NEW BUSINESS: BUCHHEIT TO OPEN 5TH STORE

Buchheit Inc., headquartered at Biehle, a family owned company founded 65 years, will open its 5th store in early 1999.

The newest Buchheit's will locate in the current 50,000 square foot Wal-Mart building, 1011 S. Perryville Blvd. Wal-Mart is in the process of constructing a new, 109,000 square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Buchheit plans to enlarge the building.

The building will undergo complete remodeling, inside and out, said Jim Meyer, Buchheit's design and construction manager. Construction is expected to get under way in November, with opening scheduled for the first quarter of next year.

"We're excited about the convenience of the Perryville location offer our existing customers," said Tim Buchheit, company president. "We want to offer area customers a wide assortment of quality merchandise, friendly service and competitive prices."

At this time, Buchheit sees no changes in the Biehle store location.

Buchheit's was founded in 1934 by Rudy Buchheit, and now has four stores open -- Biehle, Herculaneum, Sparta, Ill. and Jacksonville, Ill.

Other Buchheit operations include a feed manufacturing facility, fertilizer plant, seed-cleaning operation and a transportation division, all located at Biehle.

Buchheit's provides a large selection of merchandise -- building materials, hardware, farm products, work clothing and general merchandise.