Business Notebook: Ford and Sons buys Cracraft-Miller in Jackson

Ford and Sons Funeral Home announced Friday it has purchased Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson, effective at the end of January.

"We have great respect for the Cracraft-Miller tradition of service and feel it's a good fit for the way we do business," Kevin Ford, president of Ford and Sons, said in a news release.

Mike Cracraft, who has run Cracraft-Miller for more than 20 years, will stay on to help with the transition, the release said.

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

Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home opened in 1924, according to its website.

Broadway Burgers opening soon

Improvements ongoing at the former Stevie's Steakburger restaurant at 600 Broadway in Cape Girardeau are in preparation for a new eatery, Broadway Burgers.

The location now is owned by Dr. Sonjay Fonn, who runs Old Towne Cape Dining LLC. Broadway Burgers is planned to be open 24 hours a day starting in March and will offer burger and fast-food menu items, according to a release from the company. Stevie's Steakburgers opened in 2008 but closed in the past several years; the property had been for sale for some time. The new ownership company also owns The Bar at 117 Themis St. and is working to open Old Towne Cape Brewing Co. in the former location of Buckner Brewing Co.

Fonn Enterprises buying day care

A special use permit transfer request submitted to the city of Cape Girardeau shows Fonn Enterprises, owned by Dr. Sonjay Fonn, is purchasing KidZone Learning Center, a child-care center at 3037 Lexington Ave. in Cape Girardeau, from Susan Bippen. No changes in operation or the facility are planned for the center, according to city documents. Bippen has owned the center since 2007.

Building being turned into classic car display

Kenny Pincksten, owner of residential and commercial development company Prestige Development, is buying the building on the southwest corner of William and Sprigg streets in Cape Girardeau and will return it to an automotive-related use. The location originally was a gas station and Buick dealership and more recently a secondhand furniture and antique store. Pincksten said he intends to renovate the building and use it for displaying classic cars.

Area corn farmers win top-yield honors

Matthew Cox of Scott City, Jerry Cox of Delta and Nick Lanpher of Cape Girardeau recently earned titles in the National Corn Growers Association annual statewide contest for their 2014 crop yields. Matthew Cox took first place in the no-till/strip-till nonirrigated division with 348 bushels an acre and third place in the AA no-till/strip-till nonirrigated division with 313 bushels an acre. Jerry Cox won first place in the AA no-till/strip-till nonirrigated division with 349 bushels an acre and first in the irrigated division with 344 bushels an acre. Lanpher finished second place in the AA no-till/no-strip nonirrigated division with 314 bushels an acre. Jerry Cox also finished second in the AA nonirrigated division with 340 bushels an acre. The farmers planted Pioneer brand seeds, according to a news release.

E-cigarette retailer opens fourth location

Soo Vape, a seller of e-cigarettes, e-liquids and accessories, now has two stores in Cape Girardeau, one in Jackson and one in Scott City.

Scott City is the most recently opened store, at 601 Second St. Cape Girardeau locations are in West Park Mall and at 703 Broadway; the Jackson location is at 1335 Old Cape Road. The businesses are owned by Jesse Stuart.

Fitness center opens today in Jackson

Simply Fitness, a fitness center with 24-hour access for members, opens today. The center is at 2432 E. Main St. in Jackson and is owned by Donnie Harris, according to an employee of the center.

First Friday Coffee hosting county chiefs

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly event set for Friday will feature a presentation by the Cape Girardeau County commission on county facilities and use tax. Sponsors of the event are First Midwest Bank and Regional Brain and Spine.

Doors open at 7 a.m., and the program begins at 7:40 a.m. at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center.

Perryville company to host open house

Robinson Construction Co. in Perryville, Missouri, will hold a ribbon-cutting and open house for a recently completed expansion. The event will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at 2411 Walters Lane in Perryville.

Jackson chamber sets after-hours event

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly after-hours event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at First Midwest Bank at 2319 E. Jackson Blvd.

People on the Move

Dr. Jamie Clark

Dr. Jamie Clark has joined the staff at LaCroix Pet Hospital in Cape Girardeau as a veterinarian. Clark graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012 and has worked for a mixed animal practice in Kansas City, Missouri, and as an emergency veterinarian in Southeast Missouri.

Miranda Fickert

Miranda Fickert of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, is the new lead of the regional commercial team for U.S. Bank in Southeast Missouri. Fickert works at the U.S. Bank office in Poplar Bluff and has worked for the bank for 10 years as a credit analyst, commercial relationship manager and market president, according to a news release. She was named a U.S. Bank Annual Pinnacle honoree for two consecutive years and serves as a board member for the U.S. Bank Development Network. Fickert has a master of accountancy degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin and bachelor's degrees in accounting and marketing from the University of Tennessee. She also is a certified public accountant.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632