BUSINESS MEMO

Total construction activity in Missouri was down in September but continues to be ahead of 1993 levels.

The F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw-Hill, an authority on the construction market, reported total construction for the first nine months of 1994 at $4.3 billion, up 13 percent from the $3.8 billion during the same period in 1993.

Nonresidential construction in the state during the first eight months, which includes commercial, manufacturing, and other buildings not designed for shelter, was reported at $1.5 billion, up 4 percent from the $1.4 billion during the same period last year.

Residential construction for the year through July is up 14 percent, at $1.9 billion, compared to the $1.7 billion total during the same period in 1993.

Nonbuilding construction, which includes streets, highways, bridges, river and harbor developments, airports and a few other projects, was reported at $774,414,000 for the year, up 36 percent from the same period a year ago, at $568,623,000.

September totals show an 18 percent drop in nonresidential construction, from $143,619,000 in 1993 to $118,367,000 in September of 1994. Nonbuilding construction was down 6 percent, from $113,457,000 in September 1993 to $106,615,000 in September.

Residential construction, however, was up in the state in September, $209,593,000, 4 percent more than the August 1993 totals of $202,379,000.

Total construction was down 5 percent, from $459,455,000 in September 1993 to $434,615,000 in September.

More than 60 people attended the recent Missouri Association of Legal Secretaries fall board meeting at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. The Cape Girardeau County Legal Secretaries Association acted as host to the meeting.

A number of workshops were held, including a seminar on the Federal Drug Enforcement Act, presented by Larry Ferrell, assistant U.S. attorney, and an education program, "Entertainment Law," presented by David S. Limbaugh.

"The Roaring '20s" was the theme of the meeting. A "Prohibition Party," featuring 1920s fashions, was held by the Cape Girardeau County Bar Association.

Glendella May, secretary for the Limbaugh, Russell, Payne & Howard law firm, and Cheryl Amos, with the Lichtenegger, Payne & Weiss law firm, co-chaired the meeting.

Shop 'N Save Food Stores at 254 S. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau has added a new service -- bagging groceries.

Store manager Mike Recker said the store is discontinuing its previous self-service bagging program.

The new bagging service is because of requests from customers, Recker said.

The Small Business Development Center will conduct counseling sessions in three areas this month.

The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. The counseling sessions, about an hour long are free. Call (314)-335-3312 for appointment.

He will conduct sessions at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce Nov. 15, from 9 to noon. Appointments are available by calling (314)-471-2498. He will hold sessions at the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Office in Perryville Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are available by calling (314)-547-8357. Sessions will be held Nov. 10 at the Malden Chamber of Commerce office, from 9 to 11 a.m. Appointments are available by calling (314)-276-4519.

The Small Business Development Center represents a "Partnership for Economic Development" between Southeast Missouri State University, the U.S. Small Business Administration, local financial institutions, area utility companies and Southeast Missouri municipalities. The center's goal is to stimulate diversity and growth in small business by assisting new and existing businesses to become more productive and more profitable.

Procter & Gamble, headquartered at Cincinnati, offers employees the most generous benefits of any major U.S. corporation according to rankings that appeared in the November issue of "Money" magazine, a financial publication.

Last year's winner, IBM, finished second.

Although lacking a traditional pension plan, P&G, which operates a paper products plant north of Cape Girardeau that employs more than 1,300, rewards its U.S. employees with rich profit-sharing and other perks, including generous medical, dental, life and disability insurance, from two to six weeks vacation (depending on length of service) and 12 holidays.

IBM lost its top spot because of some cost-cutting, according to the magazine. For the first time this year, the computer giant started charging its workers for health insurance.

The nation's Top 10 large companies for employee benefits, in order, are: P&G, IBM, Chrysler, Citicorp, John Hancock, Quaker Oats, MCI, AT&T, Merck and Bell Atlantic.

Almost 33,000 associates were honored by Kmart last month.

Kmart Corp. recognized the services of more than 12 percent of its associates throughout the month of October, paying tribute to 32,967 of its 260,000 associates who were celebrating service anniversaries ranging from five to 50 years.

The annual monthlong recognition ceremonies were held at stores, distribution centers and regional facilities. Associates received recognition pins that featured rubies, blue sapphires or diamonds, indicating the number of years of service.

The Fastenal Co., a national distributor of treated metal products and related construction supplies, has announced a 48 percent increase in net sales for the third quarter of 1994.

Net sales were reported at $43,408,000, up from the $29.4 million during the same period of 1993. Net earnings increased from $3.4 million a year ago to $5.2 million. Net earnings per share increased from 18 cents to 27 cents.

During the third quarter, Fastenal, which has a branch at 2228 Bloomfield Road in Cape Girardeau, opened 15 new stores and one FastTool Store, bringing the total of Fastenal stores to 301 and FastTool stores to six.

Construction continues on new distribution centers in Texas and Winona, Minn., with completion on both projects expected by mid-1995.

PHILADELPHIA -- Union Pacific Corp. has raised its bid for the Santa Fe Pacific Corp. to $3.74 billion.

Union Pacific's sweetened bid follows the rejection of its earlier $3.2 billion offer for Santa Fe, which has agreed to merge with Burlington Northern Inc.

Santa Fe, based in Schaumburg, Ill., said in a statement it would consider the new offer.

Major airlines are cutting fares up to 50 percent on some of the least popular travel days surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

Delta Air Lines started the sale with the usual restrictions of a 14-day advance purchase and a Nov. 10 deadline to buy tickets. USAir went farther, waiving those restrictions.

Trans World Airlines has announced discounts of up to 50 percent on some fares. Travel is restricted to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a Saturday night stay is required.

Tickets are non-refundable and must be bought within 48 hours of confirmed reservation and at least seven days prior to departure.