Business notebook: Facebook hits milestone of 1 billion served

One billion people logged in to Facebook on Aug. 24 -- the first time that has happened in a single day. That's right, 1 billion people, or one-seventh of the Earth's population, the Associated Press reported.

It was a big, symbolic milestone for the world's biggest online social network, which boasts nearly 1.5 billion users who log in at least once a month. CEO Mark Zuckerberg marked the occasion with a Facebook post.

"We definitely live in a time and place full of people seeking to connect, and the fact that Facebook reached 1 billion logins in one single day is not at all surprising," rustmedia project manager Jamie Barnwell said in an email. "It's a testament to their knowledge of the social market. A lot of Internet fads seem to be fleeting, but even now, eleven years after its creation, Facebook still has incredible potential, and many of our local businesses have taken advantage of the social media platform."

Most of the billion people who logged in Monday were outside the U.S. and Canada. Of Facebook's overall users, more than 83 percent come from other countries. This also is where Facebook's next billions of users likely will come from as it grows.

Robinson Construction recognized

For the third consecutive year, Engineering News-Record has recognized Robinson Construction in Perryville, Missouri, as one of its Top Contractors in the Midwest. The company moved up 16 places from its No. 66 rank in 2014, according to a news release from Robinson.

Engineering News-Record's Midwest region consists of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. The weekly magazine provides news and analysis for the construction industry worldwide and performs annual surveys of the largest contractors in the world, ranking them based on annual revenue.

Robinson was founded in 1946; it is headquartered in Perryville with a regional office in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Ground broken on Sikeston theater

Cotton Ridge Development broke ground Friday morning on the Malco Theatr to be built in Sikeston, Missouri.

Sikeston Mayor Steven Burch, Gaylon Lawrence and Mike Bohannon of Cotton Ridge and Jimmy Tashie of Malco Theatres spoke at the ceremony.

Ford and Sons to cut ribbon in Jackson

Ford and Sons Funeral Home will hold a ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m. today at its new location, the former Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home, at 708 W. Main St. in Jackson.

Ford and Sons announced it had bought Cracraft-Miller in early February.

Josh Ford, vice president of Ford and Sons, is overseeing the relaunch of Cracraft-Miller under the Ford and Sons name.

The facility is Ford and Sons' fourth.

Bank named leader in social media

The Independent Community Bankers of America has named The Bank of Missouri one of its Top 50 Community Bank Leaders in Social Media for the third year in a row.

More than 6,000 community banks were eligible for the list, according to a release from Independent Community Bankers of America. The group received nearly 300 nominations. Banks were scored based on engagement with fans and followers and the frequency of new content posted.

Banks that made the list will be profiled in the September issue of Independent Banker.

Financial professional relocates office

J.P. Thompson of MML Investors Services LLC has expanded and moved to 1353 N. Mount Auburn Road, Suite A, in Cape Girardeau, according to a news release.

Thompson is a licensed financial broker-dealer. The financial offices were in the First Midwest Bank building in Jackson.

The new office more than doubles the amount of space and allows for future expansion.

Perryville dog groomer holds ribbon cutting

Macy's Place Dog Bath and Boutique held a ribbon cutting Tuesday at 9 E. Ste. Marie St. in Perryville, Missouri, the Perryville Chamber of Commerce announced.

The store specializes in locally handmade dog items and has a do-it-yourself pet bathing area, according to the business' description on its Facebook page.

The store also offers baked treats from Mississippi Mutts.

kwebster@semissourian.com

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