NEW BUSINESS: MIDWEST GRAIN OPENS

Russ Mothershead, president of Midwest Agri-Chemico, the first tenant at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority on the Mississippi River between Cape Girardeau and Scott City, has formed a new corporation -- Midwest Grain and Barge.

"We'll be buying and selling grain," said Mothershead. "We have leased a grain facility at Whitewater and will eventually construct grain bins in the port area."

Mothershead is owner of the Midwest Agri-Chemico and First Missouri Terminals at the port.

Dennis James has been named general manager of Midwest Grain and Barge.

"We're buying soybeans, corn and wheat," said James, who has seven years of experience in agribusiness. The company has leased the former Coop Service Center facility at Whitewater.

"We have a number of bins at the Whitewater facility," said James.

James, who joined the Mothershead operations in January, previously managed the Madison County Farm Supply at Fredericktown.