STRICTLY BUSINESS: CATCHING UP: 'BUSINESS PIONEER' AWARD; SBA LOANS CREATE NEW JOBS

Charles and Dixie Hopkins moved to Cape Girardeau this year, but the longtime operators of Hopkins Hardware, Furniture and Appliance Store in Marble Hill were recognized for their community involvement in their Bollinger County hometown recently.

The Hopkins received the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce's "Business Pioneer" Award.

Hopkins, who is retired, is still in the retail business, however. He is a member of a group that founded Antique Center Mall more than a half-dozen years ago, and works at the antique mall part time in his retirement.

Dixie Hopkins works at Hecht's in downtown Cape Girardeau.

For years, the Hopkins were Marble Hill business partners.

Charles Hopkins was affiliated with the Hopkins Stores a number of years, from 1938 until 1984, when he retired.

He worked at his dad's store as a youngster, and following service in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II in the early 1940s, he joined the family business, which at one time included one of the largest supermarkets in Missouri.

Hopkins and his wife later owned and operated the hardware, furniture and appliance store in Marble Hill.

The Hopkins were involved in a number of community activities. Charles Hopkins is a former president of the Marble Hill Rotary Club, a past board member or the Bollinger County Development Corp., the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce and the Bollinger County Health Department.

He also served as a city alderman, Boy Scout committee chairman, and chairman of the building committee to build the First Baptist Church.

Dixie Hopkins was a charter member and first president of the Marble Hill-Lutesville Junior Women's Club. She was a chairwoman of a committee that helped establish a kindergarten, which is now part of the Woodland School District.

The Hopkins were also active in Cape Girardeau community activities, serving a number of years as volunteers for the Southeast Hospital Hospice.

The Hopkins were surprised and moved at receiving the "Business Pioneer" award.

The Hopkins were among a number of people receiving awards during the recent chamber banquet.

Liley Funeral Home was named "Business of the Year"; Rod Jetton of Jetton & James Real Estate, received the 1-Year VIP Business Achievement Award; Mayor Ben Ellis received the 10-Year VIP Business Award; and Gene Ward, who operated Ward Funeral Home until it was sold in 1979 to Ken Liley, received the 25-Year VIP Business Award.

Ken and Judy Liley have operated the funeral home for almost 20 years.

Liley had worked at the Ward Funeral home part time while he was in high school.

During the past 20 years, the Lileys have expanded, constructing a funeral home in Patton, expanding the Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery, and the Liley Monuments Works.

418 loans: 1,527 jobs

The U.S. Small Business Administration's primary lending programs resulted in more than 1,500 new jobs in Eastern Missouri during the fiscal year, ending Sept. 30.

Fifty-two businesses in 11 Southeast Missouri counties received a total of $6.8 million in SBA loans, creating 247 new jobs.

Bob Andrews, St. Louis director of the SBA that serves the eastern portion of Missouri, announced the new totals recently.

The St. Louis office, at 815 Olive in the Old Post Office, approved a total of 418 loans, totaling $59 million in Eastern Missouri and creating 1,527 new jobs in 39 counties.

SBA helps new and growing businesses meet financial needs, counsels small companies with problems and helps small businesses to acquire government contracts.

Thirteen of the fiscal year 1998 loans were in Cape Girardeau County, totaling $1.8 million and creating 74 new jobs. Scott County received 11 loans, in the amount of $1.7 million, creating 73 jobs, and St. Francois County received 10 loans in the amount of $1.9 million, creating 71 new jobs.

Other loans in Southeast Missouri include in Bollinger County, $300,000, no new jobs; six in Butler County, $500,000, 10 new jobs; four in Dunklin County, $234,000, four new jobs; one in Iron County, $185,000, two new jobs; one in Madison County, $391,000, four new jobs; one in Pemiscot County, $150,000, no new jobs; three in Perry County, $265,000, eight new jobs; and, one in Stoddard County, $150,000, two new jobs.

The lion's share of loans in the district went to the St. Louis metropolitan area. St. Louis County received 118 loans, totalling more than $18.4 million and creating 357 new jobs. A total of 68 loans were approved in St. Louis city, for $10.1 million and 384 new jobs.

The SBA will help businesses acquire loans up to $1.4 million, and has had good cooperation from banking officials. In response to the small-business community's demand for easier access to business information, the SBA is on the Internet. Its home page may be accessed at http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov

Where are the geese?

Summer has come and gone, and winter is coming on...Or, is it?

The wild Canada goose, which normally winters in extreme Southern Illinois, is moving on, apparently in search of its kind of weather -- cold weather.

With temperatures still hovering around the 60s in the Quota Zone -- Alexander, Pulaski, Jackson and Williamson counties -- the geese are traveling on.

During a census count two weeks ago, the total count in the Southern Illinois area was about 15,000.

This week's census revealed less than 10,000 of the big birds.

Hunters claimed about 600 birds during the first week of the Canada goose season -- with 553 of the victims in the Jackson/Williamson (Crab Orchard Lake) area.

The season continues to Jan. 30.

But thanks to El Nino, or some other weather phenomenon, sportsmen are really having to "hunt" their prey this year.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.