1999 BUSY FOR BUSINESS COMMUNITY

This is a month-by-month review of business community happenings throughout Southeast Missouri.

JANUARY 1999

3. After 15 years in business at West Park Mall, West Park Cine shows its last film. Wehrenburg Theaters opened the four-screen theater in 1983, but it has been eclipsed by the new, state-of-the-art, 14-screen Cape West, which opened in July 1997.

11. Cape Girardeau's new-car business has moved west over past decade, and within the past few months major changes have taken place. Wieser Honda Motor Co. moved into its new full-service facility at 385 Siemers Drive in the Cape West Business Park, west of Interstate 55. Cape Toyota-Suzuki became Soskin Cape Toyota-Suzuki and will observe its grand opening in early March.

11. Home Computer Service L.L.C. has opened in Cape Girardeau. The new home-based business provides a variety of in-home computer services sales, repair, upgrades and tutoring. Owner of the business is Adrain Bratcher.

12. Southeast Missouri State University's plans to build a polytechnic building are back on track. Gov. Mel Carnahan has released $129.3 million in capital improvements funds for Missouri's colleges. The money is earmarked for 28 projects on 19 college campuses. Included is $5.6 million for construction of the industrial technology building at Southeast.

14. DEXTER The city's only hospital soon will become a for-profit institution following action by its corporate membership. Dexter Memorial Hospital's corporate members vote 154-19 to affiliate with NetCare Health Systems, a Nashville, Tenn.-based management firm. NetCare should take over hospital operations between Feb. 1 and March 1.

18. Prudential Bridgeport Inc. Realtors, a real-estate firm at 109 S. Broadview, has expanded, doubling its space, according to Roger Skinner, broker-owner. The company, which specializes in residential and commercial real estate, has 15 staff members.

18. The Buck Stops Here, a variety store, will hold its grand opening at 130 S. High (the old Rozier's Store) in Jackson Jan. 25 through Jan. 30. The new store will specialize in a number of items paper products, toys, household goods, gifts, hardware and others all priced at $1, according to Kenny and Sharon Jones, owners of the new operation.

25. H & R Block of Cape Girardeau has moved to 245 S. Broadview. The new office provides more space, more tax preparers and has plenty of parking, says Diane Wichard, H & R Block district manager for Southeast Missouri. The new office contains space for 12 stations and includes 22 tax preparers.

26. A Canadian aircraft manufacturer is expected soon to announce if it will open a manufacturing plant at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The manufacturer, Zenair, which is headquartered in Toronto, is considering the airport for a plant to manufacture a two-seat training aircraft. Airport officials and the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association have been jointly negotiating with the company for the past several months.