Business briefs

TRCC LAUNCHES FIRST ONLINE DEGREE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers Community College will launch an online degree for the first time this spring, over a decade after offering its first Web-based course. A general education degree plus the environment/occupational safety and health technology certificate will be fully attainable through the Internet come January, reported the Daily American Republic. Plans are in place to launch the business administration and information systems technology programs online shortly thereafter. More than 20 percent of total credits delivered at Three Rivers are taken online, according to the most recent statistics.

FALKOFF'S CLOSING

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Falkoff's Men's Shop in downtown Sikeston is closing after 111 years in business. Owners David and Shirley Friedman, who have operated the business since 1966, have decided to retire. The family business first opened in 1899 in East Prairie, Mo.

FRONT STREET STUDIO OPENS

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for Front Street Studio and Gallery, 132 W. Front St. Owners Judy Comer and Annie Schuchart offer art classes for all ages and also sell some of their designs at the studio.

AIR EVAC HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Air Evac Life Team's new base at the Poplar Bluff Airport.

LANCO BUILDING HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

MALDEN, Mo. -- Lanco Portable Buildings, 401 N. Douglas St., held a ribbon cutting Nov. 6.

FLORAL SHOP OPENS IN CAPE

Holiday 365 Florist and Gifts opened at 101 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau. The store, owned by DWB Enterprises LLC, is managed by David Bell of Cape Girardeau. It features gifts and flowers for all seasons.

FROSTY'S DRIVE IN CLOSES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Frosty's Drive In, a Poplar Bluff landmark at the intersection of Hazel and C streets, has closed its doors. Frosty's has been owned and operated by Terry and Patty Mizell for the past 20 years, but they closed the restaurant Oct. 29 due to Terry's health problems, reported the Daily American Republic. The Mizells plan to sell the property, and hope the restaurant will continue to be operated as Frosty's. If the property is not sold, they will expand their flea market into the restaurant.

CAPE COMPLETES STATE'S FIRST DREAM PROJECT

Mayor Harry Rediger addresses the crowd with City Manager Scott Meyer before the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Fountain Street roundabout on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 (Fred Lynch)

A ribbon cutting was held Dec. 8 at the new Fountain Street and Morgan Oak roundabout in Cape Girardeau. This mark's the first project completed under Missouri's DREAM Initiative. Improvements along Fountain Street near the River Campus were extended from Morgan Oak to William Street. Construction in the area included pavers in both the street and sidewalk, and decorative lighting. Contractor Nip Kelley completed the project ahead of schedule. Project funding included a Community Development Block Grant of $400,000, a MoDOT Enhancement Grant of $104,000, a Transportation Trust Fund of $300,000 and $490,000 in federal funding. Total construction costs are estimated at just over $1 million.

MARATHON HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

Marathon Benefits Group, 325 S. Kingshighway, Suite D, Cape Girardeau, held a ribbon cutting Oct. 20.

MAC HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING FOR NEW WING

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Mineral Area College held an open house and ribbon cutting Nov. 11 for its new Allied Health Career Wing. According to the Park Hills Daily Journal, the facility was built this year to consolidate the community college's nursing, emergency medical services and radiology technology programs, and to update the technology offered to students. The 10,000-square-foot addition to MAC's Careers Wing features more Allied Health classrooms, nursing labs, simulated-patient labs and a control room, and office space. Before the expansion, the paramedic and radiology programs were housed in the public services building with the law enforcement programs, while the rest of the nursing programs were offered mainly in the Careers Wing.

PITTER'S HOLDS GRAND OPENING

Pitter's Cafe & Lounge, formerly the Mississippi Mud House, held a grand opening Nov. 12. The cafe is at 813 Broadway, Cape Girardeau.

ST. GEN HOTEL RECEIVES ALL-STAR AWARD

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- The Ste. Genevieve Microtel received the 2010 Microtel All-Star Award from Microtel Inns and Suites Franchising Inc. The local hotel was ranked in the top 20 among all of Microtel's more than 310 hotels. Winners were selected based on several performance criteria, including guest satisfaction ratings and property evaluation scores over the previous 12 months. Roy Flora, group president of Microtel Inns and Suites Franchising, presented the award to Don Knowlton, general manager of the Ste. Genevieve hotel.

RV PARK OPENS NORTH OF CAPE

The Landing Point RV Park opened at 3020 Boutin Drive, Cape Girardeau. The park has more than 54 sites on 11.5 acres along La Croix Creek, said developer Mark Rademaker. Amenities include concrete pads with patios, picnic tables, fire rings, electrical, sewer and cable television hook ups, WiFi Internet access, a laundry room, check-in office, supply store and community garden. Rademaker is building a bath house and has plans for additional cabins, a pavilion and possibly a swimming pool. Rademaker also owns Aardvark Storage Systems, next to the RV park.

CAPE ELECTRICAL ACQUIRES KENTUCKY BUSINESS

Cape Electrical Supply acquired Cumberland Electric Supply in Somerset, Ky. Cumberland is the 22nd location for Cape Electric and the company's sixth store in Kentucky. Marty Mize will continue in his role as general manager in Cumberland, as will sales manager Glen Wheeler.

BUCHHEIT TO REDUCE ELECTRICITY USAGE

Buchheit Trucking Service Inc., Scott City, will reduce its electricity usage by participating in Ameren Missouri's Business Energy Efficiency Program. The program offers 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 will reduce its electricity usage 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. Incentive funds will cover about 19 percent of the cost to install the new lighting.

SADI OPENS THIRD LOCATION

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence opened an office at 201 Highway 34 West in Marble Hill. SADI also has offices in Cape Girardeau and Charleston, Mo.

CANEDY COMPLETES EDUCATION ACADEMY

Canedy Signs & Graphics, a Sikeston, Mo.-based sign company, 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 was established in 1937 and recently acquired the former General Sign Co., adding offices in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis.

HEARTLAND MEMORIAL HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Heartland Memorial Services, 1823 Highway 8, Park Hills. The business, owned by Laura Mayo, provides pet cremation services and memorial products.

COLDWELL EARNS BEST OF FARMINGTON AWARD

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Coldwell Banker Hulsey Real Estate was selected for the 2010 Best of Farmington Award in the Residential Real Estate Agent category by the U.S. Commerce Association. The annual USCA Best of Local Business Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country.

SUB SHOP NOW OPEN

Penn Station East Coast Subs opened at 127 Siemers Drive in Cape Girardeau's Lambert Plaza.

MR. ELECTRIC FRANCHISE OPENS

Mr. Electric of Southeast Missouri is now open, serving the Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville areas. Mr. Electric is a full-service electrical company franchise, owned by Joe Welch, serving residential and commercial customers. The company offers service panel upgrades, shock and fire prevention devices, power conditioners, whole-home surge protection, indoor and outdoor lighting and solar energy systems.

BONNE TERRE CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- The Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce recently joined A.W. Hall to celebrate his new business, Hypnotic Solutions. The business is based in Fenton, Mo., but Hall is now taking clients in the Bonne Terre area. He offers solutions for weight loss, smoking, stress and phobias. The chamber also held a ribbon cutting for Talk of the Town, a convenience store formerly known as Corner Market. Owners are David Hollenback, Lissa Hollenbeck, Brent Boyles and Lanna Boyles.

EL TAPATIO, FASHION BUG HOLD RIBBON CUTTINGS

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Farmington Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Nov. 16 for El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, 605 Walton Drive. An Oct. 22 ribbon cutting was held at Fashion Bug, 610 Walmart Drive, to celebrate the addition of the store's new Lane Bryant clothing line.

REAL ESTATE OFFICE HAS NEW ADDRESS

SIKESTON, Mo. -- In September, Sikeston Real Estate moved to a new office at 143 E. Center St.

MEDASSETS CONFIRMS IMPENDING LAYOFFS

MedAssets has acquired Texas-based Broadlane Group, and some employees at the Cape Girardeau office will lose their jobs, reported the Southeast Missourian. Both companies provide supply chain management for hospitals and other medical care facilities. Staff reductions are being made as a result of "overlapping capabilities," said Robert P. Borchert, MedAssets spokesman, on Nov. 17. MedAssets would not comment on the number of employees to be eliminated at its Cape Girardeau office or when they would be notified. MedAssets employs about 160 people in Cape Girardeau. MedAssets previously had 14 offices, but will now operate 22 offices with 3,000 employees.