Company adding grain bin at SEMO Port

Midwest Grain and Barge Co. and First Missouri Terminals Corp. of Cape Girardeau is expanding its grain storage facility at SEMO Port.

Construction is underway on a new 120,000-bushel grain bin, which will more than double the current storage capacity, according to Matt Zimmerman, general manager of Midwest Grain and Barge.

"This new bin will allow us to serve our grain producers even better by providing them faster weighing and unloading of their crops," he said. "Reducing their time at the elevator allows them to keep their combines rolling."

Agri-Systems of Cape and Jackson Inc. and Bruce Martin Construction Inc. are contractors on the project.

The storage bin is expected to be completed in time for the local wheat harvest.

Midwest Grain and Barge began operations in 1998 and is a tenant of First Missouri Terminals Corp. at SEMO Port. It is a locally owned and operated grain merchandiser of corn, soybeans, wheat and specialty grains.

* Dale Carnegie graduates announced: Nine people were among Hendrickson Business Advisors' first group of Dale Carnegie Course graduates. During the course the participants focused on self-confidence, building relationships, motivation, effective communication, stress and worry management, and leadership skills. The graduates are: Brandon Blattel and Todd Marchi of Marco Construction Products; Craig Bohnsack of Murphy Business of Cape Girardeau; Shad Burner, Brian Holdman and Bruce Skinner of Southeast Missouri State University; Ashley Kassel of Financial Planning Advisors Inc.; Cheryl Klueppel of American Red Cross, Southeast Missouri Chapter; and James Witt of Unimin Specialty Minerals. Hendrickson Business Advisors will conduct The Dale Carnegie Course again beginning Sept. 8. For more information, call 335-1885 or email rhett@hendricksonbusinessadvisors.com.

* Southeast Home Health awarded: Southeast Home Health has been recognized nationally as the Home Health Quality Improvement Agency of the Month for June. Southeast Home Health offers a comprehensive disease management program, which includes emergency care plans. "This disease management program is the cornerstone for reducing our acute-care hospitalizations," said home care administrator Sheila Beussink. The Home Health Quality Improvement Campaign has 8,523 participants from 4,753 agencies across the nation. The voluntary initiative seeks to reduce avoidable hospitalizations and improve the management of oral medications for home health patients. To learn more, visit homehealthquality.org.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.