MEMOS

Coming Up:

April 6 -- Business Conference, Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau. "Managing the Transition Into the 21st Century," 335-3312.

April 7-8 -- Quinstate Economic Development Conference, Executive Inn, Paducah, Ky., with representatives from five states -- Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. Contact Rick Sparks, Jackson, 243-3581.

April 9 -- "Home-Based Business Workshop," University Center, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 290-5965.

How to start a business, obtain capital, target markets and improve cash flow and profits are among topics to be discussed during a "Home-Based Business Workshop," to be held in the Riverboat Room of the University Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University April 9.

The morning seminar, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center of the university and is designed for persons interested in starting their own business, either at home, or in a commercial location.

Bernie Sarbaugh, coordinator for Technology for Missouri at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, will present the program.

Cost for the workshop is $25. Additional information is available by calling 290-5965.

Century 21 Ashland Realty, 105 S. Broadway, Cape Girardeau, has joined Century 21 Commercial Investment Network (CIN).

"CIN is an international group of Century 21 commercial brokers who bring business and commercial buyers and sellers together," said Herb Annis, owner of the realty firm. "It means improved commercial real estate service to Cape Girardeau, because locally-owned business and commercial properties can now be marketed throughout the nation and foreign countries."

Tractor Supply Co., which moved into new facilities at 501 N. Kingshighway recently, will celebrate its grand opening April 4.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m.

The new store has 18,750 square feet, an increase of about 7,500 over its previous location.

The entrance vestibule, loading docks and road signs will be installed after the interior work has been completed.

TSC, headquartered in Nashville, was founded in 1938 and is celebrating 55 years of service. The company operates 150 stores in 21 states.

Southwestern Bell will present a seminar to discuss the Missouri "Information Superhighway" April 4 at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

"Ticket to the Future" is the theme of the program, which starts at 4 p.m. with refreshments and social hour," said Craig Felzien, area manager-community relations for Southwestern Bell. "The actual program starts at 5 p.m. and will end about 6 p.m."

Tip of Illinois Health Services, Inc., recently received the "Business of the Year" award presented by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

Geraline Pentsil, branch manager of the Cairo Tip office, accepted the award from Mary Ann Simpson, past president of the Cairo Chamber.

Tip, the area's largest provider of health care services in the home with 10 offices throughout Southern Illinois, opened its Cairo office in 1976. The company serves the lower 20 Southern Illinois counties, providing physical therapy, nursing, speech therapy, home health aide and hospice services.

Shoney's, Inc. reported record revenues for the first quarter, ending Feb. 20, 1994.

Revenues for the 16-week period increased seven percent to $339,220,000, up from the $317,672,000 for the same period a year ago. Net income increased from $12.1 million to $19.6 million and earnings were 45 cents per share, compared with 29 cents during the first quarter of 1993.

Shoney's, Inc., which opened nine restaurants during the quarter, has a total of 1,867 restaurants in 36 states and Canada. The company has two restaurants in Cape Girardeau, Shoney's at the intersection of West Street and Route K, and Captain D's at 1015 N. Kingshighway.

ERA Cape Realty of Cape Girardeau, 2121 Broadway, has received the President's Award from Electronic Realty Association for its 1993 fund-raising efforts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

The award was presented during the 1994 ERA International Business Conference, held recently in San Antonio, Tex.

ERA Cape Realty raised more than $5,000 in 1993 through a variety of fund-raising activities to fight muscular dystrophy.

ERA, headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is the sole MDA corporate sponsor from the real estate industry. Since 1977, the worldwide real estate franchise organizations has raised almost $15 million for MDA, including $1.2 million in 1993.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Kansas City, has earned an "A" rating from Thomson BankWatch, Inc.

The "A" rating is the highest category issued by Thomson BankWatch, which recognizes only 13 other banking organizations in that category nationwide.

Commerce, which has a branch operation in Cape Girardeau, was previously ranked A/B by Thomson.

Thomson BankWatch has been designated as a National Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm monitors a wide range of banks, thrifts, finance companies and securities firms around the world.

Commerce, which has 160 locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas, is also ranked A-1 by Standard & Poors and P-1 by Moody's.

ST. LOUIS - Anheuser-Busch has announced plans to repurchase 25 million shares, or about 9 percent, of the company's outstanding common stock.

The company said the purchase is part of its strategy to utilize cash flow to enhance shareholder value.

"While our top priorities are to further enhance our position in the U.S. beer industry and develop our international beer business, we recognize the important role of more direct returns to our shareholders via share repurchases and dividend increases," said August A. Busch III.

No timetable was set for the latest repurchase program.