in Cape Girardeau...
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Difference Makers: Frank Nickell shares ‘the bigger picture’ of history (9/6/21)shares ‘the bigger picture’ of history Arguably the most knowledgeable living person about the history of Southeast Missouri was born and educated elsewhere. Franklin Delano “Frank” Nickell, Ph.D., was raised on a farm in Atwood, Illinois, in the central part of the Prairie State, and received his higher education at the University of New Mexico (UNM). -
Book Review: Jim Collins’ ‘Great by Choice’ a primer on how to manage through chaos (9/6/21)The bestselling business book “Good To Great” by Jim Collins is my favorite business book. I have referred to its principles many times during my career of leading organizations. I have found it relates to leading and building teams around the world whether in Asia, Europe, Latin America or the United States. The real companies’ examples from extensive research by Collins and his team bring alive the seven characteristics that enable companies to be successful over time... -
Difference Makers: Christy Mershon enjoys making a ripple effect through work, community involvement (9/5/21)It’s hard to name an organization in Cape Girardeau that Christy Mershon hasn’t been a part of in some way. Mershon has served on the board of many local not-for-profits and organizations, including Southeastern Missouri Area Health Education Center (SEMO AHEC), Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, Health in the Heartland and several others. -
B Magazine business briefs (9/5/21)Wink’s Convenience Stores sold to Paducah-based company Wink’s convenience stores in the Cape Girardeau area have been sold to Acee’s Inc., based in Paducah, Kentucky. The transaction includes the Wink’s locations in Cape Girardeau — at 2017 Perryville Road and 2505 Veterans Memorial Drive — and the Wink’s near the junction of Route K and Highway 25 west of Cape Girardeau near Gordonville...
