Business briefs

Fast Back Ropes welcomes M & L Tack

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Fast Back Ropes, manufacturers of high quality team and calf ropes, is proud to welcome its newest Missouri dealer, M & L Tack in Farmington.

Based in Granbury, Texas, Fast Back Ropes is home to many PRCA world champions including Speed Williams, an eight time consecutive world champion, Clay Tryan, Patrick Smith and Steve Purcella.

Team ropers and calf ropers can find Fast Back ropes, along with a wide variety of tack and saddles, at M & L Tack located at 2981 Highway H in Farmington.

Trucking company receives safety honor

Jerry Lipps Trucking Company, 3888 Nash Road in Cape Girardeau, was awarded a Gold Safety Award as part of Great West Casualty Insurance Company's National Safety Awards program. The program recognizes carriers across the country with awards based on their safety performance. On hand to accept the award were Dennis Laubach, Vickie Marler and John Lesar.

@Headline - Subhead Small:New game store

Just in time for the Dungeons & Dragons World Game Day, Cape Girardeau role-playing game enthusiasts have a new place to gather. Championship Games, 909 Broadway, opened recently and hosted participants in the local edition of the game day. Owned by Shane Wolfenkoehler, Championship Games offers gaming merchandise, miniatures and accessories, as well as offering players the ability to rent a room for their activities, Wolfenkoehler said.

The new store, with Wolfenkoehler as the owner/operator and Trace Webster as the office manager, seeks to fill a gap in the downtown offerings. A group of friends operating Thundergnome at 716 Broadway have apparently closed up shop after nine months in operation.

Wolfenkoehler said he was friends with the operators of Thundergnome, heard they were closing and decided he would try his hand at the business.

He's going to keep his day job, so Wolfenkoehler will open Championship Games from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays.

Fresh meat

Old Hickory Specialty Meats, the reincarnation of Esicar's Old Hickory Smokehouse at 1157 N. Kingshighway, has opened under new owner Jack Whisnant.

SEMO receives business award

HARRISBURG, Ill. — Southeast Missouri State University was honored at a ceremony as the recipient of Southeastern Illinois College's Small Business Advocate of the Year award.

The university's Innovation Center was honored for its entrepreneurial partnership with Southeastern Illinois College as the two institutions strive to create successful business ventures in 20 southeastern Illinois counties. The award is normally given to an individual who provides leadership in the area of economic development; Southeast was the first institution to receive the honor.

Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins called the partnership a win-win situation for both institutions and states.

"Normally, we stay within our boundaries but chose to go across the river to help a region that is like Missouri in a lot of ways," Dobbins said. "Though the terrain in Southern Illinois may be more hilly than Cape Girardeau, we both are agricultural towns. Also, that area of the country is not the most prosperous, so we're hoping this partnership will change the lives of some of the residents who live in that region."

The partnership is made possible through a $164,800 grant offered by the Delta Regional Authority to expand Operation Jump-Start training to the Illinois counties.

The 12-class program teaches participants planning and presentation skills needed to compete for small business startup grants. Operation Jump-Start is targeted at people with low to moderate income ranges who wish to begin or expand a small business.

Dobbins said businesses that complete the training have a 96 percent success rate after two years.

Elements promotes staff members

Madra Jones of Elements Salon and Spa announces the promotion of select staff members, to beauty consultants. Denise Merideth, Ashley Taylor, Courtney Gerard, Kate Gabriel and Danielle Moffitt received training and certification June 2008, from Chicago-based cosmetic representative of Bare Escentuals Bare Mineral makeup and MD Formulations skin care. Each is now available to recommend and educate clients on proper skin care and the art and application of makeup.

Habitat for Humanity hires executive director

Habitat for Humanity, 117 N. Middle St. in Cape Girardeau, has hired Walter B. Wildman as its new executive director. Wildman previously was program specialist with the Boy Scouts of America in Cape Girardeau. A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Wildman also has served in the United States Air Force.

New condo project

Land clearance and site preparation work is underway at Boulder Crest Estates, a condominium and commercial development on U.S. 61 next to County Park South. Wayfield LLC, a company owned by Stacey Mansfield and Eugene Holloway, has obtained the permits necessary for this phase of the work, which includes about 4.5 acres. There are another 3.5 acres designated as phase two of the development and the entire property is zoned commercial.

Law firm building new quarters

A $665,000 project will prepare new quarters for Osburn, Hine, Kuntze, Yates & Murphy LLC at Rivendell Court, 3071 Lexington Ave. Rivendell Court's first phase was completed last year. From four lawyers in 1995, the firm has grown to 11 lawyers plus support staff, said founding member Ted Yates. In all, the firm will use 9,300 square feet of the 12,865 square feet included in the remodeling project at Rivendell. The firm is moving from current quarters at 3266 Lexington Ave.

Specialty shop downtown closed

Downtown Cape Girardeau has suffered another casualty. Memories Made in Missouri, a shop that specialized in Show Me State goods including jams, T-shirts, playing cards, mugs and quilts has closed at 110 Themis St. Co-owner Gary Johnson said a less-than-stellar economy was the main reason why the store, which opened three years ago, is no longer in business.

@Headline - Subhead Small:Group changes name

Finch Marbanks Insurance Consultants will now be known as Marathon Benefits Group following the acquisition of two ING Financial Services offices in St. Louis and merger with a Springfield investment firm, owner Rock Finch said. When the merger is completed the new combined firm will have $225 million of assets with ING, an international investment and financial management firm. Finch Marbanks has been an ING broker for 11 years, Finch said.

Club closes

Cape Club Complex has closed. The property at 433 S. Sprigg St., originally built as Lorberg Funeral Chapel, has most recently been a night spot for Cape Girardeau's gay and lesbian community. The bar changed hands late last year but the new owners ran into difficulties by operating when they had not secured all the necessary liquor licenses, property owner Cheryl Stoffregan said. The club reverted to the previous owners, but they decided not to stay in business, she said. Now it is on the market. "It really is a nice bar setup," said Cheryl Stoffregan's husband, Frank Stoffregan. "It really is a turnkey operation if someone wanted to put a bar in there." The tables, chairs, beer tappers and ice makers are all in place, he said. Inquiries have come from several people wanting to open a bar and even from one potential tenant interested in using it as a church, Cheryl Stoffregan said.

New business in Kennett

KENNETT, Mo. — Rent One has opened in the Bootheel Plaza in Kennett. Manager is Bill Lanius.

@Headline - Subhead Small:Company celebrates milestone anniversary

Bowman Milling Co., of Pocahontas, Mo., recently celebrated its 150th anniversary in business. Bowman Milling started in 1858 as a flour mill. The company has expanded several times and changed its operations to wholesale and retail livestock feeds. The company also offers fertilizer, lawn and garden products, pet food and animal health products.

At a recent open house, longtime employee Wilbert Reisenbichler was recognized for his 64 years of service to the company. Although he is semi-retired he still serves the company as its president.

New barber shop

Yulunda Pryor is opening The Way Barber and Hairstyling at 87 Plaza Way.

Republic buys Allied Waste

DEXTER, Mo. — The purchase of Allied Waste Industries by Republic Services,one of the country's leaders in the disposal industry, was announced recently. Republic Services said it will buy Allied Industries in a $6.07 billion stock deal that would join the second and third largest operations in the disposal industry.

Allied Waste purchased the landfill and hauling operation that is located just north of Dexter's city limits in April of 1993. Lemons Landfill was opened in 1994 as the first "Subtitle D" landfill in the state of Missouri.

According to the IDA office, the merger would not affect tipping fees as long as they continue to operate a landfill in Stoddard County.

A new website set up to deal specifically with the merger, www.republicallied.com, says little about specific changes to expect in the future.

Until the completion of the merger, which is expected by the end of the year, it will be business as usual for the employees at Republic and Allied."

The companies expect the merger to be 'seamless' for their customers and believe that the larger company with a more broad geographic reach will actually enhance their ability to serve those customers.

According to AP wire reports, Republic Services Inc. will pay Allied Waste shareholders .45 worth of a Republic share for each share held, valued at $14.04 per share based on Republic's Friday closing stock price of $31.19.

Based on the nearly 432.5 million Allied shares outstanding at April 24, the deal is worth $6.07 billion and represents a nearly 4 percent premium to Allied's closing stock price Friday.

Shareholders of Phoenix-based Allied Waste will own 52 percent of the combined company, which will be led by Republic Chairman and Chief Executive James E. O'Connor. Allied's Don Slager will become president and chief operating officer.

The companies announced June 14 that they were in merger talks, valued then at about $15.23 per share, or $6.59 billion. The news sent shares of both firms down about 5 percent and the stocks have since slipped further.

The transaction is expected to close by the fourth quarter, and add to Republic's earnings per share in the first year after closing.