Few details on Capri subcontracting process

Isle of Capri isn't revealing much about its process to select subcontractors for the $125 million casino project in Cape Girardeau.

Companies interested in bidding on portions of the casino project were required to submit prequalification documents by July 15, according to a public notice printed in the Southeast Missourian. Isle of Capri spokeswoman Jill Alexander would not say how many companies had submitted prequalification packets or provide a list of the companies. She also declined to comment on when bid packages for the project would be made available to contractors.

Isle of Capri Casino Inc. selected the "joint venture team" of St. Louis-based S.M. Wilson & Co. and Roy Anderson Corp of Gulfport, Miss., to manage construction of the new casino. Fronabarger Concreters Inc. continues work to relocate North Main Street around the casino site.

The development site is now considered an active construction site, which means full safety gear is required, Alexander said. Spectators interested in seeing what's going on at the site were urged to keep their distance for safety reasons on the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Facebook page last week.

* Clearing property: Work to demolish houses and clear vegetation from property in South Cape near Maple Street, Giboney Avenue, Elm Street and Ranney Avenue has many wondering what's going on there. Earl Norman of Benton Hill Investment Co. and Lorimont Place Ltd., who owns the property, said he's clearing it in an effort to make the property more attractive to potential buyers. There are no specific development plans for the site yet, he said. While Norman does have dreams of seeing the area used as a sports complex someday, the clearing work going on there doesn't mean those plans are moving forward, he said.

* Dollar General Store coming to Fruitland: A Dollar General Store under construction near Fruitland is slated to open this fall. The store is being built at 5735 U.S. 61 and will have 9,026 square feet. It will employ six to 10 people, depending on need, said Emily Weiss, Dollar General spokeswoman. Job applications are available online at www.dollargeneral.com.

Although the store is getting closer to completion, Weiss said, she could not confirm an opening date. Dollar General offers both name-brand and private label health and beauty products, cleaning supplies, housewares, stationery, seasonal items, basic apparel and packaged food. The new store will have coolers at the front for refrigerated foods like dairy products, lunch meats and frozen foods.

* Chamber director search: A committee of Jackson Chamber of Commerce members has reviewed several applications for director, according to chamber president Jason Wray. The committee has conducted phone interviews already. In-person interviews are scheduled during first week of August, Wray said.

"At our August board meeting, I hope to give a firm recommendation," Wray said. Former executive director Brian Gerau's last day was Friday. He accepted a position as senior development officer with the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation.

* New salon opens: Joseph West Design Studio is now open at 1405 Thomas Drive in Cape Girardeau. West previously worked at Bella Dona Salon. He has 11 years of experience in two St. Louis salons and has been a Redken hair color educator for the past four years. Working with him are stylists Wanda Anderston, Cheryl Noel, Kara Keys, Rebecca Wilcox and Dustin Troutwine. For more information, visit www.josephwestdesignstudio.com.

* CyberKnife technology now in use: Patients at Saint Francis Medical Center now have a noninvasive alternative for treating tumors anywhere in the body. The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is at Saint Francis' Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute, which opened earlier this month. Because it delivers beams of high-dose radiation with extreme accuracy, it is ideal for patients with inoperable or surgically complex tumors.

* Rentless recognized for Red Cross video: Relentless Media Productions of Jackson recently received a silver Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation, the country's oldest national advertising trade association. The recognition is the latest award for a video documentary promoting the services of the American Red Cross of Southeast Missouri, said Halee Janes, Relentless director. Relentless had already received a gold international Ava Award as well as a gold local Addy Award for the video. Earlier this year, Relentless took home a platinum international Ava Award for the production and creation of a short film/promo for a video titled "Belonging to the Lord." Relentless works with clients both nationally and internationally, including Case IH, Valmont Industries, Siemens Power Generation and International Missions.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.