Briefs

__CROWN VALLEY BY ENGLER PARK OPENS__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Crown Valley by Engler Park has opened in what was previously the Champagne House, the Park Hills Daily Journal reported. The Champagne House shut down in November. The idea behind Crown Valley by Engler Park is to appeal to the everyday consumer in the Farmington area and make Crown products more convenient. The store has BOGO (buy one, get one free on anything in the store) hours and happy hours. __Bryan Siddle,__ director of operations for Crown Winery Brewery and Distillery, said the new space offers a retail store with knickknacks, aprons and Crown Valley's full line of alcohol, as well as an open room with tables where guests can sit. Limited food is available.

__MENARDS COMING TO FARMINGTON__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The latest retailer coming to Farmington is Menards, a Wisconsin-based home improvement store, the Farmington Press reported. The new store will be near Colton's and Buffalo Wild Wings at the intersection of Maple Street and Maple Valley Drive. The company recently opened a store in Cape Girardeau, and also has stores in Columbia, Jefferson City, Lake Ozark, Sedalia and St. Joseph, Mo. Construction should begin within the next few months.

__BAILEY BUYS VALLEY PLAZA__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- __Jim Bailey__, a Poplar Bluff businessman who was successful in turning around Mansion Mall, plans to do the same with Valley Plaza over the next few years, the Daily American Republic reported. Bailey announced his purchase of the 201,000-square-foot mall Sept. 4; he closed on the property Aug. 29. Workers have already begun gutting the interior and preparing for remodeling work. As each unit is leased, Bailey will install new heating and air-conditioning units, plumbing, electrical and storefronts. Bailey also owns and operates Bailey's CAR-STAR Auto Body and Glass Inc. and was instrumental in bringing tenants to the 130,000-square-foot Mansion Mall.

__JUDEN OPENS HUNTING BUSINESS__

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- __David Juden__ opened DJ Hunting, offering self-guided dove, turkey and deer hunts in East Cape Girardeau. Juden previously worked as Internet manager at Morlan Dodge. His new business is next to the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge on land that has been in his family for more than 100 years and has never offered public hunting before.

__PARKS AND REC BUILDING NEW OFFICE__

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Parks and Recreation Department will soon begin work on a new home, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. A portion of the groundwork has already been done at the site for the department's new 2,800-square-foot facility. The space will include three separate offices, a reception area, a conference room and storage for offseason sports equipment. The outside of the building will be designed to match the aquatic center and gymnasium across the parking lot.

__ULTIMATE FITNESS RELOCATES__

KENNETT, Mo. -- Ultimate Fitness moved to the former Town and Country Supermarket building on St. Francis Street in Kennett.

__SEMO RANKED IN U.S. NEWS, PRINCETON REVIEW__

Southeast Missouri State University was listed among the best regional universities in the Midwest in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Southeast has been consistently ranked by the publication since 1993. The 332-page edition of the 2013 Best Colleges guidebook is available at www.usnews.com/colleges and on newsstands. Southeast is also one of 153 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in its "Best in the Midwest" section of its website feature, "2013 Best Colleges: Region by Region," at PrincetonReview.com. This is the fifth straight year the university has been included in the feature.

__SHAVED ICE TRUCK COMES TO CAPE__

__Josh and Courtni Stephens__ opened a Kona Ice flavored shaved ice truck in Cape Girardeau. Kona Ice allows customers to chose from more than 30 flavors of shaved ice. Kona Ice is also available for fundraisers.

__FROZEN YOGURT SHOP OPENS IN CAPE__

Simply Swirled, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop, opened Sept. 20 at 274 S. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, near McAlister's Deli. The business is owned by __Angela Schlitt, Allyson Leckie and Lori Laramore.__ Simply Swirled has 10 flavors, with the ability to swirl some flavors together for a total of 15 options. Thirty-six toppings, including fruits, candies, granola and several sauces, are available. Simply Swirled also has a gathering room for parties and group meetings.

__CHOCOLATE SHOP OPENS IN FARMINGTON__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Sweetheart Chocolates opened at 19 S. Jackson St. in downtown Farmington. A ribbon cutting was held Aug. 30 with the Farmington Chamber of Commerce.

__APPLIANCE STORE CUTS RIBBON__

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- Quality Appliances LLC, 36 N. Allen St., held a ribbon cutting Aug. 22 with the Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce. The new store sells certified, pre-owned appliances, including refrigerators, washers, stoves, ranges, freezers and dryers. __Steve Weible__ and __Rhonda Grosberg__ own the business.

__STATE FARM OFFICE OPENS IN DEXTER__

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for __Chris Brannan__ and his new State Farm Insurance agency at 912 N. One Mile Road. Brannan has five years of experience with State Farm and recently relocated to Dexter from the Kennett, Mo., area, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported.

__BANK OF ADVANCE ACQUIRES CHAFFEE BANK__

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Bank of Advance has acquired the Chaffee branch of Montgomery Bank-Sikeston. The Bank of Advance entered into an agreement to purchase the bank at 102 E. Yoakum in Chaffee. The Bank of Advance has locations in Advance, Bell City and Dexter, Mo. The sale is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2013 according to a news release.

__HR BUSINESS OPENS IN P.B.__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- __Craig Lutes,__ branch manager of Penmac, held a ribbon cutting to open his staffing and human resources business at 2006 N. Westwood Blvd.

__GOODWILL MARKS 10 YEARS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for MERS Goodwill, 2511 N. Westwood Blvd., which is celebrating 10 years of service in Poplar Bluff.

__ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORP. CLOSES KENNETT OFFICE__

KENNETT, Mo. -- Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation closed its Dunklin County office in Kennett, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. Dunklin County residents needing services may access all services formerly available in Kennett by visiting the office at 1 Town Square in Malden, Mo., or calling the Hayti, Mo., office. Executive director __Jean Barham__ said the Dunklin County office was moved due to financial considerations. The Malden office will be more cost-effective, she said, and will also fill the void left when the Stoddard County office moved to Sikeston, Mo.

__HEARTLAND FLOORING HAS NEW OWNERS__

Heartland Custom Flooring of Scott City is now owned by __Rob and Joan Stephens__ of Jackson. The business, previously owned by __Fred Lange__ and founded in 1994, offers multiple commercial and residential flooring brands in the areas of hardwood, ceramic, carpet, laminate and vinyl. It also provides flooring and installation services for new construction and remodeling/rehabilitation projects in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Northern Arkansas and Western Kentucky. Rob Stephens has worked as sales manager for ServPro of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties for the past six years. Lange will remain with the company in the next few months to ensure a smooth transition.

__DOBBS TIRE OPENS CAPE LOCATION__

Dobbs Tire opened Sept. 24 at 607 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. This makes the 39th location for the tire and automotive center, which also has locations in St. Louis and Southern Illinois. The store has 11 employees who were all hired from the area, and store manager __John Frankiewicz,__ who previously worked with Dobbs in St. Louis, said __Dave Roedner,__ store supervisor. The business offers nine brands of tires and does all types of automotive repairs.

__UNITED MOBILITY AND SEATING RELOCATES__

United Mobility and Seating moved from 1802 Broadway to 1940 Golden Eagle Court in Cape Girardeau according to __Tom Kelsey,__ commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., who handled the real estate transaction. The new location is just off North Kingshighway where Heartland Distributing Co. was previously located. The 5,000-square-foot facility will enable the company to expand in office, service and repair space along with additional storage capabilities.

__RESALE SHOP HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING__

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Four Sisters Resale Shop, 223 W. Main St. in Park Hills.

__FARM BUREAU HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING__

DESLOGE, Mo. -- The Desloge Chamber of Commerce and the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Farm Bureau Insurance agency at 335 N. State St., Suite C in Desloge.

__FLYING J PLAZA OPENS IN CHARLESTON__

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Pilot Flying J opened a Flying J Travel Plaza at 2460 E. U.S. 60, just off Interstate 57 in Charleston, reported the Sikeston Standard Democrat. The plaza has nine diesel lanes and eight gasoline lanes with high-speed pumps, a Huddle House and Cinnabon, expanded food offerings, premium coffee and cappuccino selections and general merchandise.

__BOLLINGER CHAMBER ADDS TWO__

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce added two new members: Continental Waste Inc. of Missouri and Bollinger County Eagles Aerie No. 4473.

__ANNIE EM'S HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING__

Annie Em's At Home, 42 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, held a ribbon cutting Sept. 7.

__ROSS FURNITURE OPENS IN NEW LOCATION__

Ross Furniture held a ribbon cutting Aug. 20 for its new location at 2310 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson.

__APARTMENT COMPLEX CUTS RIBBON__

A ribbon cutting was held Sept. 26 for the Boehme-Hinni Apartments at 402 Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau.

__NORDENIA BOUGHT BY GERMAN COMPANY__

Nordenia, which operates two packaging plants employing about 400 people in Cape Girardeau County, has been acquired by Mondi, headquartered in Greven, Germany. Mondi is an international packaging and paper group with production operations across 29 countries. The group's key operations are in central Europe, Russia and South Africa and as of the end of 2011, Mondi Group employed 23,400 people. Nordenia, now to be known as Mondi Jackson Inc., will form part of Mondi's Europe & International Division under its Consumer Packaging business unit, according to a letter sent to Nordenia's suppliers, dated Oct. 1, and the company's website. In a statement, Mondi said it paid just under $335 million to make the acquisition happen. No details were released on how or if the changes will affect the local workforce.