Business briefs

ALSUP AUTO GETS FIVE STAR AWARD

DEXTER, Mo. -- Of the more than 3,000 independent NAPA Auto Parts store owners in the United States, Dexter's Alsup Auto Parts store earned NAPA's highest honor, the Five Star Excellence Award for 2009. Alsup earned the title by excelling in sales growth, store presentation, wholesale marketing and education and training. As part of the honor, store owner Ron Alsup will take a Caribbean cruise with other Five Star Excellence winners while being recognized by NAPA for their achievements.

FREER OPENS ART GALLERY

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- More than 30 years after the one-time community center Collins Store closed, the great-grandson of its founder has found a new purpose for the site. Ralph Wayne Freer opened his art gallery, The Flying F, to the public for the first time on May 29. Freer renovated the 116-year-old farmhouse and former store to house the modern art he creates next door in another century-old farmhouse. The gallery is located on Highway W, about one-eighth mile south of the KK Highway intersection. It is open by appointment only.

NEW SOY PLANT UP AND RUNNING

LILBOURN, Mo. -- The $7 million biodiesel plant built for the Great River Soy Processing plant is now open under new management and ownership. The new owners are Mike Ellis and Ruby Mladenobic with M.E. Biodiesel of Fort Worth, Texas. Jerry McDowell is plant manager. The plant is expected to be fully operational by July 4. It will employ 11 workers and have the capacity of producing 11 million gallons of biodiesel.

PARTY STORE OPENS IN P.B.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Celebration Station Party Supplies opened at 1201 Sterling Drive. The business, owned and operated by Barb Maloy of Poplar Bluff, sells thousands of discount party items.

BANK OF MISSOURI NAMED TOP LENDER

ST. LOUIS -- The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized The Bank of Missouri as the No. 1 community bank lender in the St. Louis SBA District. The award was presented by Dennis Melton, district director of the U.S. SBA, to Keith McLaughlin, senior vice president of The Bank of Missouri, at a May 10 event in Clayton, Mo. The Bank of Missouri is an independent community bank locally owned and operated with over $800 million in assets and locations in Perryville, Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Marble Hill, Springfield, Ozark, Republic and Columbia, Mo.

HOLLIDA INSURANCE HONORED

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Hollida Insurance Agency LLC was designated by Columbia Insurance Group as a Pinnacle Agency for 2010. This is the fifth consecutive year that owner Sean Howe has received the honor.

AMERISPEC ADDS CAPE LOCATION

AmeriSpec, the largest home inspection company in North America, has a new location serving the Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger, Scott and Stoddard County real estate market. Tony and Tamara Smee of Cape Girardeau purchased the AmericSpec franchise for this area. Tony Smee previously worked for 12 years with ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration Services and KMC Construction, with the last 10 as vice president of operations and general manager. AmeriSpec provides professional home inspection services to home buyers and sellers, construction phase inspections for lenders, and reinspections for insurance carriers.

INSURANCE AGENCY HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting recently to welcome First Choice Insurance to the chamber. Steve Phillips owns the agency, located at 1125 Herschel Bess Blvd.

BAKERY OPENS IN MALDEN

MALDEN, Mo. -- Donut House Bakery & Deli opened at 602 N. Douglass, Malden.

DOG GROOMER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

KENNETT, Mo. -- Sudsy Puppy Grooming Salon, 806 Independence Ave., celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on May 11. Owner and groomer Jade Anderson is a former veterinary assistant.

CAPE CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce held ribbon cuttings recently for two new businesses. They include the law firm of Lanzotti & Rau, 354 S. Silver Springs Road, Suite A, and Bright Horizons Child Enrichment Center, 316 S. Plaza Way.

JERRY LIPPS INC. RECEIVES SAFETY AWARD

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. -- Jerry Lipps Inc., Cape Girardeau, received a Platinum award from Great West Casualty Co. as part of the 2009 National Safety Awards Program. This is the fourth consecutive year that Jerry Lipps Inc. has qualified for a safety award from its insurance carrier. The awards program recognizes truckload and less-than-truckload carriers with awards based on their year-end preventable accident results. Carriers are eligible to receive a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Participatory award.

COMPUTER BUSINESS OPENS IN DEXTER

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting May 3 at LeGrand's Hi-Tek Computer Sales and Service, located on Catalpa Street. Owners of the new business are Ron Bageant and Richie Jones.

DINO'S PIZZA TO OPEN IN CAPE

The former California Juice Club of Cape Girardeau will reopen in July as Dino's Pizza. Owner Kostas "Gus" Demopoulos said the restaurant, 1034 Broadway, will feature pizza, Mediterranean cuisine, fried chicken and mojos. Demopoulos also operates Dino's Grill and Sports Bar in Anna, Ill. California Juice Club closed in early 2009 and the building has remained under renovations since then.

BOLD MARKETING RECEIVES HEALTH ADVERTISING AWARDS

Winners have been announced in the 27th Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards sponsored by Healthcare Marketing Report, the leading publication covering all aspects of health care marketing, advertising and strategic business development. In its first year of entry, BOLD Marketing LLC of Cape Girardeau received three awards for its work with HillCrest Pointe, a private behavioral health and substance abuse treatment center. BOLD received a Silver award for Logo/Letterhead, Bronze for Magazine Single and Merit for Brochure. Over 4,000 entries were received for the competition, making it the largest health care advertising awards competition in the nation. A national panel of judges reviews entries based on creativity, quality, message effectiveness, consumer appeal, graphic design and overall impact, then selects award recipients.

REGIONAL CAMPUSES ADD AGRIBUSINESS PROGRAM

Southeast Missouri State University's regional campuses in Sikeston, Malden and Kennett, Mo., now offer a four-year agribusiness degree program specializing in row crop production. The program began this semester with more than 30 students. Dr. Michael Aide, chair of the Department of Agriculture, said all classes required for the degree are offered at each of the regional campuses.

DEXTER DECLARED 'STORM READY'

DEXTER, Mo. -- Officials at the National Weather Service have designated Dexter a StormReady City. Over the past few months, Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken, with cooperation from the police department, Dexter Public Schools, and several other government entities, has orchestrated a readiness accountability package that meets the standards of the NWS in Paducah, Ky.

P.B. AND COUNTY ARE 'STORM READY'

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff and Butler County have been designated as StormReady by the National Weather Service for 2010-2013. The city and county have met seven criteria set by the NWS for reducing loss and preparing for hazardous weather. Additionally, nine Butler County residents became elite storm spotters after completing specialized training with the NWS.

LOCAL JCPENNEY STORES RECEIVE HIGHEST HONOR

PLANO, Texas -- JCPenney's best-performing teams received the Chairman's Award at a banquet in Dallas on April 30. The Chairman's Award, the company's highest honor for performance excellence, was given to stores that delivered exceptional results in 2009, considering financial performance, customer service, innovation and overall support to the company's business. Southeast Missouri stores to receive the honor include Farmington, with Store Manager Kris West; Poplar Bluff, with Store Manager Ronn Hobbs; and Sikeston, with Store Manager Bill Dickherber. Only 93 of 1,110 stores and five of 72 districts were Chairman's Award winners.

BANK OF MISSOURI LAUNCHES IPHONE APP

The Bank of Missouri has created The Bank of MO on the GO mobile banking application for iPhone or iTouch. The application allows customers to view account balances, transaction history and account alerts, perform account transfers, and pay bills.

PRIMO VINO NOW OPEN

Primo Vino, 1610 N. Kingshighway, Suite 105, Cape Girardeau, is now open. The wine boutique sells high-end spirits, microbrewed and import beers, artisan cheese and meats, cigars and wine-related merchandise. The store also offers daily wine tastings, themed tastings on Tuesday nights and educational classes. Keller Ford, former general manager at River Ridge Winery, is Primo Vino's general manager.

SCOTTRADE TO OPEN CAPE LOCATION

Scottrade will soon open a branch office in Cape Girardeau. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd. who handled the lease transaction, said Scottrade will open in the Silver K development at the corner of William Street and Silver Springs Road. Scottrade's 1,583-square-foot office space will be next to Aaron Sachs and Associates and near Qdoba Mexican Grill.

BARBER SHOP HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting May 11 at Maintz Barber Shop in the Main Street Station building, 2480 E. Main St., Suite C-1, Jackson.

JACKSON NAMED TREE CITY USA

The Arbor Day Foundation named Jackson as one of its Tree City USA communities. This is the 15th year the city has received the award. Based in Nebraska, the Arbor Day Foundation is a not-for-profit, environmental and educational organization with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

NEW BAR TO OPEN IN DOWNTOWN CAPE

The Drunken Monkey will open in June at 36 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau. The new bar will include a pool table and video games, according to a business license application filed with the city. Owners Benjamin Burch and Alicia Dumbach also own Margarita Mama's on North Main Street.

NEW MAIL SERVICE OPENS IN JACKSON

Premium Regional Mail opened at 3589 State Highway 25, Jackson. It offers presort mail discount services to businesses in the 636 through 639 ZIP code areas, as well as daily courier services in Southeast Missouri. Owner Mark Guilliams, who also operates Direct Line Marketing in Jackson, has been in the print/mail industry for 15 years. James Adams is production manager at Premium Regional Mail and Paul Weiss is route supervisor.

WINERY OPENS IN STODDARD COUNTY

DEXTER, Mo. -- David Duncan opened Boat House Winery Co. on May 13. The winery, located seven miles north of Bloomfield, Mo., does not yet have vineyards, but Duncan plans to add them after its first season. Currently, the wines come from Crown Valley Winery in St. Genevieve, Mo. American and Missouri wines are featured and bear the Boat House label. For more information, visit www.boathousewineco.com.

FORMER TIRE LOCATION FOR SALE

Best One Tire, an Indiana company that opened a truck retread and auto tire shop at 5308 U.S. 61, Jackson, in 2004, has closed. The property is now on the market for sale or lease, according to Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd. The property includes a 27,600-square-foot building built on 5.2 acres. It has two drive-in truck shop areas, a six-bay auto shop, showroom, offices and warehouse areas with two loading docks.

CAPE SPLASH HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

The City of Cape Girardeau held a ribbon cutting May 20 at Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center, 1565 N. Kingshighway. The water park opened to the public on May 29 and features a 3,265-square-foot spray pool area; a leisure pool with zero-depth entry; a small three-slide play system; swirl pool and lap pool; four large water slides; a 700-foot lazy river; a sun deck; and a pavilion for parties. The bathhouse includes a concession stand, shower area and family changing rooms.

LABOR DEPT. HONORS VERSA TECH

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- On May 21, the Missouri Labor Department welcomed Versa Tech Inc. as the newest member of its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. SHARP is a reward program providing incentives and support to small, high-hazard employers to develop, implement and improve the effectiveness of workplace safety and health programs. Versa Tech has received a certificate of recognition, a SHARP flag for displaying outside the facility and a proclamation issued by Gov. Jay Nixon.

NORDENIA MARKS 20 YEARS

On May 21, Sen. Jason Crowell honored Nordenia USA, a Jackson manufacturer, for 20 years of operation. Crowell attended the company's anniversary celebration and personally presented a Senate resolution. 

CAPE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAKES NATIONAL LIST

The Cape Girardeau School District is one of 28 Missouri districts recognized by a national school selection firm. The district received the "What Parents Want" award from SchoolMatch, an Ohio-based consulting firm that ranks school systems. The bulk of the list is made up of schools in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Cape Girardeau is the only Southeast Missouri school that made the list.

GRAND OPENING HELD FOR SHUT-INS

LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- A grand opening was held May 22 at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. The event marked the official reopening of the park, which was damaged in 2005 after the failure of the Taum Sauk reservoir sent 1.3 billion gallons of water rushing through the park. Gov. Jay Nixon was the keynote speaker for the ceremony, held in the Black River Center.

DIRT CHEAP STORE COMING TO CAPE

Dirt Cheap, a St. Louis-based retailer of discount liquor, wine, beer and tobacco, will open a store at 420 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., said the company has leased the 6,783-square-foot building formerly occupied by Mid-America Power Equipment and Wm. Nobbe John Deere. Dirt Cheap has 12 locations in the St. Louis area and one in Paducah, Ky. An opening date has not yet been set for the Cape Girardeau store.

CONSIGNMENT SHOP OPENS IN CAPE

Top Of The Line Consign opened at 206 Independence St., Cape Girardeau. The store, owned by Terri Baker, specializes in upscale pre-owned athletic apparel and accessories.

SALES CREW COMPLETES TRAINING

The sales staff at Erb Equipment Co., Cape Girardeau, completed intensive, specialized training on John Deere compact equipment. Salespeople from the dealership traveled to a demonstration site in Arizona for a three-day course where they received their training.

T.J. MAXX CONSIDERING CAPE LOCATION

The retail chain T.J. Maxx has confirmed it is considering a location at the former Goody's location on Siemers Drive in Cape Girardeau. Sonya Cosentini, company spokesperson, told the Southeast Missourian that T.J. Maxx is considering the area for a new store, but nothing is final at this time. T.J. Maxx has more than 800 stores nationwide and is known for offering name-brand clothing, accessories and home decor at discount prices.

TRCC ANNOUNCES 45 LAYOFFS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Forty-five layoffs were announced May 25 at Three Rivers Community College in order to serve an increasing number of students while state revenue is down and costs are rising. Thirty full-time and 15 part-time employees were given 30 days' notice that their contracts would not be renewed in fiscal year 2011. Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of the college, expects to realize upward of $600,000 in savings from the cuts. The reduction of payroll will help make up for the hit the community college is anticipating in fiscal year 2011, which includes $250,000 less in state appropriations, along with increases in health insurance and retirement, while a tuition freeze has been implemented in a pact with Gov. Jay Nixon. None of the employees who were let go were in the faculty ranks, Stephenson said. Departments affected include custodial services, which will be outsourced to the same company used by Briggs & Stratton. The Early Childhood Learning Center will be discontinued at the end of July, along with paying the salaries of its eight employees.

UPDATES

JAYCEE GOLF COURSE REOPENS

The Cape Girardeau Jaycee Municipal Golf Course reopened June 11. Completed renovations on the course include converting all 18 greens and the putting green from Bermuda to Bent grass, revamping the irrigation system on the entire course, rerouting holes 11-15 from tee to green, and many other small improvements throughout the course. Renovations were funded by the Parks and Recreation/Storm Water Sales Tax approved by voters in 2009. A ribbon cutting was held June 3, and a grand reopening took place June 23.

STEVIE'S STEAKBURGER REOPENS

Stevie's Steakburger, 600 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, re-opened under its previous ownership on May 11. Last May, owner Steven Majeed and his wife Toni leased the business to someone else with the option to buy it when they left for an extended trip to Pakistan. The newly reopened restaurant features Stevie's original menu of 100 percent black angus beef burgers, as well as Philly cheese steak sandwiches, gyros, and milkshakes. Majeed also owns SEMO Gas, 40 North St., Cape Girardeau.

BOOTHEEL RECYCLING EXPANDS

DEXTER, Mo. -- Dexter-based Bootheel Recycling is expanding its operations with the acquisition of a new commercial building at 202 N. Harris Drive, Dexter. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., confirmed the sale of the industrial property formerly owned by Florida Marine Tank. The 28,416-square-foot building located on 3.67 acres was vacated by the Florida-based manufacturing company last year and put on the market for sale, according to Kelsey.

FORMER BLIMPIE TO BECOME CHINESE RESTAURANT

The former Blimpie building at 1001 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, will reopen this fall as a Chinese restaurant. Bi Xing Liu, who also owns Chan's Restaurant, 1159 N. Kingshighway, has purchased the property. He plans to open another Asian restaurant, though it will not be a second Chan's -- the menu here will feature a variety of items different from the Chan's menu, Liu said. The building is being remodeled and the new restaurant will open in three to four months, Liu said.

SEVEN FAMILY-OWNED DEALERSHIPS MERGE

KENNETT, Mo. -- Bazzell and Wilder Inc., Kennett, joined six other family-owned John Deere dealerships in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri in merging their operations to form Legacy Equipment LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Legacy will combine assets, management and day-to-day operations for all locations, including Kennett. Other dealerships involved include Corning Implement Company, Corning, Ark.; Kirk Equipment Company, Paragould, Ark.; Piggott Tractor and Equipment Company Inc., Piggott, Ark.; and W.M. Crysler Company, Hayti, New Madrid and Portageville, Mo. Kody Riggan is president and CEO of Legacy Equipment. When consolidation is complete, it will provide equipment, parts and service to three counties in Northeast Arkansas and six in Southeast Missouri, totaling over 1.5 million acres of production farm land.

CAPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE NAMED

Cape Girardeau County's first community college center has been named the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education. The partnership of Southeast Missouri State University, Three Rivers Community College and Mineral Area College also finalized a logo, which includes a picture of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

ROXY'S TO CHANGE OWNERSHIP

Earl and Kim Bennett of Jackson are in negotiations to purchase Roxy's Big Country Saloon, 107 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau. The bar is currently owned by John Wyman, who said the sale is still pending.

INSURANCE GROUP RELOCATES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Farmers Insurance Group moved to 2150 N. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff Square. Insurance agent is Kelly Shearrer.

AMERIPRISE ACQUIRES COLUMBIA MANAGEMENT

Ameriprise Financial Inc. completed the acquisition of the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management from Bank of America for about $1 billion. Thomas Novak operates an Ameriprise office at 5303 Old Cape Road, Jackson.

FREDERICKTOWN AIRPORT CHANGES NAMES

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Fredericktown Regional Airport's name was changed to A. Paul Vance Fredericktown Regional Airport. The new name recognizes Vance's community support and involvement in aviation history.

BEAUTY SHOP RELOCATES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Barbara Roark's beauty and barber shops, formerly located at Valley Plaza Shopping Center, moved to Mansion Mall Marketplace.

MOVIE THEATER CHANGES NAME

AMC Theatres assumed ownership of the majority of the Kerasotes theaters May 25, including the Kerasotes theater in Cape Girardeau's Town Plaza Shopping Center. General Manger T.J. McKinney said the theater is still in the process of transitioning to the new AMC Theatres system. They also may add new concession items in the future, he said. AMC also acquired Kerasotes theaters in Kennett, Poplar Bluff, Farmington and Park Hills, Mo.

SATELLITE COMPANY MARKS ANNIVERSARY

Down to Earth Satellite recently celebrated its 25th year of business in Cape Girardeau.

RUST & MARTIN MOVING TO REGENTS PARC

After 20 years at its William Street location, Rust & Martin Inc. is moving to the Regent's Parc building at 1610 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau. Owner Michael Rust hopes to open in the 6,000-square-foot, second-floor space by late summer or early September. Rust also owns Ashley Bailey Custom Cabinetry, which will remain open at 127 Main St.

DEVELOPMENT

CAPE WEST CENTRE TO OPEN THIS SUMMER

Cape West Centre, a 7,200-square-foot building with six storefronts, will open this summer in Cape Girardeau, said Jeff Maurer of Mayson Investments Inc. The building will be located on South Mount Auburn Road, next to the new Candlewood Suites hotel. Flentge Construction Co. is scheduled to complete the building in June. The middle one-third of the building will be occupied by Doctor's Express, an urgent medical care clinic set to open in mid-July. Other spaces in the center are available for lease. Maurer said he's working with several potential occupants and would like to see restaurants, retail stores or offices locate there. The Centre was designed with one two end caps, one with an open seating patio and the other with potential for a drive-through, Maurer said.

PIONEER FACILITY HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING

NEW MADRID, Mo. (AP) -- Pioneer Hi-Bred is building a $55 million soybean seed production plant in Southeast Missouri. Company officials were joined by Gov. Jay Nixon at a groundbreaking ceremony May 17 in New Madrid County. The new plant is on 129 acres and is expected to employ about 50 people once it is fully operational. The plant, expected to begin operations in the fall of 2011, will primarily serve soybean growers in the southern U.S. Pioneer Hi-Bred is a division of DuPont.

CAPE BEGINS FOUNTAIN STREET EXPANSION

City officials broke ground May 19 on a $1.2 million extension of Fountain Street that will serve as a gateway to Cape Girardeau's downtown area. The 1,300-foot road will connect Highway 74 and Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus from Morgan Oak to William streets. It will be finished with brick pavers and feature an eight-foot landscaped median, decorative street lights, and a roundabout at the intersection of Morgan Oak and Fountain streets. Nip Kelly Equipment Inc. was awarded the bid for the extension in March. The project is expected to take about seven months to complete, said Scott Meyer, city manager.

TRCC ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR SIKESTON CENTER

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Three Rivers Community College of Poplar Bluff, Mo., is on track to expand its offerings in the Sikeston area, thanks to a land donation, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. At a May 19 news conference, the college and the Three Rivers Endowment Trust announced they received a gift of approximately 40 acres off Highway 60 from Scott and Karen Matthews and Mike and Elizabeth Brunt. According to Three Rivers President Dr. Devin Stephenson, the college plans to build a new facility to replace the off-campus center located off South New Madrid Street.

SHELTER OF HOPE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION

According to Terry Wildman, president of The Shelter of Hope Inc., the homeless outreach group will soon begin construction at 320 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau. The building, once a pool hall, was given to Shelter of Hope for one year rent-free by Alliance Bank of Cape Girardeau. Demolition of the inside of the building has already begun. J&R Construction is the general contractor and Tex Electric will provide electrical work; both have donated their time and labor.

P.B. BREAKS GROUND FOR KINDERGARTEN

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff School District held a groundbreaking ceremony May 19 for a $6.4 million kindergarten center to be built on the elevated area north of Cripple Creek Plaza along Highway PP. The 60,000-square-foot building will have capacity for more than 500 students. Completion is expected in late January or early February 2011.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS ANNOUNCED

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- In mid-February, Citizens Electric Corporation announced that their power supplier, Wabash Valley Power Association, was launching an Energy Efficiency Grant Program for commercial and industrial members. Businesses were invited to submit grant applications for proposed projects to improve their energy efficiency and receive funding for up to 50 percent of the cost of the project. On May 19, WVPA announced that 31 grants are being awarded to businesses located within the electric distribution cooperatives they supply in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. Of those winners, 11 are served by Citizens Electric. More than $42,000 will fund projects in Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties, including Perryville Water Plant, $650; Perryville Wastewater Plant, $775; Perry Park Center, $250; Perryville Community Center, $250; Perryville City Hall, $500; Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, $2,000; T.G. Missouri Corporation, $8,200; Southeast Missouri Regional Planning, $1,400; Rozier's Country Mart, $5,000; Perry County Sheltered Workshop, $18,000; and Ste. Genevieve Industries, $5,000.

WORK BEGINS ON SCHOOL ADDITION

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- A groundbreaking was held recently for construction of an 18,000-square-foot addition at Central Elementary. Dr. Desi Mayberry, Central superintendent, said the project is slated for completion by mid-December. The Central School Board awarded a contract in April to Brockmiller Construction to build the addition. The project will house nine classrooms, a set of restrooms, a multipurpose room and retractable bleachers.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB GETS TAX CREDITS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced May 27 that Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff was approved for $31,975 in Youth Opportunities Program tax credits. The organization, which has five core program areas – character and leadership, health and life skills, education and career, the arts, and sports fitness and recreation – will use the credits to support its after school program for disadvantaged children ages 5 through 14.

YOUTH MUSEUM GETS GRANT

MALDEN, Mo. -- The Bootheel Youth Museum received a $2,000 grant from the Union Pacific Railroad Foundation to help fund educational science outreach programs presented by Southeast Missouri Project Learning Experiences, an outreach partnership between the museum, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and the Missouri Community Service Commission. Each workshop provides hands-on science activities for children focusing on the scientific method, teamwork, safe science and good citizenship. The program operates from its home at the Bootheel Youth Museum in Malden and travels throughout Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

NIXON ANNOUNCES BONDS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- On May 28, Gov. Jay Nixon announced that dozens of Missouri school districts will receive a combined $146,348,000 in interest-free federal bonds to pay for construction projects financed through voter-approved bond issuances. Qualified School Construction Bonds awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to 60 school districts around the state and help those districts pay financing costs connected with projects that are creating jobs and improving school facilities. Southeast Missouri districts to receive bonds include Cape Girardeau 63 -- $4,203,408; Desoto 73 -- $4,072,944; Pemiscot Co R-III -- $178,232; Ste. Genevieve R-II -- $3,719,779; Richland R-I -- $319,439; and Bloomfield R-XIV -- $660,832.