Job fair for ex-offenders coming up

Another concept has been passed down from a bigger city to Cape Girardeau.

The Community Caring Council is hosting the first Missouri Re-entry Process ex-offender job fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 23 at the Salvation Army on Good Hope Street.

The job fair is free to employers. The purpose is to give ex-offenders the opportunity to meet potential employers who may be willing to offer them gainful employment.

If employers hire ex-offenders, they could receive up to a $2,400 tax credit and coverage through a federal bonding program.

Each year hundreds of offenders are released to area communities and gainful employment is essential to successful re-entry, according to Brian Gray, U.S. probation officer in Cape Girardeau. Offenders who are unemployed are much more likely to be returned to prison than their employed counterparts, he said.

"Given that the cost of incarceration is approximately $25,000 annually, communities are best served by assisting ex-offenders with employment and offer them a second chance, so that they can contribute to the tax base, rather than take from it," Gray said.

To participate, call Salena Hamilton or Lorrann Hatchett from the Community Caring Council at 651-3747, extension 117.

• Paul Schock, the owner of the building at the corner of Second Street East and East Hickory Street in Scott City, reopened his bar Saturday night. It's called Schock's Pub. Schock said that soon there'll be a Thursday night poker game every week, but for now the bar is only open Friday and Saturday nights.

The Southern Chef restaurant that was in Schock's building closed a couple of weeks ago. Schock said he has a new restaurant coming in June called Pig's Pit.

• Mark Hobbs recently had the grand opening of his skateboard store in Jackson. It's called Hobby's Board Sports and More. Hobbs sells skateboards, snowboards, wakeboards and clothing. He said he has about 100 decks in stock and could get any brand name on the market.

"I went on a mission to find my son a skateboard, and I couldn't find one," he said. "The park was just packed with skateboarders every time we went. That's when I said, 'Hey, we need a skate shop.'"

• Rhodes 101 Stop convenience stores have started their advantages program. Signing up is free. The talking machine at the gas pump will tally the amount of gallons you purchase when you register the tag. Every gallon of fuel purchased earns you 10 points. When you get to 750, you make a dollar.

There's a separate rewards system for in-store purchases. Each dollar you spend gets you 20 store credits. Once you make it to 750, you earn your dollar coupon. The tag also keeps track of coffee and soda purchases. Once you make it to seven, you get the eighth beverage for free.

• A few weeks ago I wrote about the construction taking place at 20 N. Main St. The owners of the property, Rene and Guy Tomasino, are having an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. May 26 and 27 to let the public see the finished product. Last time I spoke with the Tomasino's exclusive listings agent, Jane Clark of Century 21 Key Realty, she said the Tomasino's have more plans for Old Town Cape. The Tomasinos are in the process of closing the deal on another downtown building.

Tim Krakowiak is the business editor at the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, tkrakowiak@semissourian.com or (573) 335-6611, extension 137