Business Notebook: Old Town Cape hosts auction to raise funds for revitalization effort

The Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center was buzzing with food, drinks and chatter Saturday night as more than 200 of Cape Girardeau's most recognized faces and businessmen and businesswomen attended Old Town Cape's 26th annual Charles L. Hutson Auction.

The event featured both silent and live auctions, raising thousands of dollars to go toward the revitalization of downtown Cape Girardeau.

The auctions featured items such as swag and gift certificates from area businesses, antique furniture pieces, Cardinals and Rams game tickets, jewelry and vacation packages, including two round-trip tickets from St. Louis to San Antonio and one room for three nights at the San Antonio Riverwalk Drury Plaza Hotel donated by Drury Southwest. The trip was won with the highest bid of the night of $2,500.

A unique item up for auction was a four-person Christmas lights tour of Cape Girardeau in Charles Hutson's chauffeured 1929 Rolls Royce including wine and cheeses and concluding with dinner at Celebrations restaurant in Cape Girardeau. The item was donated by Montgomery Bank and the Charles L. Hutson family.

The event was sponsored by Isle Casino Cape Girardeau and SoutheastHEALTH.

Motorcycle Cannonball Run to make stop in Cape Girardeau

The Motorcycle Cannonball Run will begin its third coast-to-coast ride next September, starting at Daytona Beach in Florida to reach Tacoma, Wash., two and a half weeks later, according to a news release from the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. There is a stop in Cape Girardeau planned along the way.

Course master John Classen laid out an estimated 4,100-mile transcontinental ride from the Southeast to the Northwest to be made in 17 days, the release said. Next year's Cannonball Run requires participants ride antique pre-1937 motorcycles and has drawn riders from around the world.

"We expect this to be the most challenging of our routes to date," said Lonnie Isam Jr., promoter and owner of Jurassic Racing in Sturgis, S.D. "We will be going coast to coast again, but it's going to be a lot tougher this time, and it's likely that some may not complete the ride."

The course will include an overnight stop in Cape Girardeau, according to the release. Community organizers are at work to facilitate the stop in Cape Girardeau.

Broadway Prescription Shop to hold two vaccination clinics

The Broadway Prescription Shop will host two flu vaccination clinics, in addition to administering vaccinations at its 710 Broadway location in Cape Girardeau, according to a news release.

One clinic will be from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 19 at the Cape Senior Center, 921 N. Clark St. in Cape Girardeau. The other will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Jackson Senior Center, 2690 Travelers Way in Jackson.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone more than six months old receive a flu vaccine every year since flu strains change, the release said.

Anyone over 12 years old and older may receive a vaccination between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Broadway Prescription Shop.

Certain groups especially at risk of developing serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, include the following: pregnant women, people 65 years old and older and people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease, according to the release.

The clinics are open to the public.

For more information about the 2013 influenza vaccine and answers to frequently asked questions, visit Broadwaypharm.com.

Broadway Prescription Shop also offers on-site flu clinics for local businesses, municipalities and senior housing facilities.

Businesses may schedule an on-site clinic by calling Jen Cecich at 335-8207.

Free prostate cancer screening

Cape Girardeau Urology Associates and the Southeast Cancer Center will sponsor a free prostate cancer screening from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sept. 21 at the Cancer Center, 789 S. Mount Auburn Road, according to a news release from SoutheastHEALTH. The event is presented in conjunction with national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week.

The screening will only take a few minutes and will consist of a blood test and a digital rectal exam, the release said.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer death, according to the release.

Appointments are not necessary. For more information, call 519-4847.

AT&T -MIssouri looking for variety of positions

AT&T-Missouri announced it is seeking applicants for more than 185 positions throughout Missouri, according to a news release, including 13 positions for service representatives for the AT&T call center in Cape Girardeau, said Marsha Haskell, regional director of external affairs for AT&T-Missouri.

Haskell said the company also is hiring one position for the Sikeston, Mo., corporate wireless store and one position for the Poplar Bluff, Mo., corporate wireless store.

The company plans to begin filling the positions immediately, the release said.

SEMO Area Agency on Aging changes name

The SEMO Area Agency on Aging will be known as Aging Matters beginning late this month, according to an email from public information director Ruth Dockins. The service, employees, phone number and mission remain the same, which is "providing services to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens," according to the email.

Aging Matters will host an expo and celebration from 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, and from 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Admission is free, and there will be information available as well as speakers and entertainment.

For more information, call 335-3331 or 800-392-8771.

Yule Log Cabin shows variety of holiday gifts

The Yule Log Cabin at River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Mo., is filled with displays of fall and Halloween items and Christmas items, including more than 100 decorated Christmas trees showcasing about 100,000 ornaments from around the world.

Each tree showcases a unique theme or color scheme from candyland and peacock themes to Mizzou and patriotic themes.

The trees will be on display from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Jan. 1.

Saint Frances Medical Center hosts clinic

Saint Francis Medical Center will host its ninth annual fall coaches clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the medical center's Health and Wellness Center – Entrance 8, according to a news release from Emily Sikes of marketing and public relations.

The program will focus on topics relevant to coaches and athletes, the release said. Keynote presenters for the event are Kenneth Ravizza, PhD professor of applied sport psychology at California State University, and Jim Crews, head basketball coach for Saint Louis University.

The clinic also will feature presentations by Saint Francis physiatrist and medical director of sports medicine, Jimmy D. Bowen, MD, FAAPMR, CSCS, and clinical nutrition services director Debbie Schumer, MA, RD, LD, and dynamic warm-up breakout sessions taught by Saint Francis certified athletic trainers.

To register for the clinic, call 331-3996.

ServiceMaster team attended convention

The ServiceMaster PCS team of Sikeston, Mo., attended the 2013 International Convention in St. Louis, according to a news release.

The convention featured an industry expo, awards banquet and breakout informational sessions for all ServiceMaster service lines including disaster restoration, residential cleaning and janitorial services, according to the release.

"The annual convention provides an opportunity for our team to interact with other ServiceMaster professionals," said owner of ServiceMaster PCS Virgil Jones in the release. "We are able to share tips and ideas with other leaders in the industry as well as learn about new technology and equipment, all of which leads to better service for our customers."

The purpose of the convention is to support franchise owners in all areas of business and to provide the latest training and information to franchisees.

SoutheastHEALTH awarded grant

SoutheastHEALTH was awarded a $50,000 "Grow Your Own" grant from the Missouri Hospital Association to launch its Leadership Learning Journey program, according to a news release from Mark Bliss.

The Leadership Learning Journey program is "designed to expand and enhance our leadership development and key employee training," said SoutheastHEALTH president and CEO Wayne Smith in the release.

"The funding assistance provided by the Missouri Hospital Association will truly help us grow our current and future leadership with the changing technology over the next year and beyond," he said.

Herb Kuhn, MHA president and CEO, said the "Grow Your Own" program allows hospitals to address challenges such as a shortage of educated health-care workers and managing complex health-care organizations with plans "tailored to the needs of their organizations and the communities they serve."

Man posing as pastor, surgeon steals money

A man posing sometimes as a pastor and other times as a surgeon has been copying photos of local homes for sale from online listings and advertising them on craigslist as homes he is renting out because his family was forced to travel to another country.

Bill Cole, executive broker of Realty Executives of Cape County, said his business has encountered the problem with their for-sale homes multiple times.

The man advertises the home available for rent at what would be "a fantastic deal" for a tenant, Cole said. After an inquiry about the home is made, the man responds with a story about why he must rent out his home.

Cole said after a prospective tenant wires the man the deposit, the craigslist listing is dropped and the man moves on to another house. He said emails to craiglist about the scam have so far gone unanswered, and the man is "almost impossible to stop."

Integrity calling center set to close tomorrow

Tomorrow still is the date slated for the closure of Integrity Solution Services' office at 2102 William Street in Cape Girardeau, which previously housed National Asset Recovery Solutions.

Stacy Spradling, vice president of human resources for Integrity, said the call center has seen a number of employees find new employment, and the office has hosted between 15 and 20 job fairs.

About 250 employees remain, Spradling said, and Integrity still is open to any employer wishing to host a job fair at the office.

Charter Communications chose to end its business relationship with Integrity on July 11.

The Integrity call center employed about 400 full-time employees at the time of the closure announcement.

Spradling said Integrity has received a number of inquiries from companies showing interest as new clients, including one potential client through the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

Almost all the potential companies "died on the vine," and nothing has materialized, she said.

adowning@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

400 Broadway St, Cape Girardeau, MO

710 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO

921 N Clark St, Cape Girardeau, MO

2690 Travelers Way, Jackson, MO

789 S. Mt. Auburn Rd., S Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

3363 Gordonville Rd, Cape Girardeau, MO

1219 N Kingshighway St Cape Girardeau, MO

850 County Road 321, Scott City, MO

211 St Francis Dr, Cape Girardeau, MO

Sikeston, MO

1701 Lacey St, Cape Girardeau, MO

2511 Independence St #100, Cape Girardeau, MO

2102 William Street, Cape Girardeau, MO