BUSINESS MEMO

JACKSON -- Gene E. Wills Insurance Agency, 612 West Main, Jackson, has added two national insurance companies.

One of them is Preferred Risk Group of West Des Moines, Iowa, a nondrinkers insurance company. It offers auto, home, health, life insurance and annuities for nondrinkers as well as church insurance. It is comprised of four companies: Preferred Risk Mutual, Preferred Risk Life, Preferred Abstainer, and Midwest Mutual.

Also added to the agency was Providence Washington, a multiline carrier headquartered in Rapid City, S.D. The firm specializes in auto, home and commercial insurance.

The Wills Agency is owned and operated by Gene Wills, Ann Wills, Alan Wills and Brent Wills. Barbara Hadler is secretary and computer operator.

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Farm & Home Savings is sponsoring a free seminar for first-time home buyers.

The two-hour seminar, "Homebuyers' Guide to the Mortgage Process," will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at Farm & Home Savings, 211 Silver Springs Road.

The presentation will include discussions on how to find a home in the buyer's price range, how to read a mortgage application, steps involved in the application, and the importance of boundary lines and encroachments.

"Several industry experts real-estate, loan, appraiser and other representatives will be on hand to answer questions," said Karen Rigdon of Farm & Home. "People attending the session will also receive a certificate for $50 off closing costs on a Farm & Home mortgage."

Rigdon urged advance registration for the seminar. Information is available by calling 334-6034.

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Square One Electronics Inc., a telecommunications business that offers sales, installation and service of telephone systems, data communications, digital and fiber optic technologies, has been awarded the AT&T large-business system contract for Southeast Missouri.

Gary Slaubaugh, manager and owner of Square One, said the service area encompasses Cape Girardeau to the state line south, and Poplar Bluff to the southwest.

Telephone systems and equipment serviced under the contract include Dimension; Horizon; System 25, 75 and 85; and Generic I and II.

Square One Electronics, 1733 N. Kingshighway, has a staff of AT&T certified technicians, and provides 24-hour telephone coverage to meet service needs.

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The Internal Revenue Service has $478,875 in unclaimed refunds to issue to 1,128 Missourians.

"These checks range from $1.16 to $33,234," said Nova L. Felton in the public-affairs office of the IRS' Missouri district office. "They were undeliverable because the recipients had moved, changed their names, or couldn't be properly identified as entitled to receive the checks."

When taxpayers move after they file their tax returns and before they receive their refund checks, the post office is required to return the checks to the Kansas City Service Center. Taxpayers must notify the IRS to have their refund checks sent to the new address.

Anyone believing they should have received a check may call the IRS office in St. Louis (1-800-829-1040).