Business briefs

__P.B. CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at the grand opening of Second Debut resale shop. Tracy Tipton owns the shop, which is in the Poplar Bluff Square. The chamber also held a ribbon cutting recently for G Set Recording Studio at 211 N. Broadway. Eric White owns the business.

__NEW WAVE OFFICE CUTS RIBBON__ DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting July 14 for NewWave Communications, on North One Mile Road just north of the U.S. 60 intersection in Dexter.

__W.W. WOOD HONORED AS 'SUPER STARS'__ DUDLEY, Mo. -- Employees of W.W. Wood Products Inc. earned the Super Star Among Stars Award in the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association Star Among Stars Program. The VPPPA is a member association of companies that participate in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration VPP. W.W. Wood's award was presented May 18 at the annual VPPPA Region VII conference in St. Louis. The award recognizes VPP Star Sites with injury and illness rates at least 75 percent below the industry average, and that have provided mentoring for other companies seeking VPP recognition.

__P.B. CHAMBER ADDS MEMBER__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting recently for its newest member, United Land Title LLC, at 1319 W. Maud St.

__AT&T STORE HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting July 15 for the new AT&T store at 1313 Main St.

__JACKSON SHOP CUTS RIBBON__ Consignment-Center.com, 2990 Old Orchard Road in Jackson, held a ribbon cutting June 20.

__ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC MARKS 50 YEARS__ SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. recognized its 50th anniversary June 27 to 29 at its annual meeting in Branson, Mo. Incorporated in 1961 as part of a three-tiered cooperative system, AECI is owned by six regional generation and transmission cooperatives that pooled their resources to provide electricity to 51 local electric cooperative systems that now serve more than 875,000 customers in three states. AECI is the provider of wholesale power to electric cooperatives in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma.

__CHILDREN'S PLACE OPENS IN CAPE__ The Children's Place, a specialty retailer of children's clothing and merchandise, opened Aug. 5 at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. The store moved into the space previously occupied by Things Remembered and Sportsman's Trail; those stores have relocated inside the mall.

Kimbeland Grill opens in Jackson

__RESTAURANT OPENS IN JACKSON__ Kimbeland Grill opened at Kimbeland Country Club, 2175 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson. A ribbon cutting was held July 7. Justin Roth is the restaurant's executive chef.

__GARDEN GALLERY CLOSES__ Garden Gallery, 835 Broadway, Suite 100 in Cape Girardeau, closed July 1 after eight years in business. Owner Linda Bohnsack plans to relocate her art studio and office to accommodate a new tenant.

__CHICK-FIL-A SETS OPENING DATE__ Chick-fil-A, now under construction at 333 Gordonville Road in Cape Girardeau, is slated for a Sept. 8 opening. The first 100 customers to camp out in the parking lot for 24 hours before the new restaurant opens will receive free Chick-fil-A for a year, said a company spokeswoman. Construction on the 4,596-square-foot restaurant began in April. It will have 138 seats inside and a drive-thru window.

First Missouri State Bank cuts ribbon

__FIRST MISSOURI STATE BANK OPENS NEW LOCATION__ First Missouri State Bank held a ribbon cutting July 19 for its new location at 800 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The building, most recently home to a Bank of America branch, was extensively remodeled.

__BRIX OVEN OPENS IN CAPE__ Brix Oven opened July 15 at 2148A William St. in Cape Girardeau. The restaurant offers pizza and sandwiches for carryout and delivery. The business is owned by Nizar E. Shahwan of Cape Girardeau and managed by Sam A. Massarweh of Cape Girardeau.

__SEARS STORE GETS NATIONAL HONOR__ FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Sears Hometown Store of Farmington was named a 2011 Sears Hometown Store Premier Dealer. The award recognizes Sears Hometown Stores across the country that consistently offer the greatest customer service, outstanding store performance and standards and exceptional community involvement. The Farmington store, owned and operated by Tom Lorenz, was one of 372 in the U.S. to receive this recognition.

__KFVS12 GOES HD__ Heartland News on KFVS12 switched from standard to high definition in late July, according to Mark Little, content director for the television station. The transition included a redesigned news set and production control room, and digital studio cameras. Most of the newscast is now presented in HD 16x9 format using a "center cut" style that will still be appropriate for older standard definition 4x3 television sets, Little said. The final phase of the transition will be changing master control operation to digital, which is scheduled for next year, said Paul Keener, director of marketing for KFVS12. That will allow the station to broadcast syndicated programs in high definition. It will also allow local commercials and promotional spots to be produced and shown in HD.

__NEW SALON OPENS IN CAPE__ Joseph West Design Studio opened at 1405 Thomas Drive, Cape Girardeau. Joseph West previously worked at Belladona Salon Spa and Boutique in Cape Girardeau. He has 11 years of experience in two St. Louis salons and has been a Redken hair color educator for four years. Working with him are stylists Wanda Anderston, Cheryl Noel, Kara Keys, Rebecca Wilcox and Dustin Troutwine.

__RELENTLESS RECOGNIZED FOR VIDEO__ Relentless Media Productions of Jackson received a silver Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation, the country's oldest national advertising trade association. The recognition is the latest award for a video documentary promoting services of the American Red Cross of Southeast Missouri, said Halee Janes, Relentless director. Relentless had already received a gold international Ava Award as well as a gold local Addy Award for the video.

Kaledioscoops holds ribbon cutting

__TWO BUSINESSES HOLD RIBBON CUTTINGS__ Lazy L Safari Park, 2763 County Road 618 in Cape Girardeau, held a ribbon cutting July 14. Kaleidoscoops, 1741 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, held a ribbon cutting July 20.

__CULVER'S HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING__ FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A groundbreaking was held May 23 for a new Culver's restaurant in Farmington. The 3,954-square-foot restaurant will employ 70 part- and full-time workers when it opens in August. Patti Mosier is the local owner/operator.

__NEW VERIZON DEALER OPENS__ Cellular Sales, the nation's largest Verizon Wireless retailer, opened a store at 188 Vantage Drive in Cape Girardeau. Six sales positions were created to service the store.

__IESI LAUNCHES SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING__ IESI Corp. is the first waste hauler in Southeast Missouri to offer single-stream recycling to nonresidential customers. Traditionally, commercial industries could only recycle cardboard materials. Single-stream recycling eliminates sorting of recyclables by allowing placement of corrugated cardboard, paper, plastic, aluminum and steel in one container for collection. IESI is offering the service to facilities in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson areas.

__AREA CELEBRATES ROUTE 67 UPGRADE__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Mid-America Express will host an event Aug. 26 to celebrate completion of the Route 67 project in Southeast Missouri, according to a news release. The project included upgrading the route to four lanes from north of Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Fredericktown, Mo., in Madison County. Improvements were made possible through a partnership of the Highway 67 Corporation, the Missouri Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Funding was secured for the project after Poplar Bluff voters passed a tax to pay for a portion of the construction, Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 and an agreement was reached with the Army Corps of Engineers. The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. in Fredericktown and end at approximately 12:15 p.m. in Poplar Bluff. Stops will be made at 9 a.m. at the Black River Electric Co-op in Fredericktown; 10:30 a.m. at Greenville Campground's boat ramp parking lot; and 11:45 a.m. at First Community Bank on Westwood Boulevard in Poplar Bluff.

__BUSCH PET PRODUCTS MOVES__ Busch Pet Products moved to 1720 Kingsway, Suite 105 in Cape Girardeau. The store, in the new LaCroix Market shopping center, specializes in all-natural, holistic and organic products for dogs, cats and horses. It carries pet foods, treats, toys, collars, leashes and more. Owner Stacy Busch-Heisserer said the location provides space for her to add a self-service dog wash.

__CLUBB LAW FIRM RELOCATES__ The Clubb Law Firm LLC moved to 718 Caruthers Ave. in Cape Girardeau. The recently renovated building provides room for the firm to expand and has a private parking lot.

__NORDENIA TO ADD JOBS, SPACE__ Gov. Jay Nixon visited Nordenia USA in Jackson on July 28 to announce the company is eligible for more than $350,000 in state tax credits for creating 50 new jobs at its new facility under construction off U.S. 61. The tax breaks, part of the Missouri Quality Jobs program, are in addition to a $500,000 community development block grant Jackson received to construct road and utility infrastructure at the Jackson Industrial Park. This brings the total state incentive package for Nordenia to $851,804. Nordenia will invest about $20 million over the next three to four years in construction and equipment for its new facility and an expansion at its existing plant. Penzel Construction is already at work on Nordenia's new 186,000-square-foot facility. Nordenia will add another 21,000 square feet to its existing facility.

__BROIDERY SHOP RELOCATES__ DEXTER, Mo. -- Luvleigh Creations moved to 16 S. Walnut St. in Dexter, just north of its original location. The shop, which sells custom embroidered items, held a ribbon cutting with the Dexter Chamber of Commerce.

__P.B. BUILDING NEW HUCK'S__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Huck's Food and Fuel is constructing a $625,000 building behind its current facility at 703 N. Westwood Blvd., the Daily American Republic reported July 13. By doubling the number of gas pumps from four to eight, Huck's will be able to serve 16 customers at one time instead of eight. There will also be two diesel fuel pumps to serve four customers at one time. A drive-thru window will be built on the south side of the building. Huck's also plans to add more food items and hire additional employees.

__WORK BEGINS ON NEW DRUGSTORE__ DEXTER, Mo. -- Groundwork has begun on a new USA Drug store at the corner of U.S. Business 60 and One Mile Road in Dexter. The 15,000-square-foot store will be the new home of both Overturf DME Pharmacy and David's Pharmacy. Completion is expected by Dec. 1, reported the Daily Statesman. Gain Robinson, vice president of real estate for USA Drug, said both pharmacies will stay open at their current locations until the new store is finished, and that employees from both pharmacies will continue to work at the new store.

__WORK UNDERWAY AT DOLLAR GENERAL__ A Dollar General store is being built at 5735 U.S. 61 in Fruitland. The 9,026-square-foot store is set to open this fall. It will employ six to 10 people.

__CLEARING PROPERTY IN CAPE__ Work to demolish houses and clear vegetation from property in South Cape Girardeau near Maple Street, Giboney Avenue, Elm Street and Ranney Avenue has many wondering what's going on there. Earl Norman of Benton Hill Investment Co. and Lorimont Place Ltd., who owns the property, told the Southeast Missourian that he's clearing the land in an effort to make the property more attractive to potential buyers. There are no specific development plans for the site yet, said Norman, but he does dream of seeing the area used as a sports complex someday.

__MENARDS WORK TO BEGIN IN AUGUST__ Construction of the Menards store in Cape Girardeau will begin in mid-August, a company spokesman told the Southeast Missourian. Menards closed on the purchase of the 16-acre site at Siemers Drive and Bloomfield Road from a Drury subsidiary in June. Drury crews are now completing site preparation work, including dirt work, expansion of a retention pond and relocation of a water main, said Larry Westrich of Drury Southwest. A contractor for the $8 million project hasn't yet been selected, said Thomas O'Neil of Menards' real estate division.

__AUTO TIRE EXPANDING IN ADVANCE__ ADVANCE, Mo. -- Auto Tire and Parts, which has had an office in Advance since 1964, is expanding into new land annexed by the city in recent years. A 6,000-square-foot building is under construction on Highway 25, and it will be almost three times the size of the current facility on South Street, reported the North Stoddard Countian. The new store will have more space for inventory and displays, a paint mixing room and an office. Work is expected to be complete by the end of August.