Business Notebook 2/16/15: Regional advertising award banquet is Friday

The annual awards presentation for the best advertising pieces in Cape Girardeau and other area markets is set for Friday at Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

Tri-State Advertising & Marketing Professionals, a regional not-for-profit organization for people who work in advertising and marketing, is holding the "Gone Girl"-themed American Advertising Awards ceremony that begins at 5:30 p.m. The awards given at the ceremony formerly were known as ADDYs.

This year's competition included 140 entries published or aired in the region during 2014, the organization reported. The entries recently were judged by a three-person panel at Southeast Missouri State University. Winners will advance to the second level of a three-tier competition that ends with a national-level contest in June.

Ticket information for the banquet is available at tristateamp.com.

Marquette buildings going back on market

The downtown Cape Girardeau Marquette Tower and Centre soon will go back up for sale after the properties were bought in a January foreclosure auction by the Springfield, Missouri, bank that held the loan on both buildings.

Kelly Polonus, a representative of Great Southern Bank, said in an email to the Southeast Missourian last week the bank plans to market and sell the buildings.

Until January, the buildings were owned by G&S Holdings, a real estate company that ran into financial problems and couldn't pay the mortgage on them after tenants moved from the Marquette Tower building.

In the final weeks before the foreclosure sale, a G&S Holdings representative reported working with prospective buyers, but no deal came through in time. The bank was the sole bidder in the auction, although a few others showed interest in placing a bid or working out a purchase from the bank the day of the auction.

Young professionals start 'happy hour'

The popularity of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee event has inspired the organization's Chamber Young Professionals group to create a spinoff event, First Friday Happy Hour.

CYP chairman Garrett Ozbun said the well-attended First Friday Coffee is a place members of the CYP group go for networking, but the group wanted an event that was "something fun and not so formalized."

Participation in the CYP group is free, unlike traditional chamber membership, and for people younger than 40.

"There's very few places you know you can just show up to and be a part of things," Ozbun said. "We're making this a standing invite for anyone to come meet people and make friends."

The First Friday Happy Hour will be held each first Friday of the month starting at 5 p.m. at Keller's at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Rice conference set for Thursday

Rice irrigation, research, weed management, market issues and farm bill programs are among the topics expected to be discussed Thursday at the Missouri Rice Conference in Dexter, Missouri.

The University of Missouri-Extension is hosting the event, which is designed to draw regional rice producers.

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dexter Eagles Club. More information is available by emailing the facilitator at ohmesG@umsystem.edu.

Marble Hill inn will reopen

The Woodland Inn in Marble Hill is undergoing renovations and will reopen after several years sitting vacant, the Banner Press newspaper recently reported.

A Marble Hill couple, Kelly and Wanda Francis, came out of retirement and bought the property, which includes the Woodland Inn and Steakhouse. The couple told the newspaper they don't plan to reopen the restaurant but are willing to talk to anyone who wants to open one there. Their granddaughter, Kyla Choate, will manage the motel. It is expected to reopen by April 1.

Storage business opens in Sedgewickville

Brune Storage recently was opened by Tyler Brune in Sedgewickville, Missouri, the Banner Press newspaper reported.

The storage rental building is close to Highway 72. Brune told the newspaper he may expand the business in the future.

Jackson chamber plans monthly breakfast

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly business breakfast event Friday. The event starts at 7:30 a.m. at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Southeast Missouri in Jackson.

First State Community Bank in Cape Girardeau recently promoted two employees, John Brey and Joshua Carter. Brey, who has been with the bank since 2013, is a loan officer and was named general banking officer. Carter has served as a regional retail manager for the bank since 2010 and was named vice president. The promotions were approved at the bank's annual board meeting in late January.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632