BUSINESS MEMO

Associated Industries of Missouri will discuss the Family and Medical Leave Act that went into effect this month.

The landmark legislation, which allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to employees of companies with 50 or more workers, is being administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Curtis M. Long, president of Associated Industries, will conduct a special workshop Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau.

Long said the workshop will take an in-depth look at rules adopted to govern implementation and administration of the act. Topics will include basic provisions of the regulation, developing a policy, and impacts the new regulations will have on other employer policies.

Cost of the seminar is $65 for members of Associated Industries and $85 for prospective members. Those participating in the program will be eligible for three continuing legal-education credits. Additional information and reservations are available by calling (314)-634-2246.

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The Lutheran Home, 2825 Bloomfield Road, has added a new medical specialty to its services Sub-acute Care.

"We recently became a member of the American Sub-acute Care Association," said Janice Unger home administrator. "This care is a new trend which is gaining recognition as an important level of care that offers cost savings and more focus on patient care."

Sub-acute care programs typically treat patients who are medically complex and require services that may include high intensity rehabilitation, said Unger. "This could include strokes and orthopedic rehab," she said. "It may also include Alzheimer disease care and post-coronary care."

The Lutheran Home provides both short- and long-term care.

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ST. LOUIS Mercantile Bancorporation Inc., a $10.1 billion St. Louis-based bank-holding company, has announced plans to merge with the $1.3 billion-asset United Postal Bancorp Inc. The move could result in Mercantile becoming the area's top home lender.

United Postal is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the St. Louis area. Mercantile is ranked fifth among St. Louis home lenders.

"United Postal brings a unique customer base, seasoned management and a large and growing mortgage banking operation to the merger," said Thomas H. Jacobsen, Mercantile's chairman and chief executive officer. "This will significantly enhance Mercantile's strong St. Louis-consumer banking presence."

Mercantile owns 38 banks in Eastern Kansas, Southern Illinois and Missouri, including Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau.

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The Flood of 1993 has put an estimated 30,000 Missourians out of work, said the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Division of Employment Security.

The division's latest monthly review of labor market information said that "approximately 30,000 Missourians have lost their jobs, at least temporarily, for reasons related to the flood," said Paul L. Rodgers of the Industrial Relations Division. "These include flooding of employers' premises, evacuation of flood-threatened areas, inability to reach a job site because of closed roads and bridges, and losses of farms and owner-operated businesses due to flooding."

Meanwhile, Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been extended in Missouri disaster areas through Sept. 10. It is a federal program designed to provide unemployment benefits to farmers and other self-employed individuals not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits. It also includes workers who are denied regular unemployment insurance claims because of flood conditions.

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Spartech Corp., which includes two operations in the Cape Girardeau area Atlas Alchem, 1 Atlas Drive, and Resin Exchange in Nash Road Industrial Park has reported record earnings and a substantial increase in revenues for both its third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 1993.

Bradley B. Buechler, president and chief executive officer of Spartech, headquartered in St. Louis, reported third-quarter earnings at $1.8 million, or 15 cents a share, an increase over the $1.2 million and 10 cents a share of a year ago. Revenues for the third quarter were $50.2 million, up 13 percent form the $44.3 million reported in the same three-month period in 1992.

Nine-months earnings were $4.9 million or 39 cents a share, up from the $3.1 million and 33 cents a share during the first three quarters of fiscal 1992. Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 1993 were $135,5 million compared to $124.4 million for the same period of 1992.

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McDonald's has kicked off its new NFL Kickoff Payoff promotion, giving customers an opportunity to win NFL prizes.

Customers receive pull-tab game pieces on packages of large and extra-large French fries, hash browns, 21- and 32-ounce drinks and 16-ounce coffee.

Game pieces offer opportunities to win free food, trading cards and "Fantasy" prizes such as trips to the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, home tickets to a NFL teams' 1993 season, and a chance to join a NFL broadcast crew in the announcer's booth.

McDonald's has more than 13,000 restaurants, including those in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

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Five major companies - McDonald's, Time Inc., NationsBank Corp., Prudential Insurance and Johnson & Johnson - have announced a joint effort to use more recycled paper.

The companies said Wednesday they will reassess the combined $1 billion a year they spend on paper for everything from burger wrappers and magazines to toothbrush boxes and insurance policies.

A task force including Duke University researchers will help the companies devise ways to increase their use of recycled paper and encourage suppliers to use more environmentally sound ways of making paper products.

Of the estimated 22 million tons of printing and writing paper produced each year in the United States, only about 6 percent comes from recycled goods.

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Local Edward D. Jones & Co. offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson will participate in the Jones' National Career day programs to be held via satellite Friday.

The program will feature a live broadcast over the firm's satellite network and will be hosted by veteran investment representatives, examining opportunities and challenges offered by a career with Edward D. Jones & Co.

Additional information concerning the programs is available by calling Robert N. Etherton, 335-4495; Joe Domian or Donna Domian at 335-6681; Dave Beasley, 243-6616; or Steve Elefson, 243-2246.

Programs will be conducted at the various Jones offices.