BUSINESS MEMO

Holiday seasons are often among the most difficult times for people who have experienced the death of a loved one.

A brochure, "You and Your Grief During The Holiday Season," is now available from Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel, 433 S. Sprigg in Cape Girardeau.

"The brochure provides specifics to aid bereaved people in coping with the holidays," said Betty J. Kuss of Lorberg Chapel.

People should contact the funeral home to receive the brochure.

Something new has been added to the Massey Ferguson 8400 Series combines.

"The MF 8450 and MF 8460 are now equipped with a heavy-duty unloading auger as standard equipment," said Ivan Heuer of Heuer Sons and Implement, Cape Girardeau. "The auger provides ample clearance for large grain carts or trucks and provides additional clearance when harvesting with wide headers or corn heads. Hydraulic power swings the turret auger for easy unloading on the go."

Union Electric earned $158 million or $1.54 a share for the third quarter of 1993, compared to $163 million or $1.60 a share during the same period in 1992.

In addition to flood costs during the 1993 third quarter, which amounted to about $14 million, the quarter's earnings were lowered by about 6 cents a share due to the recently passed increase in the federal corporate income tax rate, which is retroactive to January of this year.

Earnings for the first nine months of 1993 totaled $282 million or $2.76 a share, up from the $255 million or $2.50 a share for the same period in 1992.

UE officials announced that the flood affected about 20,000 of the company's 1.2 million customers and damaged only 19 of 1,300 UE substations. Most of the flood costs resulted from the need to conserve the coal supply by purchasing power from other utilities when rising rivers halted or delayed deliveries. Coal deliveries have now resumed, enabling the company to start rebuilding stockpiles.

The former Thrifty Inn at the corner of Interstate 24 and Highway 60 in Paducah, Ky., has been converted to a Hampton Inn. The motel, as well as the Drury Inn and Pear Tree Inn near the same location, is owned and operated by Drury Inns Inc.

The "new" Hampton has undergone a total renovation, including new roof line, all new furnishings and landscaping. A new breakfast area has been added to the lobby. A continental breakfast is served daily from 6-10 a.m.

ERA Cape Realty, a member of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors, is involved in helping young people make choices about buying and renting property.

The realty firm will be working with juniors and seniors from Jackson High School in "It's Your Move," a consumer education program for high school students.

"It's Your Move" is a three-to-six-week course that will be taught next semester in Rebecca Daume's home economics class.

Students will learn about renting and leasing property, buying real estate and the rights and responsibilities of lease contracts and real estate loans.

David Glastetter of Cape Realty said: "Buying a house will probably be the biggest purchase these students make in a lifetime. It's important that they learn how to make wise choices, whether they buy or rent."

The "It's Your Move" program was developed by the Center for Education and Private Enterprise, a not-for-profit foundation of the Missouri Association of Realtors in Columbia. Realtors and other businesses sponsor the program in their area schools.

Nomination applications for the "Small Business of the Year" are available from the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

The selected business will be recognized at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting/dinner, to be held Feb. 4.

This will mark the third year for the small business award. Previous winners include Bluff City Beer Co. in 1992, and Advanced Business Systems in 1991.

To be considered for the honor, businesses must have no more than 150 employees, be locally owned and in business at least five years.

Additional information is available by contacting Craig Wells, chairman of the awards committee, at 334-0521.