JESS BOLEN PLUMBING AND HEATING OPENS

Jess Bolen Plumbing and Heating opened Monday in Cape Girardeau.

"I've been in the plumbing business 32 years," said Bolen, a native of Cape Girardeau who has worked with A.E. Birk & Son the past decade.

"Actually, I worked for the Birk firm a total of about 18 to 20 years off and on," said Bolen.

The Birk firm announced recently that it was closing after 69 years in Cape Girardeau. "We will continue to service Birk customers," said Bolen. "We have the A.E. Birk company telephone number at our house. Customers can get the same serviceman by dialing the same number."

Bolen, who has served on the city's plumbing board and is a member of Local 562 of Plumbers and Pipefitters union, said he would operate out of his home.

"We'll specialize in service and remodeling work," he said. "I'd like to enjoy the same type of success with this new business that I've enjoyed managing the Cape Girardeau Capahas baseball team," he said.

Bolen has coached the Capahas 26 years, and has taken the team to the National Baseball Congress tournament 12 years in a row.

Bolen and his wife, Mary, reside in Cape Girardeau.