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Tuesday, May 22, 2012
From the editor: People of vision
This year we decided to do something a little different with our annual Progress publication. Instead of highlighting the projects going on in Cape Girardeau -- and there are many of them -- we decided to spotlight some of the people who are shaping our communities...
Read more about this year's Progress edition
Visionaries
Green identifies, solves problems as Cape city engineer (02/26/12)
It wasn't dolls or cartoons or sipping from an empty teacup with make-believe friends. In her spare time, a young Kelly Green loved to make her way to her father's office and play with his drafting tools. "I loved it. I thought that was so much fun," Green said...
There's a surgical app for that, thanks to Dr. Bender (02/26/12)
The first thing Dr. Edward Bender and his fellow physicians do when they gather to go over new lung cancer cases is pull out their iPhones. An app to help doctors identify the stages of lung cancer is one of 20 medical apps created by Bender, a cardiothoracic surgeon and section chair of cardiothoracic surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center...
Cape's Grammer has unique vision for educating children (02/26/12)
Russell Grammer of Prodigy Leadership Academy envisions preparing the next generation. "The greatest purpose we can serve, is not to get as much as we can so we can be comfortable, but to prepare the next generation for what they're going to face. They will have challenges that we don't know about yet," said Russell Grammer, founder of the private school for children in kindergarten through high school...
Thomas White is working on his vision for multicultural congregation (02/26/12)
Many churches begin with the vision of reaching their communities for God. Pastor Thomas White of the Rock International Ministries of Jackson also has a vision for reaching across cultural lines. White said pastoring a multi-cultural church in Southeast Missouri is "different but not too foreign."...
Vinson's vision leads him to success in Jackson (02/26/12)
After only a few moments of speaking with Dennis Vinson his humble nature becomes apparent. A Southeast Missouri implant originally from New Jersey, Vinson relocated his business from Atlanta to Jackson in 2006. His company, Signature Packaging, develops corrugated shipping boxes for local plants and businesses, including Rubbermaid, Nordenia and his largest customer Procter & Gamble Co...
Riley says risk taking essential to Cape's progress (02/26/12)
Jim Riley lost hope for a Cape Girardeau casino at least 15 times. He almost gave away all the riverfront land he'd been buying one parcel at a time over years. He knew there was a better use for Cape Girardeau's riverfront than overgrown weeds. At first, Riley didn't know what the property might become...
Missourian's Rust says leadership comes from people, rarely institutions (02/26/12)
Jon K. Rust loved growing up in Cape Girardeau, and with children of his own now, he wants the city to be as enjoyable to them as it was to him. Rust, who has helmed the Southeast Missourian for more than seven years as its publisher, has lived in New York City, Boston, Washington D.C. ...
Rhodes has a vision of Cape's future through its past (02/26/12)
To have a conversation with Dr. Joel Rhodes about the future is to hear about the past. And yet, rarely could someone describe a clearer vision of what's to come. Rhodes has been teaching students at Southeast Missouri State University about history and our place within it for more than 10 years. ...
Faith, family, friends help Buehrle reach milestones (02/26/12)
As the national economy struggles, the NARS call center in Cape Girardeau maintains jobs for 500 local families. Chris Buehrle founded NARS in 1993 in Chesterfield, Mo. He expanded the operation to Cape Girardeau in December of 2006. Buehrle, the former president and CEO, is now minority owner and board member...
John Buckner's downtown vision for Cape still in the making (02/26/12)
John Buckner never takes off his thinking cap. And in the relatively short time he's been in Cape Girardeau, those thoughts have turned into some high-dollar development deals for the city's downtown. He and a group of silent partners bought the old, abandoned Esquire Theater at 824 Broadway. A few months later, he announced he's nearing a deal to buy another building on the same block to convert it into a 24-hour diner and has his eye on two others...
Ken Dobbins' vision: Access, culture and growth (02/26/12)
Dr. Kenneth Dobbins gets goosebumps, he said, when he thinks about graduation ceremonies at Southeast Missouri State University. The ceremonies are his favorite of all university events. He thinks about how the degrees conferred upon hundreds each semester are going to change their lives -- and the lives of those students' children, and their children, he said...
Judith Farris: The perfect pitch for Cape talent (02/26/12)
If having a well-known university can help attract new business and industry to a community, having a well-known teacher could likely help a university attract new students. It's even more likely if you're talking about a teacher who has shared the stage with Luciano Pavarotti; performed at Carnegie Hall; and taught Broadway stars like Matthew Broderick and Tyne Daly, the answer is yes...
Featured businesses
Commerce Bank (02/26/12)
Year established: 1865 Product or service offered: Commerce provides a full range of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management, financial planning, brokerage and investments. # of employees: In Cape Girardeau and Jackson, 30...
ODACS (02/26/12)
Year established: Over 15 years Product or service offered: Drug testing Number of employees: 7 Location: Park Hills, Mo. and Cape Girardeau Owners: Dawn Pettus and Tim Edgar What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?...
Metro Business College (02/26/12)
Year established: 1981 Product or service offered: Education Number of employees: 19 Location: 1732 North Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo Owner(s): George Holske What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?...
Midwest Family Care (02/26/12)
Owner: Deborah Seeger, NP-C Year Established: 2011 Services: Family Health Care Number of Employees: 8 Location:36 Doctors' Park, Cape Phone: Cape 803-1771, Jackson 204-3900 What is your vision for your practice in 2012? Deborah Seeger, owner: Our vision is to make quality healthcare more accessible and more affordable for everyone. ...
Notre Dame Regional High School (02/26/12)
Year established: 1925 Product or service offered: Catholic secondary education Number of employees: 55 Location: 235 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Regional Catholic secondary high school...
Professional Fashion Uniforms (02/26/12)
Year established: 1982 Product or service offered: Scrubs, lab coats, work shoes Number of employees: 4 Location: 46 South Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Owner: Barb Whitlock Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Scrubs, lab coats, work shoes...
SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence (SADI) (02/26/12)
Year established: Incorporated in 1987 Product or service offered: Provide non-residential independent living services to people with disabilities Number of employees: 135 Location: Cape Girardeau, MO Perryville, MO...
Renewable Resources (02/26/12)
Year established: 2011 Product or service offered: Construction materials recycling Number of employees: 3 Location: 1439 Minnesota, Cape Girardeau, MO Owners: Jeramy Goehman and Nate Thomas What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?...
Ratliff Care Center, LLC (02/26/12)
Year established: 1962 Product or service offered: 24 Hr. Nursing care & Rehab, Social, Dietary & Activity Services Number of employees: 61 Location: 717 N. Sprigg Cape Girardeau, MO Owner(s): Carlos E. & Emmegene Ratliff...
Saint Francis Receives Top Ratings from HealthGrades (02/26/12)
Saint Francis Medical Center has received top orthopaedic and cardiac ratings from the nation's leading independent healthcare rating organization, HealthGrades. Saint Francis received the following 2012 ratings: Cardiac Top 10 in Missouri for overall cardiac services...
Saint Francis Cancer Institute Offers Technological Advancements, Comfort (02/26/12)
Cancer touches the lives of three out of every four Missouri families, according to Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services. At Saint Francis Medical Center's Cancer Institute, patients have access to the latest cancer technology and treatments, which increases their odds of surviving the disease...
Saint Francis Chest Pain Center Earns National Award (02/26/12)
When patients seek treatment for chest pain at Saint Francis Medical Center, they know they are receiving care at a facility that is nationally recognized for excellence. Saint Francis' Chest Pain Center recently received a Silver Performance Achievement Award through the Action Registry of the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry (ACC-NCDR)...
SoutheastHEALTH: A Passion for Heart Care (02/26/12)
SoutheastHEALTH excels in heart care. It has done so for decades. Southeast was the first hospital in the region to perform open heart surgery. It has led the way in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with a state-of-the art electrophysiology lab. Building on that tradition of successful heart care, SoutheastHEALTH has teamed with Cardiovascular Consultants, the largest cardiology group in southeast Missouri. ...
Southeast Technology Center Provides Data System to Improve Healthcare (02/26/12)
SoutheastHEALTH has embraced electronic medical records, opening the Southeast Technology Center on Feb. 5 in in partnership with Missouri Delta Medical Center. "Southeast is on the leading edge of technology," notes Mike Dozier, regional information officer for SoutheastHEALTH...
Southeast Physicians Provide Comprehensive Care for Patients (02/26/12)
Southeast physicians provide patients with expert, comprehensive medical care from obstetrics to wound care. Southeast Obstetrics / Gynecology At Southeast Obstetrics/Gynecology, skilled and caring physicians Dianne S. Woolard, MD, FACOG, and Wendelly Vasquez, MD, along with experienced nurse practitioners Glenda Robison and Christy Cook, provide expert care for their patients...
Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University (02/26/12)
Year established: 2007 Product or service offered: Entrepreneurial training programs and business growth strategies. Number of employees: 13 What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012? CIE: We assist entrepreneurial groups and individuals who want to start a business or grow an existing small business, commercialize a technology, study entrepreneurship and develop entrepreneurial communities. ...
Southeast Missouri Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (02/26/12)
Year Established: 2011 Product or service offered: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (face, mouth, jaw, skull) Number of employees: 8 Location: 1325 North Mt. Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, 731 North Main, Sikeston Owner(s): Steven Schoolman, DDS...
Ultimate Flooring & Paint (02/26/12)
Year established: 2003 Product or service offered: Flooring, Paint, and Blinds Number of employees: 5 Location: 2465 Cape Centre Cape Girardeau, MO Owner(s): Darrin & Rachelle Johnson Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Full Service Home Decorating Center...
United Way of Southeast Missouri (02/26/12)
Year established: 1953 Product or service offered: Uniting people with resources to build a stronger and healthier community. Mission Statement Number of employees: 3 Location: 430A Broadway, Cape Girardeau Owner(s): Governed by a board of directors comprised of people from the community we serve...
W.E. Walker-Lakenan LLC (02/26/12)
Year established: 1915 Product or service offered: Commercial and Personal Insurance Number of employees: 20 Location: Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Benton Owner(s): Joe Stahly, Bill Talley, Chad Hartle, Doug Mueller Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Commercial and Personal Insurance Sales...
Audiology Associates Balance and Hearing Center (02/26/12)
Owner: Linda Hurt, AuD Year Established: 1997 Services: Audiology Services, Hearing & Balance Care, Hearing Aids and Accessories # of employees: 6 Location: 2917 Independence, Cape with satellite in Poplar Bluff Phone: (573) 651-4650 What is your vision for your practice in 2012?...
Andrews Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center of Southeast Missouri, LLC (02/26/12)
Owner: Dr. Khonda Andrews, DC Year Established: 1986 Services: Chiropractic, Natural Health & Acupuncture # of employees: 9 Location: 3874 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson Phone: (573 243-7246 What is your vision for your practice in 2012? My vision is to use and share everything I have learned in 25 years of practice to promote healing and pain relief for patients. ...
Alliance Bank (02/26/12)
Year established: 1997 Product or service offered: Financial Services Number of employees: 45 full & part time Location: Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Oran Owner(s): Community What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?...
Advanced Pest Control (02/26/12)
Year established: 1980 Product or services offered: Pest, termite and weed control. # of employees: 22 Location: 821 Progress, Cape Girardeau, MO Owners: Gene and Dorothy Schuessler Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Residential and Commercial Pest Control...
First Missouri State Bank (02/26/12)
Year established: 2002 Product or services offered: Banking/Financial Services # of employees: 33 Location: 2 S. Mt. Auburn Rd., Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 800 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 1846 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson, MO...
First Midwest Bank of Jackson, Mo. (02/26/12)
Year established: 2003 Product or service offered: Banking services and loans Number of employees: 12 Location: 2319 E Jackson Blvd, Jackson, MO Owners: Privately owned What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?...
The Lutheran Home/Saxony Village (02/26/12)
In the 1960s, Southeast Missouri Lutheran churches noted that elderly congregations were in need of long-term health care facilities with skilled nursing. The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau was started from those churches and has grown into a place where Christians and their families can depend on comfort and compassion in the later years of life...
Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce (02/26/12)
Product or service offered: Business and community Service Number of employees: 2 Location: 125 E Main Street, Jackson, Mo Owner(s): Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce members Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Enhancing Communites and expanding business...
Jackson Tire Center (02/26/12)
Year established: 1980 Product or service offered: Tire and automotive service Number of employees: 12 Location: Jackson, Mo. Owners: Charles and Donna Glueck Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: convenient, competitive, friendly automotive service...
Kaelin Dental Group (02/26/12)
Year established: 1990 Product or service offered: Family Dentistry, Invisalign®, Whitening and Aesthetic Procedures Number of employees: 14 Location: 7 Doctors Park, Cape Girardeau What is your vision for Kaelin Dental Group in 2012? Our vision is to create beautiful and healthy smiles with an entire team dedicated to providing patients with excellent, comfortable and personalized care. ...
Kasten Masonry Sales, Inc. (02/26/12)
Year established:1895 Product or services offered: Brick, block, stoves, fireplaces, pools, pellet grills # of employees: 64 Location: 713 Kasten Drive, Jackson, Mo. Owner(s) and title(s): Corporation Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Brick, block, hearth and pool...
Leet EyeCare (02/26/12)
Year established: 1987 Product or service offered: Optometry, glasses, sunglasses, contacts Number of employees: 15 full time, three part time and four doctors Location: 3230 Blattner Drive and 856 N. Kingshighway; Cape Girardeau...
Miracle Ear Centers Serving Southeast Missouri (02/26/12)
Owner: Joyce Hill-Cooley, RN, BC-HIS, COHC Year Established: 1987 Services offered: Hearing Services, Hearing Aids & Accessories Number of employees: 8 Locations: 1464 N. Kingshighway in Cape 2368 W. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson Offices also in Perryville, Farmington & Ste. Genevieve...
Montgomery Bank (02/26/12)
Year established: 1903 Product or service offered: Montgomery Bank offers a full range of financial services, personal and commercial banking, mortgage services, custom wealth management, and 24-hour ATMs. Number of employees: 250...
GA Endoscopy Center & Gastroenterology Associates of Southeast Missouri (02/26/12)
Practitioners: Matthew Coleman, MD; H. Lee Schneider, DO; Dean A. Edwards, MD; Timothy J. Edwards, MD Year Established: 1988 Services: Medical Diagnosis & Treatment of Diseases of the Digestive System # of employees: 30 Location: 1429 N. Mt. Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701...
First State Community Bank (02/26/12)
Year established: 1954 Product or service offered: Financial services Number of employees: 20 Location: 2527 William St. and 1602 N. Kingshighway Phone number: 573-339-0303 Owners: First State Bancshares...
First Auto Credit & The Consignment Center (02/26/12)
Product or service offered: Automobile sales and consignment on autos and recreational vehicles Number of employees: 15 Owners: Kenny Seabaugh and David Kinder What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?...
EYE CARE Specialists, L.L.C. (02/26/12)
EYE CARE Specialists is a state-of-the-art practice that initiated the multi-specialty ophthalmology focus in Southeast Missouri.  In 1989, Dr. David Westrich, M.D. founded a practice specializing in vitreoretinal disease and surgery. The practice grew from a one M.D. ...
Eye Consultants (02/26/12)
Services offered: Comprehensive Ophthalmology Treatment & Surgery Number of Employees: 21 Location:64 Doctors' Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Offices in: Perryville (2) and Dexter, Mo. Phone Number: 334-5265 or 1-800-333-1568 What is your vision for your practice in 2012?...
El Torero (02/26/12)
Year established: 1993 Product or service offered: Family owned Mexican cuisine/bar Number of employees: 70-plus Location: Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryvile and Ste. Genevieve Owners: Antonio Trejo and Ricardo Trejo...
Discovery Playhouse (02/26/12)
Year established: 2006 Product or service offered: Children's Museum providing fun, educational experiences for children and their families. Number of employees: 6 Location: Cape Girardeau Owner(s): Southeast Missouri Children's Museum Board of Directors...
C.P.U., Inc. (02/26/12)
Year established: 1978 Product or service offered: We have two divisions. One division offers IT support services, hardware software, networking and the other division offers professional payroll and timekeeping services # of employees: 15...
Chateau Girardeau (02/26/12)
Year established: 1979 Product or service offered: Retirement Community Number of employees: 200 Location: 3120 Independence Owner(s): n/a What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012? Lynn Spriggs, chief executive officer: The Chateau's vision is to continue to be the premier and progressive regional leader in the provision of innovative, senior independent living and housing with high quality health care and wellness services in this region and beyond.. ...
Cape Medical Weight Loss (02/26/12)
Mary Janes, Owner Year Established: ,2009 # of employees: 10 Location: 2131 William Street, Cape Girardeau Phone: 573-803-0919 What is your vision for Cape Medical Weight Loss in 2012? Mary Janes, owner: We have a new slogan, "Change Your Body--Change Your Life!" Losing weight can certainly make a tremendous improvement in how you look, but our vision goes deeper than that. ...
Cape Girardeau Urology Associates (02/26/12)
Cape Girardeau Urology Associates introduced quality urological care to Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois in the late 1940s. The practice carries on the tradition of quality care today, being the largest single specialty group of urologists in the five-state area...
Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation (02/26/12)
Year established: 2003 Product or service offered: Enhanced Resources to Cape Girardeau Public School # of employees: 1 employee 10 Board of Directors Location: 301 N. Clark Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Raise Extra Money for CGPS...
Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce (02/26/12)
Year established: Incorporated in 1917 Product or service offered: Economic development and community betterment Number of employees: 10: Chamber - 6; CVB - 4; plus part-time and interns Location: 1267 North Mount Auburn Road; 400 Broadway...
Canedy Sign & Graphics (02/26/12)
Year established: 1937 Product or services offered: All types of indoor, outdoor and vinyl graphic signage products # of employees: 35 Location: 4857 Nash Road, Cape Girardeau, MO Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words: Canedy CAN get you noticed!...
Campbell Mattress Company (02/26/12)
Year established: 1933 Product or services offered: Mattress Manufacturer # of employees: 22 Location: 100 S. Minnesota St., Cape Girardeau, MO Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words: We produce a quality sleep product...
Busch Pet Products (02/26/12)
Year established: 2008 Product or service offered: All-natural pet food and supplies and self-service dog wash Number of employees: 3 (including me!) Location: 1720 Kingsway Drive, Suite 105, Cape Girardeau Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Helping pets live healthy lives...
The Bank of Missouri (02/26/12)
Year established: 1891 Product or services offered: Banking Industry # of employees: 241 What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012? Dawn Dauer, Community Bank President, Cape Girardeau: For 2012, the banking industry will continue to find ways to meet our customer's needs while adhering to the new regulations that continue to change. As a community bank, our vision is to provide those products and services that will help our customers...
Auto Tire and Parts (02/26/12)
Year established: 1909 Product or service offered: auto parts, heavy duty parts, tools & equipment, paint & body, machine shop Number of employees: 300-plus Location: 44 locations throughout the Heartland Owners: John Tlapek, Bob Tlapek, Greg Stroup and Mike Himmelberg...
Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET (02/26/12)
__Year established:__ 1992 Product or service offered: Area's economic development organization Number of employees: 2 Location: 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road Owners: Not for Profit Community Sponsored Organization Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: The Area's Economic Development Organization...
The Audiology Center of Southeast Missouri, Brown & Willen (02/26/12)
Year Established: 1998 Product or Services: Audiology Services and Hearing Aids & Devices # of employees: 4 Location: 262 S. Mt. Auburn in Cape Girardeau, Upper Level What is your vision for Brown & Willen Audiology Center in 2012? Our vision for 2012 is to offer the optimum in education, opportunity and assistance for residents in our area who suffer from a loss of hearing. ...
Southeast Missourian business headlines
Yahoo's $7.1B deal with China's Alibaba offers ray of hope (05/22/12)
SAN FRANCISCO -- After years of missteps, Yahoo Inc. finally has something to boast about: a multibillion-dollar windfall from a savvy investment in China. Yahoo is selling half of its roughly 40 percent stake in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., one of the most successful companies in China's rapidly growing Internet market. The $7.1 billion price ensures that Yahoo will get a hefty return from its $1 billion investment in Alibaba in 2005...
Facebook stock down after IPO (05/22/12)
NEW YORK -- Facebook's stock is tumbling well below its $38 IPO price in the social network's second day of trading as a public company Monday. Facebook's stock closed at $34.03, down more than percent from Friday's closing price of $38.23. The company lost nearly $10 billion of its market value and is now worth around $96 billion, about $2 billion below Amazon.com Inc...
Talking Shop with Wayne Turley, owner of Courtesy Cleaners (05/21/12) 1
Wayne Turley, owner of Courtsey Cleaners in Cape Giraedeau, has a long history in the dry cleaning business, but says he's embracing the future by converting to a new "green" cleaning system. The SolvenK4 has different properties than conventional dry cleaning solvents. It's an organic solvent with a pureness of 99 percent. Wayne Turley says he's just doing his part to protect the planet...
People on the Move 5/21/12 (05/21/12)
James M. Roman of Frisco, Texas, has joined SoutheastHEALTH as director of education and organizational development. Roman will focus on providing optimum health care education for employees, patients and the community. He will provide expertise in planning and development of leadership and professional development programs for the board, leadership and staff at all levels. ...
Tax liens (05/21/12)
Cape Girardeau County Tax liens and lien discharges recorded at the office of Scott R. Clark, recorder of deeds, during April are filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue, except as indicated by IRS designation. For more information, contact the recorder's office at (573) 243-8123...
Business licenses (05/21/12)
Business licenses issued in Cape Girardeau during April include the following:BEB Enterprises, 1303 Perry Ave. Dad's Hot Dogs LLC, 552 Woodbine St. Envious Styles, 208 Independence St. Fairway Auto Credit LLC, 2008 William St. (rear) Fashions & Finds, 1813 Randol St...
Traditional banks aren't only option for startup business assistance (05/21/12)
No matter how phenomenal your business idea is, without some sort of financing it's likely impossible. Whether you need funding to purchase a building to house your business, equipment to run it or working capital to keep it going, there are many financing options available...
Capaha Bank executive vice president Danny Essner is committed to improving Cape Girardeau (05/21/12)
Danny Essner is a banker by trade -- he's the executive vice president and senior lender at Capaha Bank -- but he works tirelessly to make Cape Girardeau an even better place to live. "One of the reasons I do what I do and spend the time that I do is that I am very passionate about Cape," Essner said earlier this year after accepting the Rush H. ...
Health briefs (05/21/12)
BOLLINGER IS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Christina Bollinger, CNA/CMT and central supply clerk at Golden Living Center, was employee of the year. The honor is given based on contributions to residents' quality of life or the center itself; the winner must have received an employee of the month award in the previous 12 months...
Banks of all sizes are seeing the benefits of smartphone banking apps (05/21/12)
Not too long ago, Internet banking was a big development. Now, it's all about the apps. "It's a growing platform and something that customers demand. This is another way to reach out to them and serve our customers well," says Mel Campbell, spokesman for Regions Bank. ...
Interest rates are at an all-time low, sending many people to banks to refinance their homes (05/21/12)
Interest rates are hovering at record lows, prompting many homeowners to consider refinancing their mortgage loans. That may be a wise idea, say local bankers, and they expect rates to remain low for the foreseeable future. "Anyone who has a higher mortgage rate or car loan rate or home equity loan rate might want to consider refinancing right now because interest rates are at historical lows, and it only makes sense to take advantage of the low interest rate environment of which we are a part of," says Roger Tolliver, community bank president at Commerce Bank in Cape Girardeau.. ...
Credit unions are low-cost, low-profile alternatives to commercial banks (05/21/12)
By Laura Drotleff CTW Features The nation's biggest commercial banks received a clear message last fall when an estimated 650,000 consumers withdrew some $4.5 billion and transferred the funds to new accounts in the nation's 7,200 credit unions. The problem: High fees for working-class account holders and small businesses and poor customer service. The message: Enough is enough...
Bankruptcies (05/21/12)
Bankruptcies filed through April for the Southeastern Division of the Eastern District of Missouri's U.S. Bankruptcy Court are listed below with their corresponding case number. The Southeast Division includes the counties of Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne. Court is held in Cape Girardeau...
Business briefs (05/21/12)
FALKOFF'S CUTS RIBBON SIKESTON, Mo. -- Don and Joyce Hart held a ribbon cutting for Men of Falkoff's, 118 E. Front St. The Harts purchased the store from longtime owner David Friedman and his wife. All employees will stay on board at the men's clothing store, including Charlie Miller, who will manage the store...
Names in the news (05/21/12)
LYNN EARNS MANAGER AWARD Jerry Lynn, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings in Cape Girardeau, won the 2011 Grand Prix Manager top award. Lynn was evaluated at the corporate level, competing against 54 others in the region. Lynn previously collected this honor and a bonus vacation in 2006 and 2008...
Mo. lawmakers fail to put vehicle tax on ballots (05/18/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A proposal to give Missouri voters a say in reinstating local sales taxes on out-of-state vehicle purchases has died in the Legislature. Missourians have long paid local sales taxes on vehicles bought out of state when they register them in Missouri. But the state Supreme Court ruled the practice unconstitutional earlier this year...
Cape mail processing center will stay open until at least 2014 (05/18/12) 1
Cape Girardeau's Richard G. Wilson Mail Processing and Distribution Facility will remain open at least through February 2014. The facility was not among the 140 set to close this summer as part of a modified plan to consolidate its mail processing centers announced today by the U.S. Postal Service...
Mo. lawmakers approve vehicle sales tax measure (05/18/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Lawmakers have given final approval to a measure designed to allow Missouri communities to continue levying taxes on car sales. Missouri residents have long paid sales taxes on vehicle purchases in their home communities during registration. ...
SoutheastHEALTH names new chief medical officer (05/18/12) 2
Dr. Dennis E. Means will begin work as SoutheastHEALTH's new chief medical officer in mid-June. Dr. Robert Sarama has served as interim chief medical officer while a national search was conducted for a permanent chief medical officer. Means previously worked at the Carilion Clinic, New River Valley Campus, in Christiansburg, Va., serving as vice president of medical affairs since 2007. ...
Facebook's $16B IPO to be one of world's largest (05/18/12) 1
NEW YORK -- Facebook's initial public offering of stock is shaping up to be one of the largest ever. The world's definitive online social network is raising at least $16 billion, a big windfall for a company that began eight years ago with no way to make money...
Broadway businesses share ideas about corridor project (05/17/12) 5
Old Town Cape executive director Marla Mills gave business owners fair warning Wednesday -- the $4.5 million Broadway corridor project is not always going to be easy or convenient. "No pain, no gain," she said. "It's going to hurt a little bit."...
Citizens Electric moving headquarters to Perryville (05/17/12) 2
PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Citizens Electric Corp. will break ground this summer on new headquarters in Perryville. The location will give the not-for-profit utility company, now based in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., more space and disaster-resistant areas to protect essential equipment during a crisis, said Barb Casper, Citizens spokeswoman...
Postal Service deadline for action by Congress passes (05/16/12) 2
Bess Johnson, a clerk at the Richard G. Wilson Mail Processing and Distribution Facility, is pessimistic about her future. "It's just scary," she said. The Cape Girardeau center, with about 100 employees, was one of 220 set to close until the U.S. Postal Service agreed to a moratorium on facility closures through Tuesday to allow Congress time to act on an alternative...
Missouri Senate votes to add cellphones to state's no-call list (05/16/12) 1
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Legislation allowing Missourians to add their cellphone numbers to the state's no-call list for telemarketers is on its way to Gov. Jay Nixon. The measure would prohibit most solicitations by phone call or text message to cellphones placed on the list, which Nixon helped implement when he served as Missouri attorney general...
Annual Scott City yard sale to be earlier this year (05/16/12)
In hopes of drawing bigger crowds, organizers are moving the annual Scott City yard sale up to June 8 and 9. Since the annual yard sale started nine years ago, it has been held in September over Labor Day Weekend. "We're trying to beat the heat and give people an opportunity to do some earlier spring cleaning to get rid of things," organizer Chaundra Mason said. "It's been such pretty weather, we didn't want to wait until it got too hot."...
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