Business Notebook: Missouri sees lowest jobless rate since 2008

The state's November unemployment rate reached 5.6 percent, according to a jobs report last week by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

That rate is three-tenths of a point below October's rate and according to a news release, the lowest since May 2008.

The state gained 4,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in November and 42,200 in the past year.

Industries seeing growth during November included manufacturing, professional and business services, transportation, warehousing and utilities.

Innovation board membership increased

The allowable number of board directors for the Missouri Innovation Corp. was raised Friday with a vote of Southeast Missouri State University's board of regents to amend bylaws for the organization.

The organization, which promotes economic development in the region through the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, now may have between nine and 15 directors instead of the original six.

Dr. Bill Eddleman, provost of the university, said in a news release the organization is expanding outreach and therefore requires more representation.

Appointed to a one-year term on the board were Brent Buerck, Perryville's city administrator; John Ferguson, director of the Pemiscot County Port Authority; and Jim Grebing, director of economic development for Kennett City Light Water and Gas.

Appointed to a two- year term were Tim Arbeiter, vice president for community development for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, and Jon Douglas, city manager for Sikeston, Missouri.

Three-year term appointees were Van Robinson, chief executive officer for Citizens Electric Corp., and Dana Thomas, who launched BOLD Marketing and an adjunct professor at William Woods University.

Farmers recognized for soybean yields

Farmers in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties won top spots in the Missouri Soybean Association's annual statewide yield contest.

The contest measures yields in three categories. Glenda Hinkebein of Chaffee, Missouri, took first place in the conventional category with a 91.77 bushel-per-acre yield.

Carl Landewee, also of Chaffee, finished second with an 88.75-bushel yield.

In the irrigated category, John Engram of Sikeston, Missouri, won the top spot with a 99-bushel yield.

Hinkebein Farms in Chaffee finished third in the same category.

In the no-till category, Charles Hinkebein of Chaffee, won with a 92.5-bushel yield.

Hinkebein Farms came in second with 90.3.

The contestants beat more than 200 statewide entries and more than doubled last year's statewide average with their yields, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

The five-year average yield in Missouri was 37.8 bushels per acre, according to the University of Missouri Extension.

Contestants had their results verified by a designated judge and by the association.

Auburn Place Hotel takes top award

Auburn Place Hotel in Cape Girardeau received the Midamerica Hotels Corp. Diamond Award, the company's highest honor, at a recent annual recognition banquet.

The award, according to a news release from the company, is presented for the highest guest comments in all operations areas, including quality and customer satisfaction.

The hotel's manager, Matt McDowell, accepted the award on behalf of the hotel.

eragan@semissourian.com

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