BUSINESS MEMO

"Leadership and Supervisory Skills for Women" is the topic of a workshop to be conducted at Drury Lodge Nov. 2.

The seminar will present techniques for dealing with challenges and obstacles women face as supervisors and managers, said a spokesman for National Seminars Inc., which will conduct the daylong workshop.

Cost of the workshop is $69, which includes instruction, workbook and coffee. The seminar provides 0.6 continuing education units.

Additional information is available by contacting National Seminars Inc., 1-800-258-7246.

---

Union Electric is donating the first of eight award-winning educational videocassettes to 30 area high schools.

The series, produced in cooperation with the National Science Teachers Association, presents the most recent developments in science, technology and engineering.

The first tape is about "Physiology: Human Blood," which explores the chemistry and complexity of blood and the circulatory system.

Schools receiving the videos are in the Southeast Missouri areas serviced by Union Electric.

---

Exporting, market identification, and state and federal export assistance programs will be discussed during an "Export Opportunities Seminar" Oct. 27 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the University Center program lounge at Southeast Missouri State University.

Purpose of the workshop is to show Missouri companies how to lay foundations in exporting their products and services.

Speakers include Jane Hood, trade specialist with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, export development office; Christy Wiggins, U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service trade specialist; Tom Beasley, Small Business Administration; and Judy Cook, InterConnect Worldwide Import-Export Consulting Services.

Cost of the workshop is $10. Additional information is available by contacting the university's Small Business Development Center, 22 N. Pacific, telephone 290-5965.

---

INA, Ill. The Illinois Department of Corrections has started the process of hiring 200 correctional officers for the Big Muddy Correctional Center near Ina.

The 952-bed facility is scheduled to open in March and will employ 275 people.

"The process is under way now for new correctional officers," said a spokesman for 59th District state Sen. Jim Rea. "The search for other employees for the facility will get under way later," said the spokesman.

---

ST. LOUIS Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. reported income of $22,057,000 for the third quarter of 1992, an increase of 28.2 percent over third-quarter earnings of $17.2 million a year ago. Per-share earnings reached $1.10, up 14.6 percent from the 96 cents per share earned during the same period a year ago.

For the first nine months of 1992, Mercantile's net income rose 28.5 percent, to $62.3 million, compared to $48.5 million for the first three quarters of 1991.

Mercantile Bancorporation Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, owns 37 banks in Missouri and Illinois.

---

DEERFIELD, Ill.- About 800 workers will lose their jobs next year when a Tupperware plant in Tennessee closes, the unit's parent company announced.

Premark International Inc. officials said recently that the firm would take a $137 million pretax charge against third-quarter earnings. About $90 million of the restructuring charge includes the manufacturing plant closing in Halls, Tenn.

Warren L. Batts, chairman and chief executive of Deerfield-based Premark, said the move came in response to declining sales. He said in a statement that the Tupperware unit has lost about $21 million in the last nine months, despite earlier cost-reduction efforts.

---

WASHINGTON - Retail sales rose a modest 0.3 percent in September, pushed higher by large increases at building supply and furniture stores, the government said,

Many analysts had expected those categories to be bolstered by reconstruction work to Florida and Louisiana properties damaged by Hurricane Andrew. Without the surge in building supplies, sales would have been up about 0.2 percent.

The Commerce Department said all sales totaled a seasonally adjusted $161.1 billion last month. Sales were unchanged in August.