Business Notebook: Missouri chief justice, president of bar speak on court system in state

To Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Zel Fischer, the toughest cases are criminal cases, especially those involving either a life sentence or capital punishment.

When he addressed the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee crowd, Fischer said the Missouri Supreme Court is often "the court of last resort," and he understands the gravity of that.

"When I sign off on a death sentence ... [I] must have no doubt that the process was fair," Fischer said, adding the Supreme Court's role is to evaluate the process, not the facts.

"Those cases involve someone's liberty, sometimes life," Fischer said.

In response to a question about whether the Supreme Court has room for compassion in their decisions, Fischer responded he sees compassion in Missouri's drug-treatment courts.

Community members gather for First Friday Coffee at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.KASSI JACKSON

"We've come a long way," Fischer said. "It's a model for the nation, the way we do that."

Fischer said it's better to be smarter on crime than harder, and the drug courts are an example of that mindset.

Also speaking at the event was Cape Girardeau native Morry Cole, president of the Missouri Bar Association, who stressed the accessibility of the judicial branch, and the court system's benefits to the business community.

In the last 12 months, Cole said, more than 704,000 disputes have been resolved by the Missouri courts, and there's a reason most of those disputes' outcomes are not newsworthy: the cases are coming out according to the law, and are "being handled efficiently and being handled properly."

Missourians serve on juries, meaning "we solve our own disputes," he added.

Cole pointed out circuit court judges are community members, known as church members, coaches of teams, and are elected by popular election, not highly-monied campaigns.

And those judges hold the line, making decisions that adhere to the law, Cole said, and that's important.

"We want judges who call it right down the middle," Cole said. "Some people think they want an ideologue, but everyone in this room, including me, don't know if tomorrow we will be in court as plaintiff or defendant."

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith made a special appearance at the event, as well, and spoke about his membership on the Ways and Means Committee as well as the budget committees.

Smith said he works closely with President Donald Trump to bring attention to working Missourians and their concerns, particularly when it comes to tax cuts, deregulation and job creation.

Smith received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Enterprise Award for his pro-business voting record.

Garden Gate to move locations

Home decor and crafts mall Garden Gate will move from its location at 8 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau to West Park Mall, owner Janet Hahs said.

She plans to close from April 23 through 28, and reopen at the mall April 30.

Sleep lab accredited

Perry County Memorial Hospital recently announced its approval of accreditation status by Accreditation Commission for Health Care for the Sleep Lab service, according to a recent news release.

Achieving accreditation is a process by which health-care organizations demonstrate compliance with national standards, the release stated, and accreditation by ACHC reflects the organization's dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate a higher level of performance and patient care.

Judith's hours set

Judith's Antiques and Gung Ho Militaria, now at 3184 N. High St. in Jackson after relocating from the former location in downtown Cape Girardeau, will keep store hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Ameren workers return from Puerto Rico

The last of three waves of Ameren workers deployed to Puerto Rico to restore power to residents there has returned, according to a recent company news release.

Ameren sent 225 workers as part of a larger, 3,000 worker power-restoration force coordinated by Edison Electric Institute, an electric industry association, the release stated.

Workers were deployed on three-week stints beginning in January.

According to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, more than 95 percent of customers able to receive electricity now have their power restored, up from approximately 56 percent when workers first arrived in January, the release stated.

State auditor finds problems with unemployment program

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway recently issued a report revealing millions of dollars in potential inaccuracies by the Department of Labor, related to unemployment insurance program financial activities, according to a recent news release. The report also found a continued failure by the state to properly account for federal dollars used for several state programs, the release stated.

The report details issues resulting from changes to the Unemployment Insurance system at the Department of Labor, which is used to pay unemployment benefits. Incorrect calculations and inconsistencies resulted in $2 million in potential inaccuracies. The inadequate system affected several functions within the unemployment program, including at least $134,000 in overpayments to claimants who had exceeded their maximum unemployment benefit. These errors went undetected for approximately a year, the release stated.

The annual audit also noted an increasing number of concerns throughout state agencies and identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable costs in social safety net programs, such as Medicaid. The 2016 report had six findings, while this year's report found 17 areas of concern, according to the release.

A complete copy of the report is available at app.auditor.mo.gov/Repository/Press/2018016389739.pdf.

Ribbon cuttings

GFI Digital will celebrate its new location with a ribbon cutting and open house at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at 2311 Bloomfield St., Suite 101, in Cape Girardeau.

Realty One Associates will celebrate its five-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at 120 S. Missouri St. in Jackson.

Business licenses

Eric Goines applied for a license to operate Cape Fit LLC (Snap Fitness), a fitness business, at 2530 William St. in Cape Girardeau. Goines also owns Cape Family Medical Clinic LLC, 180 Healthcare LLC and La Salle Properties LLC, according to the business license application. An opening date for Snap Fitness was listed as March 7.

People on the Move

Ken Volkerding

Ken Volkerding of Jackson, a financial adviser with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was Life Leader in the Missouri East Region for the month of March, according to a recent news release.

Volkerding also was named representative of the month for the Missouri East Region in March, the release stated.

Volkerding joined Modern Woodmen in 2004.

Kandra Gregory

Kandra Gregory of Jackson, also a financial adviser with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was Life Application Leader in the Missouri East Region in March, according to a recent news release.

Gregory joined Modern Woodmen in 2016.

Sarah Heise has joined the Cape Girardeau office of Spencer Fane LLP, a law firm, as counsel in the litigation practice group, according to a recent news release.

Heise will be involved in the defense of professional negligence, products liability, and toxic tort actions, along with general commercial litigation.

Heise graduated from Dexter (Missouri)High School in 1995 and returned to the area upon graduation from law school in 2001. She lives with husband Jeremy Heise and their daughter in Jackson.

Prior to joining Spencer Fane, Heise served a stint handling workers' compensation cases as a Missouri assistant attorney general defending the Second Injury Fund and serving as defense counsel for employers and insurance companies. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Missouri and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Heise graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 2001 with Dean's Honors. Prior to obtaining her Juris Doctor, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Mississippi State University in 1998.

Sherry McCall of Sedgewickville, Missouri, recently was honored for selling more than $4,000 in retail product for the quarter for Mary Kay Cosmetics. McCall, a member of the Jana Jateff Unit with Mary Kay Cosmetics, was honored alongside Jana Jateff, who sold more than $6,000 in retail product for the quarter.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630