Business Notebook: Three area companies look to hire 100-plus people

Pepsi MidAmerica, QC Corp. and Mondi International will seek more than 100 new employees during a targeted job fair June 24.

Cape Girardeau Area Magnet, an economic development organization, is hosting the job fair, which is open to all job-seekers, according to a news release sent Thursday to the Southeast Missourian.

The companies will offer a range of positions, including professional management, manager trainees, technicians, route drivers, sales representatives, merchandising staff, machine operators and others, according to the release.

The positions, the release stated, will provide applicants "opportunity to build a career through promotions, full benefits and paid vacations."

The job fair will be from 2 to 7 p.m. June 24 at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

For more information, call the Magnet office at 334-5000 or visit the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

Downtown businesses to host flea market

A group of downtown Cape Girardeau's business owners are making an effort to attract more visitors to Main Street with a special shopping event planned for Sunday.

Paula Haas, owner of Somewhere in Time Antiques at 108 N. Main St., said the Downtown Tailgate Flea Market will stretch from a city-owned parking lot at the corner of North Main Street and Broadway to another lot at Main Street and Independence Street. The market will feature "a broad array of things," Haas said, including new and vintage items from downtown stores and items brought in by vendors, such as old doors and crystals.

Some merchants will set up items in front of their stores, which Haas said will encourage shoppers to walk the length of Main Street.

The market will be from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Similar events by a downtown merchants group were held several years ago, and Haas said a newer, informal group of business owners wants to bring the market back as a bi-annual event, with another planned for the fall.

Vendors are charged $25 to participate in the market, and Haas said proceeds from the fees will go toward placing a billboard along Interstate 55, advertising downtown shopping and dining. The same group of merchants held a scavenger hunt just before the premiere of "Gone Girl" in 2014, and with the proceeds bought billboard advertising at the corner of William Street and South Kingshighway during the holidays.

For more information, call Haas at 335-9995.

Soybean breeding method gets patent

A breeding method that produces a variety of soybeans containing high oleic acid content was issued a patent late last month, according to a news release from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.

The University of Missouri, the United States Department of Agriculture, the council and the United Soybean Board partnered to develop the method that produces soybeans with three to four times more oleic acid than conventional soybean varieties. The beans can contain up to between 80 and 85 percent oleic acid, according to the release.

The oil that comes from the beans has market potential in cooking and baking, a high-heat stability and a neutral taste, the release stated.

The United Soybean Board estimates a domestic demand for soybean oil in the next eight to 10 years that will require 18 million acres of high-oleic soybean varieties, according to the release.

Union Pacific makes rail line upgrades

Union Pacific Railroad announced last week the company will spend $20 million to improve its rail line between Chester, Illinois, and the Illinois/Missouri border.

The project, which began in May and will end in October, is funded entirely by the company, according to a news release.

In 2013, the company invested the same amount in improvements to the rail line between Scott City and Chester.

The project will include replacing more than 70,000 railroad ties, installing 30,000 tons of rock ballast and replacing 15 miles of rail, according to the release.

Goals of the improvements are better train operating efficiency, reducing motorist wait times at crossings and enhancing safety, the release stated.

The work is part of a 32,000-mile network improvement project undertaken by the company this year.

Perryville firm acquires manufacturer

Schemel-Tarrillion Inc., a construction contractor in Perryville, Missouri, recently bought the BBL Construction division of Energy Panel Structures, or EPS, which manufactures trusses, steel building parts and pre-engineered buildings.

BBL Construction Inc. will become a new independent dealer for EPS, according to a news release from Schemel-Tarrillion.

The EPS facility and its employees will stay in their current location.

Richard Schemel, Tim Tarrillion and Dale Schemel own the manufacturing operations. Dale Schemel will manage the new BBL Construction Inc.

The company plans to develop the dealer network in southern states to broaden a nationwide network of 350 independent builders, the release stated.

Extension to offer HR, hiring classes

The University of Missouri Small Business Technology and Development Center of Cape Girardeau County will hold classes in June and July aimed at helping small businesses navigate the interviewing process and human-resource issues.

"How to Interview and Prep Skills Needed for the Employer," a class designed to help small business owners avoid common hiring mistakes, will be at 9 a.m. June 30 at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson.

"How to Stay Out of Trouble With Employees" will cover at-will employment, government regulations, areas to check on prospective employees and tips to stay on top of human resources issues, according to a news release. It will be held at 6 p.m. July 1 at the extension center.

Registration information is available for the classes by calling business specialist Richard Proffer at 243-3581.

Tourism expert to be at Bollinger Chamber

Patricia Wischmann, a tourism promotion professional, will speak about the importance of tourism Thursday at a meeting of the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce.

Wischmann is a global wellness consultant at TLC Wellness Center in Jackson, according to a news release from the chamber, and has a long history of experience promoting tourism. Her past activities include support for the St. Louis Iron Mountain Railway and work as a trade show representative, tour guide and bed and breakfast and history travel industry promoter.

She will speak at noon Thursday at the Marble Hill Senior Nutrition Center at 505 Third St. in Marble Hill. The meeting is open to the public.

More information is available by calling the chamber of commerce at 573-238-1174.

Jackson Manor receives accreditation

Jackson Manor nursing home in Jackson recently received Providigm's Quality Assurance and Performace Improvement Accreditation, according to a news release from the nursing home.

Facilities must conduct comprehensive and continuous coverage of care for nursing-home residents to earn accreditation, the release stated.

A quarterly review assesses information on residents, families, staff, records and observations, and the information allows the nursing home to monitor the quality of services it provides to the community, according to the release.

Marla Baughman is the administrator at the home.

El Sol adds banquet room, catering

El Sol, an authentic Mexican restaurant at 1105 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, is expanding services by opening a banquet room upstairs in the restaurant and offering catering, according to Business Today.

The banquet room can be reserved for meetings and parties and should be completed within a month.

The restaurant opened in October 2013 and offers tableside-made guacamole, indoor and outdoor seating and a bar area.

Ribbon cuttings

• Body Treats Salon and Spa, 24 N. Main St., Perryville, Missouri, will hold a ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m. June 19.
• Translectric, 300 N. Maryland, Jackson, will hold a showroom grand opening and ribbon- cutting at 10:30 a.m. June 26.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632