BUSINESS MEMO

The Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University will conduct sessions for owners of area small businesses and those planning business ventures. Sessions will be held at Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Perryville and Malden.

Gil Degenhardt will conduct the counseling sessions, scheduled for about one hour each. There is no fee.

The Cape Girardeau sessions will be held at the Chamber of Commerce office, 601 N. Kingshighway, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 27. For appointments call 335-3312.

Sikeston sessions are scheduled for Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 1 Industrial Drive. Call 471-2498 for appointments.

Perryville sessions will be held Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission office, 1 W. St. Joseph. Appointments are available by calling 547-8357.

Malden sessions will be held Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Malden Community Center, 607 Douglas. Appointments are available by calling 276-4519.

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SIKESTON The Sikeston Inn is under new ownership.

Tom Zorbas, who owns the Grecian Steak House at Sikeston, and Pete Katsaliros, who owns a Grecian Steak House at Poplar Bluff, have reached agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for purchase of the inn alongside Interstate 55.

The partners are keeping the same personnel and will honor all reservations made by previous management.

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The Regional Commerce and Growth Association annual banquet will be Friday at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

"We the People," is the theme for the organization's fifth annual banquet. A social hour will be held at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7.

Rep. Joe Driskell of Doniphan and Sen. Danny Staples of Eminence will be guest speakers.

Reservations are available by calling 334-4142.

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BENTON, Ill. - A $48 million state prison due to open in March will bring substantial economic benefits to the Benton and Mount Vernon areas, officials said.

"We're here to help the community as much as possible," said Mary Hardy-Hall, warden of the Big Muddy River Correctional Center.

Big Muddy prison will result in workers with a $12 million annual payroll, Hardy-Hall said. Businesses also will have the chance to sell directly to the medium-security prison, she said.

A "full-house" vendors conference was held at the Benton Chamber of Commerce. Businesses were informed about selling materials to the prison.

Some prisoners will be allowed to work in the community as free laborers, but Hardy-Hall emphasized they will not take away existing jobs.

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DU QUOIN, Ill. - This Southern Illinois city is a step closer to getting an industrial park.

The City Council has approved spending almost $200,000 o n contracts with companies that will put in the plumbing and a water tower. However, none of the money approved will be paid until the city gets an Economic Development Administration grant from the state.

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Proceeds from the Southeast Missouri Continuity of Care Association seminar held at the Drury Lodge in November went to needy families in Poplar Bluff, Scott City, Perryville, Sikeston and Oran.

The association is designed to increase awareness of regional programs and enhance coordination of services to foster continuity of care in the health field.

Additional information and memberships are available by contacting Nancy Bishop, president of the group, at 651-5549.