Business Notebook: Isle of Capri may consolidate with Pa. company

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a change in First Friday Coffee programming.

According to Reuters news service, Isle of Capri is consolidating with Gaming and Leisure Properties, a Wyomissing, Pennsylvania-based owner of casino real estate properties.

If Gaming and Leisure Properties makes a bid for the firm, Isle of Capri shares will be worth nearly $16 a share.

On Wednesday morning, the casino's shares jumped 11 percent.

Isle of Capri Casinos shares last traded at $6.93.

Isle is a Creve Coeur, Missouri-based casino corporation with 15 properties in seven states, the closest of these being in Cape Girardeau.

Wine trails

The Ste. Genevieve and Farmington, Missouri, area offer three wine trails: the Aux Arcs Wine Road, the Route Du Vin and the Mississippi River Hills Wine Trail. These trails consist of three to six wineries for people to enjoy. Nearby options are the Hunter Valley Winery in Cape Girardeau and Steele Crest Winery and Rothbrick Vineyard and Winery, both in Jackson. These wineries offer historic buildings, spas, gourmet food and natural caves to explore.

Reliable Insurance Services

Reliable Insurance Services has added Cathy Reiminger as an employer benefits specialist to its corporation.

She started June 23 and specializes in individual and employer health benefits and providing alternative opportunities for affordable coverage. Reiminger graduated from Southeast Missouri State University, is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of trustees at LaCroix Methodist Church.

Reliable Insurance Services LLC is a subsidiary of the Bank of Missouri and is in Jackson.

Saint Francis walking challenge

Saint Francis Medical Center's Fitness Plus recently participated in the Worldwide Walking Challenge sponsored by the Medical Fitness Association. About 700 members walked more than 50 million steps in the one-week challenge, causing them to finish second in the competition.

The UNC Wellness Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, won in the challenge by walking more than 68 million steps.

First Friday Coffee

Isle Casino Cape Girardeau is hosting First Friday Coffee with a continental breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. Friday and the program beginning at 7:40 a.m. Rich Payne from the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center will be talking about the programming offered at his facility. It will be in the event center.

Notebook

* The Venue banquet center at 80 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the opening of its new courtyard.

* D.R. Barks of Marble Hill won a federal contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, to mow and establish winter food plots at Wappapello Lake Project. The contract is worth $41,372.40.

* The Queen of the Mississippi riverboat, operated by American Cruise lines, docked in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday and departed about 5 p.m. The boat also will dock in Cape at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 7; 8:30 p.m. Sept. 16; and 7 p.m. Sept. 23.

* The American Queen riverboat will dock in Cape Girardeau at these times: 10 a.m. July 14; 10 a.m. Sept. 11; and 8 a.m. Oct. 13.

* Missouri general collection revenue decreased by 1 percent during fiscal year 2014, according to state budget director Linda Luebbering. Net general revenue for the month of June fell by 12.3 percent from last year, according to information released by state officials.

* Perry County Memorial Hospital received a 2014 bronze Aster Award for its community newsletter. The Aster Awards, hosted by Marketing Healthcare Today Magazine and Creative Images Inc., is a national competition in the health-care advertising and marketing fields. All entries are judged by industry experts, scored, and compete against organizations of a similar size in their groups and categories.