Business Notebook: Cape lawyer retires, hotels housing Illinois flood victims and Mo. first lady to visit, and other bits and pieces

I seem to go through at least one reporter's notebook every week, scribbling notes for various stories that usually make their way into the Southeast Missourian's news section, but along the way I'll often jot down some bits and pieces of possible story ideas. Here's a sampling of notes from the dog-earned pages of last week's notebook ...

Richard Steele

Longtime Cape Girardeau attorney Richard "Dick" Steele, a partner in the local law firm of Bradshaw, Steele, Cochrane, Berens & Billmeyer L.C., is retiring after a half-century of legal practice. Steele earned his undergraduate degree in 1965 from Washington University in St. Louis and his law degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1968 before serving in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant and platoon leader in Vietnam during which he was awarded the Bronze Star.

After his military service, he began practicing law in Cape Girardeau, specializing in litigation, business/corporate law and family law. During his career, he received the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyers Award and served on numerous professional boards and committees on the local and state levels.

Based on a spot check of Cape Girardeau hotels last week, it appears there's been a slight uptick in room reservations by Illinois residents who have been impacted by the ongoing Mississippi River flooding. Some of these hotel guests are people who work in the Cape Girardeau area and decided to book hotel rooms in Cape rather than find alternate routes to work in order to avoid flooded roadways, often adding an hour or more to their daily commutes.

"We've seen some additional flood-related bookings, but we still have rooms available," I was told by a reservation agent who said the situation is similar at other local lodging facilities.

It's been more than a week now since the Illinois Department of Transportation closed Route 3 and Route 146 in Alexander County between McClure and East Cape Girardeau because of ongoing flooding, heavy rains and seep water within the levee system.

For all intents and purposes, the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge at Cape Girardeau has also been closed to all vehicles except residents of East Cape who have chosen not to leave their homes during the flood.

According to National Weather Service forecasts, the river stage at Cape Girardeau is expected to fall below 42 feet today after cresting nearly three weeks ago at almost 46.3 feet, more than 14 feet above flood stage.

Fireworks tents opened last week in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and many other surrounding communities as people throughout the area stock up on pyrotechnics to celebrate Independence Day coming up Thursday.

Mother Nature put on her own fireworks display just over a week ago in the form of severe thunderstorms and high winds that ripped through the area damaging structures, uprooting trees and cutting off power to hundreds of people for several days.

For the second consecutive year, a Hoffman Family Fireworks tent was damaged by high winds. In 2018, a Hoffman tent in Cape Girardeau was blown down during a strong storm that destroyed thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. This year, the Hoffman tent in Jackson along East Jackson Boulevard wrapped itself around a billboard during the June 21 storm.

Fortunately, the tent was not yet stocked, so no merchandise was lost and the Hoffman family was able to replace it with other tents in time for last week's opening.

Eldorado Resorts, parent company of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, announced last week it is buying Caesars Entertainment in a $17.3 billion deal that will make it the largest gaming company in the United States.

That probably would have been bigger news locally had it not been announced two weeks ago Eldorado is selling its Cape Girardeau casino operations and property to Century Casinos and VICI Properties, respectively, in a deal expected to be finalized in 2020. Details of that transaction were published in the Southeast Missourian on June 18.

Eldorado's purchase of Caesars Entertainment would give it control of iconic casinos such as Caesars Palace and the Flamingo in Las Vegas and about two dozen Harrah's casinos.

Rumors continue to fly about what business (or businesses) will eventually land at the corner of William Street and Mount Auburn Road, the former location of two adjacent restaurants that closed last month, Ruby Tuesday and O'Charley's. Sources with Drury Southwest, which owns the vacant property, told me last week it will be at least two or three months before a new tenant (or tenants) might be announced.

I learned last week Plaza Tacos, a "street tacos" eatery concept, is coming to 515 W. Main St. in Jackson, the former location of Pizza Pro. Plaza Tacos will reportedly be operated by the ownership of El Torero, which has locations in Jackson and Cape Girardeau. An opening date has not been announced.

Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce members will be among the first to get a look at the new Top of the Marq restaurant when the chamber hosts its monthly Business After Hours gathering there from 5 to 6:30 p.m. July 16. The restaurant is on the seventh floor of the Marquette Tower on the corner of Broadway and Fountain Street. Top of the Marq is expected to open sometime this month, although an official opening date has not been announced.

It appears Ochs Powersports is coming to West Park Mall based on the addition of an Ochs sign adjacent to Ashley Homestore.Jay Wolz ~ jwolz@semissourian.com

If you've driven around to the backside of West Park Mall lately, you may have noticed the south end of the building next to Ashley Homestore has been painted solid black and there's an "Ochs Powersports" logo on the side of the building. It would appear Ochs is planning a move to the mall, but as of Friday, there had been no comment from representatives of the business.

As we reported two weeks ago, Chateau Girardeau is marking its 40th anniversary this week. It was on July 2, 1979, the first residents moved into apartments in Cape Girardeau's first retirement community at 3120 Independence St. As part its anniversary observance, Chateau Girardeau will host a public open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Now on to the rest of this week's Business Notebook ...

Chamber lunch to feature Mo. first lady

Teresa Parson, wife of Gov. Mike Parson, will be the guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Women's Network luncheon July 11. The subject of her presentation will be Jobs for America's Graduates-Missouri (JAG-Missouri), a program to support youth graduate from high school and transition into college and careers.

The luncheon and program will take place from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center. A $25 registration fee includes a salad and pasta bar lunch. To register or for more information, contact the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

Contractors and tree trimmers need licenses

Jackson city officials are reminding contractors and tree trimmers if they are employed to do post-storm cleanup and repairs in Jackson they must have licenses.

Contractors working within the city must be licensed. Licenses can be obtained at Jackson City Hall. Tree trimmers are required to have a merchant's license while building contractors must obtain a contractor's license.

In addition, contractors and trimmers who have employees must provide proof of workmen's compensation insurance in order to obtain a license, although contractors who are not required by law to carry workmen's comp insurance may sign a waiver.

Building permits are also required for electrical and structural repairs as well as re-roofing involving reframing or re-decking of a roof. Replacement or installation of awnings, porches, decks, fences, pergolas, portable sheds, carports, gazebos and other structures that may have been damaged in recent storms also require building permits.

Permit fees for storm-related repair work in Jackson are currently being waived, according to Jackson city officials.

More information is available from the Jackson Public Works Department.

Saint Francis upgrades CT imaging software

Saint Francis Healthcare System's computed tomography (CT) unit has undergone a software enhancement making it possible to perform perfusion of the head imaging with immediate results.

CT perfusion imaging shows which areas of the brain are adequately supplied with blood and provides information on the amount of blood flow to the brain.

Ginny Ginithan, director of Womancare and imaging services at Saint Francis, said the upgraded software will benefit stroke patients.

"This technology will allow us to care for qualifying patients right here at home rather than burdening them with traveling to St. Louis," she said.

Saint Francis imaging services director Greg Rushing said the updated technology will make it possible for approximately 60% of the patients who were previously sent to St. Louis for perfusion imaging to now have it done in Cape Girardeau.

According to a news release from Saint Francis, the new technology went on line last week.

SEMO CBD opens in Cape Girardeau

SEMO CBD, the first cannabidiol (CBD) specialty store in Cape Girardeau, has opened at 725 Broadway.

Products sold at SEMO CBD are cannabidiol-based, which is derived from hemp plants. According to information provided by SEMO CBD, cannabidiol products are legal to sell and possess because of amendments to the 2018 Farm Bill passed by Congress in December.

SEMO CBD is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon until 4 p.m. Sundays.

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