BUDGET TOPS CHAMBER BOARD'S AGENDA FOR RETREAT ON FRIDAY

Election of officers, preparations of a new budget and discussions concerning the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors' involvement in city, county, state, highway, port, university and other matters will be held during a one-day board retreat Friday at Lone Star Industries Natatorium.

Ollie Miller, president of Cape Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau, will be installed as new board chairman, succeeding Harry Rediger, whose one-year term as chairman expires.

"The retreat is actually scheduled as a two-day event," said John Mehner, chamber president. "But we're hoping to wind up our activities Friday."

A top item will be budget discussions. The chamber has lost revenues from the License Bureau and Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Six new members who have been elected to the board for three-year terms will attend the session. The new officers will start their terms in January, but all have been invited to attend the board's annual retreat.

The new board members are: John Burian, Lone Star Industries; Wayne Smith, general manager, CyberTel Inc.; Carol Keeler, KZIM Radio; Steve Engles, KBSI Fox 23; Mike Kohlfeld, Kohlfeld Distributing; and Russ Mothershead, Midwest Agri-Chemco.

Speakers from a number of groups have been invited Friday. They include state Sen. Peter Kinder, who will discuss legislative issues; Doug Wesley, city issues; and Dan Overbey, SEMO Port issues.

Robert Hendrix, president of the chamber for 21 years before retiring, will attend.

"Following the retreat, I'm going to sit back and take it easy for a while," said Hendrix.