Nominate the movers, shakers and newsmakers of 2009

Once again it's time to send in those nominations for people in the local business community who have made a difference in their work and community. Nominees will be selected for Business Today's upcoming feature recognizing area movers and shakers.

Unlike last year's Top 40 Under 40, which recognized people younger than 40, this year's feature does not have an age requirement. That opens it up to a larger pool of well-deserving people, special sections editor Callie Clark Miller said.

Nominees must reside in Business Today's coverage area of Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Perry, Scott and St. Francois counties. A total of twenty-five people will appear in the March issue.

Nominating someone is very simple. Visit semissourian.com/forms/who to fill out an online form.

Nominations are due Feb. 1.

* Jaspers demolition planned today: Crews are expected to begin demolishing the Jaspers at 1008 N. Kingshighway today. Keith Boeller of Pajco Inc., which owns Jaspers, said the convenience store will not be turned into a Rhodes 101. Boeller said the company plans to "repurpose" the site but declined to comment further for now. He said in a few weeks he'll share additional information.

This is the second Jaspers to close in preparation for a makeover. Earlier this month crews began the demolition of the Jaspers at 3618 E. Jackson Blvd., which will reopen as a Rhodes 101 this spring.

* Blair Packaging ceases manufacturing operations on Sheridan Drive: Nearly a year after an ice storm heavily damaged the roof of Blair Packaging's building at 24 Sheridan Drive, the building is nearing completion but won't be used for manufacturing anymore. Spokesman Joe Bullock said once the building is complete the company plans to use a portion of the building for warehouse and storage.

Blair Packaging is instead beefing up its efforts at the Scott City location, adding on to an existing building while constructing an additional facility.

Within 60 days the building on Sheridan Drive should be inhabitable, Bullock said.

Since February crews have cleaned and reconstructed the building. Most recently three large wooden trusses that were destroyed by the ice storm were replaced by steel trusses. Each truss weighs about 13,000 pounds.

* Wonder Bread Hostess shop closes: The Wonder Bread Hostess shop at 870 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau closed Jan. 11. Corporate officials e-mailed me last week, saying the decision was because of the economic conditions.

"It's unfortunate that the decision was made to close the Cape Girardeau store, however, after evaluating the outlet's business, it was clear that it was no longer a profitable location," the e-mailed statement said.

* Saint Francis plans future expansion: Saint Francis Medical Center -- which purchased Immediate HealthCare, a freestanding urgent care center with more than 40,000 annual visits -- has also purchased an adjacent property west of the building for future expansion. Its name changed to Immediate Convenient Care on Jan. 1.

"The purchase of Immediate HealthCare's Cape Girardeau location provides Saint Francis with the opportunity to expand services for urgent care needs in the five-state region and provide another health care delivery location for urgent care, primary care and occupational medicine," spokeswoman Emily Sikes said.

* Pasta House reopens at new location: For the past few weeks crews have been transforming the former Jimmi's Restaurant into the Pasta House.

On Friday, the Pasta House opened at 2406 William St.

In early December, Edward Goergen, a partner with Primo Restaurants, announced the Pasta House was moving from West Park Mall to the building on William Street that has been vacant since early March.

Two questions remain.

First, will Pasta House do what Jimmi's and previous tenants couldn't: Survive at that location? My guess is because it's a well-established restaurant, it will be just fine.

Second, will another restaurant fill the vacant space left by Pasta House in the mall?

* Pest control business opens: A pest control business has opened an office in Cape Girardeau.

Based out of Springfield, Mo., Bug Zero has expanded into Cape Girardeau, establishing an office at 2128 William St., Suite 108. The business offers residential and commercial clients their services.

Originally from Leopold, Mo., co-owner Chris Horrell said the company saw the need to expand into Southeast Missouri.

"We're wanting to offer a good, solid pest control service and grow the business," Horrell said. "Our Springfield office served Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas clients and this location will allow us to offer our services to people on this side of the state."

Bug Zero can be reached at 803-7828. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

* Cape Air ribbon cutting: Airport officials and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m. Thursday to celebrate the area's newest airline at 860 Rush H. Limbaugh Jr. Memorial Drive.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Brian Blackwell may be contacted at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.<I>