Buchheit Trucking to reduce electricity usage

Buchheit Trucking Service Inc. of Scott City will reduce its electricity usage by participating in Ameren Missouri's Business Energy Efficiency Program, introduced earlier this year.

The program offers Missouri business customers cash incentives to help offset the costs of qualifying energy-efficiency upgrades meeting Ameren Missouri's minimum energy-efficiency requirements in lighting, motors, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and refrigeration.

Buchheit Trucking will reduce its electricity use by more than 225,000 kilowatt-hours per year because of energy-efficiency improvements made through the Ameren program, resulting in annual savings of nearly $16,000, according to Ameren.

Ameren will provide $11,921 to help cover the cost of replacing 199 lighting fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures. The incentive funds will cover about 19 percent of the cost to install the new lighting.

"Our customers have told us they want options to save energy and reduce their electric bills," said Richard Mark, Ameren Missouri senior vice president of customer operations. "We are responding by working with businesses to meet their future energy needs. Being an efficient energy consumer saves participating customers money on their energy bills and helps to keep costs down for all of our electric customers."

Details about Ameren's energy-efficiency programs for both business and residential customers are available at www.Uefficiency.com.

* Cape Electrical expands: Cape Electrical Supply has acquired Cumberland Electric Supply in Somerset, Ky. Cumberland becomes the 22nd location for Cape Electric and the company's sixth store in Kentucky. Cumberland will offer Cape Electrical Supply a broader market presence in Kentucky. The Cape Electrical store network now stretches across the southern tier of Kentucky from Paducah in the west, Bowling Green in the central part of the state, and now eastward to Somerset, said Cape Electric president Allen Toole. Cape Electrical Supply operates locations in Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. In business since 1953, the company serves customers in electrical construction, industrial, communications, residential, and utility markets.

* Health care marketing efforts awarded: Saint Francis Medical Center won 12 Show-Me Excellence awards, including three first-place awards, from the Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing for its health care marketing efforts. This awards recognize an institution's efforts to educate and inform the community about health-related issues and services. The Missouri Hospital Association announced the awards at its 88th annual convention and trade show. In the website category, Saint Francis earned first place for its physician recruitment website. In the physician relations communications projects category it placed first for the da Vinci Interactive Open House. The hospital also placed first for Family Birthplace Your Pregnancy Planning Guide and DVD in the special purpose publications category. The hospital also received six second place awards and three third place awards.

* SADI opens third location: SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence has opened an office at 201 Highway 34 West in Marble Hill, Mo. For more information, call 573-038-4040. SADI also has offices in Cape Girardeau and Charleston, Mo.

* Funeral planning seminar offered: Crain Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Cape Girardeau is hosting a free seminar at 11 a.m. Thursday at its banquet room, 829 N. West End Blvd. There will be an informative program followed a question-and-answer session and catered meal. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the funeral home at 335-3223.

* Lead-based paint seminar: Soto Property Management will host a free seminar on lead-based paint regulations and compliance at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Show Me Center. Tom Brick of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will give the presentation. Reservations are required by calling 332-7686.

* Restaurant adds alcohol to menu: My Daddy's Cheesecake bakery and cafe, has expanded its beverage menu by adding bottled beer and wine. Also, the second Friday of every month will be a "Trio of Treats" night from 7 to 10 p.m. with live music, a special cheesecake menu and the introduction of the new beer and wine offerings.

* Sign company completes education academy: Canedy Signs & Graphics, a Sikeston, Mo.-based sign company, has earned the Gold Level for Excellence in Education through International Sign Association's International Sign Academy. Canedy earned more than 50 Professional Development Units through participation in ISA educational programming. Canedy is one of only five companies to reach that level of education for the year. Canedy Signs & Graphics was established in 1937 and recently acquired the former General Sign Co., adding offices in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.