STRICTLY BUSINESS: CAPE BUILDING PERMITS TOP $13.5 MILLION IN FIRST QUARTER

Construction continues on Saxony Village, an expansion of the Lutheran Nursing Home.

The $12.5 million expansion, which was announced in August, will include 18 duplex apartments, 40 assisted-living suites and an apartment complex with more than 100 apartments.

A duplex display apartment has been completed and is occupied, framework is visible on other buildings and building permits for more than $4.5 million were issued last month, the largest permit issued this year by the Cape Girardeau Inspection Services.

"March was a busy month here," said Rick Murray, building inspector and supervisor of the inspection service. "We issued permits for more than $13.5 million last month."

This total is up 44 percent from the $7.5 million of first-quarter construction in 1994.

"The big difference has been some large commercial projects," Murray said.

Southeast Missouri Hospital received a permit for more than $2.7 million for renovations to its lobby area and a second permit for $265,000 for construction of a new loading dock and other remodeling. Adding to the commercial total were permits for a $1.4 million warehouse for River Eagle Distribution Co., and $739,946 for McCombs Funeral Home.

New home starts dropped during the first quarter in Cape Girardeau. During the first quarter of 1994, 29 starts accounted for $3.5 million. Only 17 starts were reported for the first three months of 1995, in the amount of $2.4 million.

"We're off to a good start for second-quarter permits," Murray said. "We've been busy in April."

Included in early April permits have been $750,000 for footings and foundation work on a strip shopping center at 3035 William; $375,000 for construction of a go-cart track at 610 Commercial and $325,000 for a physician's office at 1702 N. Kingshighway.

Although permits were issued for only three residential homes the first two weeks of the month, worth $335,000, several residential expansion permits were issued for additional rooms, carports and other projects worth more than $150,000.

It all adds up to about $16 million of construction starts for 3 1/2 months this year, or more than a third of 1994 totals which were the second best in the history of the city.

City building permits for more than $38 million were issued last year. The exact figure was $38,878,446.

The record year for construction was 1992, at $47.9 million.

Plans "speculation" building

The Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association is working with a number of area groups to build a "spec" building in the Nash Road Industrial Park.

Current plans call for a 200-x-300-foot, 60,000-square-foot speculative building on an eight-acre tract.

A spec building is an asset to business recruiting efforts, said Mitch Robinson, the association's executive director.

"Numbers we get from the state show that 70 to 80 percent of companies look to locate into a spec building," Robinson said.

The building is being designed by the Cape Girardeau architectural firm of Sebek, Alberson and Associates. It is hoped, Robinson said, that plans will be ready for bid by June.

Groups working with the recruitment association include Union Electric, the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corp., the Industrial Development Authority of Cape Girardeau County and a number of banks.

Regional air travel up

Air travel was up at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport during the first quarter.

The passenger count, at 360 in January, has increased steadily, to 413 in February and 512 in March, for a total of 1,285, up from the 1,138 passengers during the first quarter of 1994.

First-quarter enplanements during the past five years show 1,028 in 1991, 998 in 1992, 946 in 1993, 1,138 last year and 1,285 this year.

The local airport will co-sponsor the Missouri Airport Manager's Association spring conference next month with Malden's airport.

About 50 people are expected for the May 11 and 12 conference at Drury Lodge.

A search is still on

The search continues for "Jim Beam," and an extra attraction has been added to the 200th anniversary year activities -- barrel rolling.

"Everything is set for the June barrel rolling event," said Matt Simpson, a spokesman for the anniversary event. "It will be held in June on Bourbon Street in New Orleans." The street has been officially renamed Jim Beam Bourbon Street during the week of June 15.

Joining the festivities in "N'awlins" will be Archie Manning, former all-pro New Orleans Saints quarterback, who will serve as master of ceremonies.

Also to be on hand for the June 15 event will be the Guiness World Book of Records record-holders Steve Hewitt and Phillip Randle of Great Britain, who will coach and referee the competition.

Meanwhile, entries for the Jim Beam name contest will accepted until May 1. Booker Noe, a master distiller for Jim Beam Bourbon, is conducting a $100,000 search for all Americans bearing the same name as his legendary grandfather, Jim Beam.

To date, two entries have been recorded from Missouri.

To be eligible for a share of the "inheritance," Jim or James must be the FIRST given name and BEAM the surname. To enter, anyone 21 or older named Jim or James Beam may call 1-800-747-8643, extension 4200, for an official contest entry.

The big celebration will be in Clearmont, Ky., in October, when Jim Beams from throughout the world may join Noe to receive a share of the inheritance. Noe will divide the $100,000 among the Jim Beams who attend the bourbon company's anniversary party Oct. 13.

Noe's great-great-great grandfather, Jacob Beam, started the family's bourbon-making tradition in 1795 when he created his first barrel of bourbon. Noe will meet with his "long-lost Jim Beam relatives" on the front porch of the historic T. Jeremiah Beam home on the distillery grounds.

More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in the festivities.

New on the business scene

Schlotzski's Deli will open in Lorimont Place this summer.

Schlotzki's Deli, which specializes in a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza and baked goods, has more than 400 franchised restaurants nationally.

The Cape Girardeau facility will occupy 1,600 square feet at Lorimont, 174 S. Mount Auburn Road. The Lorimont restaurant will feature dine-in, carry out and patio dining in the arbor area.