Visitors bureau brings original flex-fuel vehicle tour to Cape

Want to get a close-up look at the original flex-fuel vehicle?

Cape Girardeau residents and visitors will get that chance in September when the Heart of the Ozarks Model T Ford Club brings its annual "Hillbilly Tour" to town over the Labor Day weekend. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Model T, or "Tin Lizzy," the car that was built to be affordable to every household.

When Henry Ford first offered the Model T in 1908, it cost $815. By the time production ceased in the 1920s, the cost had fallen to $300 per car. The Model T ran on gasoline or alcohol, and the Ford Motor Co. maintained a chain of stations selling ethanol so owners could obtain fuel.

The visit in September is one of several new events the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau has landed to fill out the tourism calendar this year, said Chuck Martin, executive director of the CVB.

"Basically how we approach business is we try to get a myriad of different things that over the course of the year are going to get substantial nights of lodging," Martin said.

Based on reports from other areas where the Hillbilly Tour has visited, more than 100 of the vintage automobiles, some restored to original condition and some transformed into hot rods, will take part in the event. And the club won't just bring the cars in for display, Martin said. Motorists will see them on the road, including a drive to the Stars & Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, Mo.

Other events that will bring substantial numbers of visitors on tap for this year include the national convention of VietNow, the Vietnam-era veterans association, and a convention of the Eastern Star, an international Masonic organization, in October, Martin said.

• A bit of old Ireland: The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will pass judgment on the application of Shamrock's Irish Pub to obtain a liquor license for its location at 10 Plaza Way. The pub is the latest business venture of Debby Erlbacher, owner of Francine's Gardens, 28 N. Pacific St.

Erlbacher said she hopes to open the Irish-themed pub on by March 1, with a grand opening event focused on St. Patrick's Day. "I took a space that allowed me to have an outdoor space so if we go non-smoking, I can put in a 40-by-40-foot deck," she said.

Erlbacher unsuccessfully sought to change the city's code to allow her to obtain a liquor license for Francine's Gardens, where she holds weddings and receptions. But with neighbors objecting to the possible expansion of the offerings at Francine's, Erlbacher decided to open the bar so she could be her own liquor caterer during weddings.

"Before I was handing a chunk of the profit to another bar," Erlbacher said. "That is really the only choice they left me. I don't know that I really wanted to own a bar myself."

Shamrock's will be operated by Erlbacher's son, Andrew Steger, and Erlbacher plans to make it a venue for live music. She also plans to install a kitchen, but that will take about eight months, she said. Before that, she will bring food from another location for special events at Shamrock's, she said.

• Restaurant changes hands: The China Garden Buffet, 213 S. Kingshighway, is under new ownership. Guo Shun Feng, a 24-year-old native of China, took over the restaurant from his cousin, Qing Hong Wu, as of Jan. 18.

Feng said he's been in Cape Girardeau for about 45 days, coming from New York City, where he worked in several restaurants over the past 3 1/2 years. "My whole family is here," he said. "I have two sisters and two brothers here."

They all are joining Feng at the restaurant, he said.

Loyal customers shouldn't see any change in the restaurant's food or service, he said.

Cape Girardeau is definitely a change from New York, Feng said. "It is a nice place," he said. "There are nice people here."

• Rural Internet: A state task force headed by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder released its findings on rural high-speed Internet access and recommends that the state provide incentives to providers to expand their service offerings, help for consumers to increase their use of the broadband options that are available and creation of a fund to provide assistance in high-cost areas for companies to invest in the infrastructure needed to access broadband offerings.

The full report can be downloaded from Kinder's office Web site at www.ltgov.mo.gov.

• From the press release file: Does your business employ a worker older than 55 who demonstrates loyalty, dependability, self-motivation and the ability to learn new skills? Well, it is time to nominate them for the 18th annual Older Worker of the Year Award from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Nominated workers must be employed at least 20 hours a week.

To nominate someone, log on to the department's Web site at www.dhss.mo.gov. Completed nomination forms must be in the department's hands by March 14. The winner and regional finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Jefferson City later this year.

New chiropractic office: Dr. Chris Charlton has opened Scott County Chiropractic in Scott City. The office at 2230 Main St. He is the son of a chiropractor who practiced in Europe.

Rebuilding Taum Sauk: AmerenUE estimates that the two-year process of rebuilding the Taum Sauk pumped-storage hydroelectric plant in Reynolds County will directly employ 300 people, many from the 10-county area surrounding the plant.

The Taum Sauk reservoir collapsed in December 2005, sending a torrent through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park that swept the park ranger and his family from their home, devastated the popular tourist destination and led to a lengthy investigation of the plant's operations. Ameren recently settled with the state of Missouri following protracted negotiations and political fighting between Gov. Matt Blunt and Attorney General Jay Nixon over who was in charge of reaching an agreement.

Ameren plans to spend $450 million total to rebuild the reservoir.

Rudi Keller is the business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at rkeller@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 126