Business Notebook: Fireworks sales underway in area cities

Area cities received business-license applications from several fireworks vendors as the July 4 holiday nears. Sales of fireworks to the public began Saturday.

In Cape Girardeau, an Alabama company, TNT Fireworks, has tents set up in the parking lots of Kmart and Wal-Mart Supercenter. Meramec Specialty Co., also called Fireworks City, based in Arnold, Missouri, has a tent on Siemers Drive near Dollar Tree. Patriot Fireworks, which is based in Cape Girardeau, has a tent in front of Schnucks, and Hoffman Family Fireworks, also locally owned, is selling from a tent in the Town Plaza parking lot.

In Jackson, business-license applications were submitted by Hoffman Family Fireworks for a tent in the parking lot between Wings, Etc. and Dexter Bar-B-Que; by Meramec for a tent in the Country Mart parking lot; and by B&S Fireworks for a tent on Highway 72 at the location of the former Pioneer Orchard.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety's fire safety division reports about 1,350 permits are issued each year to "manufacturers, wholesalers, jobbers, distributors and retailers of fireworks."

Local and state sales taxes apply to fireworks purchases.

State chamber looks for fast-growing firms

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated in a news release last week it is in search of entries for its 2015 Fast Track Awards, an annual recognition of the state's fastest-growing companies.

Recipients are chosen, according to the release, based on revenue growth over the last four years. Recipients come from "a diverse range of industries," the release stated, "yet all have a common thread -- the ability to see market opportunities and inspire their workforce to achieve them."

Winners will be recognized at the chamber's annual banquet and featured in Missouri Business Magazine.

Applications for the awards can be completed online at mochamber.com. Deadline for entry is Aug. 15.

First Commercial gets ex-Regions Bank

First Commercial Bank, based in Dexter, Missouri, plans to open a new branch in Oran, Missouri, with the completed sale of a building that once housed a Regions Bank.

Tom Kelsey, a commercial broker with Lorimont Place in Cape Girardeau, said in a news release Regions engaged his firm to sell the property, prompted by a trend among national-branded banks to give up smaller branch locations and allow regional community banks to serve local bank customers.

Regions Bank will continue operating Missouri branches in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Scott City and other locations.

First Commercial Bank has branches in the Southeast Missouri cities of Advance, Benton, Bloomfield, Chaffee, Dexter, Essex, Gideon, Morehouse and Morley.

The Oran branch has operated in a temporary location while preparing to move into the newly purchased building, which originally was The Bank of Oran, chartered in 1900, according to the release, and has been used as a banking facility under a variety of names over the years.

New insurance agency opens in Cape

Brad Berry Insurance Agency, a Farmers Insurance agency, opened recently at 885 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

Brad Berry of Jackson owns and operates the agency, which specializes in automobile, homeowners and renters, financial, health and life insurance.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632