NEW BUSINESS: `FURNITURE MECHANIC'

Jim Keusenkothen makes house calls.

Keusenkothen takes care of broken chairs, tables with scratches and nicks, and other ailing furniture. He has acquired the local "Furniture Medic" franchise.

Keusenkothen of Jackson has a number of years of experience working in the furniture industry.

He also completed an intensive training program at Furniture Medic's world headquarters in Memphis, Tenn.

Furniture Medic has pioneered an "on-site" method of furniture restoration and repair.

Services include repair of scratches, cigarette burns, finish imperfections, water marks, broken joints and other types of damages. A new state-of-the-art technique permits stripping of furniture, kitchen cabinets and other wood applications on site in a fraction of the time usually needed, said Keusenkothen.

"This will be a full-time business for me," said Keusenkothen, whose on-site operation will provide business and residential service in Cape Giardeau, Scott, Perry and Bollinger counties.

Furniture Medic was founded four years ago and has expanded to more than 500 sites in the United States, Canada, France and Brazil.