BUSINESS MEMO

JACKSON -- Rick Sparks, business and industry specialist with the Missouri University Extension Service, will be guest speaker at the August general membership meeting of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting will be held Monday at Delmonico's, with dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Sparks will outline services the University Extension Service has to offer new and existing businesses.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. Dollar General Corporation has reported higher sales and earnings for the second quarter, which ended July 31.

Chairman and CEO Cal Turner Jr. said sales for the quarter totaled $216.9 million, up 25 percent from the $173.3 million during the same period of a year ago. Net income for the quarter increased 78.7 percent to $6.7 million, or 25 cents per share, compared to $3.8 million or 14 cents per share in 1991.

For the six months ended July 31, sales were $405.4 million, an increase of 26.1 percent over sales of $321.6 million in 1991.

Dollar General is a chain of 1,577 stores operating in 23 states, including Missouri. Locally, Dollar General has stores in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

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ST. LOUIS Union Electric's second-quarter earnings declined form last year's record levels as mild-weather lowered kilowatt-hour sales and the scheduled refueling at the Callaway nuclear plant increased expenses.

UE earned $64 million or 62 cents a share for the second quarter, compared to $102 million or 99 cents a share during the same quarter in 1991.

Electric revenues declined $47 million, or more than 10 percent for the quarter, due mainly to lower air conditioning use.

"Temperatures in our service territory were 90 degrees or higher on just three day during the quarter," said William R. Cornelius, chairman and chief executive officer. "Fourteen 90-degree plus days are considered normal for this time of year. A year ago, there were 21 such days during the second quarter."

Costs related to Callaway's refueling operations included the cost of replacement power. During the 59-day shutdown, crews refueled the plant and completed more than 7,000 work activities.

Earnings for the first six months of 1992 totaled $92 million or 90 cents a share, compared to $133 million or $1.30 a share for the first six months of 1991.

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The Southeast Missouri Business Group on Health will hold an informational meeting for prospective members Aug. 31.

The 4 p.m. session will be held at the Holiday Inn.

"We will discuss our new concept being pursued with the William M. Mercer Co.," said Mary Dunn, executive director of the group. "Mercer, Greg Kuhn and Jeff Fox will attend the meeting to discuss the concept."

Additional information concerning the meeting is available by calling 651-4688.

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Richard R. Cuba of First Financial Planners Inc., 1200 N. Cape Rock Drive, recently presented a seminar on "Charitable Financial and Estate Planning Techniques" at Mount Vernon, Ill.

The seminar was presented to alumni of Graceland College of Lamoni, Iowa, who are living in Southern Illinois.

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COLUMBUS, Ky. Construction of a new activities and educational building at Columbus-Belmont State Park will get under way in November, with a completion target date of September 1993.

The 6,200-square-foot building will include a meeting room, park administrative offices, kitchen and caterer's kitchen.

The park features historic earthworks constructed by the Confederate troops during the Civil War in 1861.