Banners, flowers to decorate Uptown Jackson streetscape

Less than a month remains until crews begin construction on the Uptown Jackson streetscape project engineer Tom Strickland thinks is the first step of revitalizing the area.

The improvements on a section of High Street between Main and Adams streets will include historic reproduction lighting, sidewalk pavers, benches, bike racks and trash receptacles. The Missouri Department of Transportation is funding 78 percent and Jackson will fund 22 percent of the cost of the project, which is expected to be complete by Dec. 31.

Strickland, who serves as committee chairman of the Uptown Jackson Historic District, met with a handful of leaders Friday morning to discuss the implementation of an automatic sprinkler system. This would water flower beds and pots that will be hung on the light poles.

The sprinkler system was not approved by the Jackson Board of Aldermen during its Aug. 3 meeting. Strickland and others in the meeting agreed that $5,250 was a reasonable price and discussed fundraising efforts.

Flowers and banners that would be attached to the light poles are also needed, Strickland said. Those in attendance suggested Southeast Missouri State University's agriculture department could grow the flowers and civic organizations could purchase the banners.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Aug. 20 in the Jackson Chamber of Commerce conference room at 125 E. Main St. For more information on the project, contact Strickland at 243-4080, 979-5431 or tstrick@stricklandengineering.com.

* Entrepreneurial contest update: A Sikeston, Mo., woman who won this year's "You're In Business" contest has turned her winning idea into reality.

April Samples won with a business proposal to expand her inflatable castle rental business into prepackaged baskets of goods used for parties. She entered the contest in May and submitted a 20-page plan that led to the opening of CA Sales and Rentals.

I ran into Samples when I was covering another story inside the mall. She told me that while she'll be running her kiosk alone for a while, the hard work pales in comparison to the reward of owning her own business.

"I'm excited about the possibilities as I continue to fulfill my dream," Samples said.

CA Sales and Rentals may be reached at 339-7710 and is open during normal mall hours. The business website is casalesandrentals.com.

* Private behavioral facility opens: Hillcrest Pointe, a private behavioral health and substance abuse facility, has opened in Cape Girardeau. It is designed to treat business and healthcare professionals. For more information, visit www.hillcrestpointe.org or call 877-445-5277.

* Scooter shop opens: Todd Rapp's love for scooters goes back 20 years. He's now turned that hobby into a business with the opening of Campus Scooters at 821C Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

While his opening beomes official today, he sold six scooters last week. Rapp thinks his being near campus is a plus for his business, which sells Longbo and Motobravo brands.

Rapp also owns Semo Roofing and Remodeling in Jackson.

"When I was a student at SEMO I had a scooter and always have enjoyed riding them," Rapp said. "I'm hoping to bring that passion for scooters to this community."

Campus Scooters' hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The phone number is 334-3888. The business also has two websites under construction, campusscootersonline.com and greekscooters.com.

* Gourmet food business comes to Cape Girardeau: Gourmet Foods of Missouri has opened in Cape Girardeau at 1249 S. Kingshighway. There are also stores in Columbia and Springfield.

Among the products it sells are gulf shrimp, lobster tails, steaks and ribs.

"You name it, we've got it," owner Danny McGowan said.

To reach Gourmet Foods of Missouri, call 334-5299.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Brian Blackwell may be reached at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.<I>