New library to open in May

Time is drawing near for the move to the new 40,000-square-foot Cape Girardeau Public Library at 711 N. Clark Ave. Library director Betty Martin said the library will be moving out of its temporary home at 301 S. Broadview St. after May 3 and will reopen later in the month.

Martin said it will take four days to move the library's collection of books, CDs and DVDs and office contents. Staff will also spend a few days installing new technology and training personnel.

She said the most significant technology change will be placing radio frequency tags in the library's collection of more than 100,000 items. Each book, CD or DVD will include a radio-frequency identification chip that, when placed in a return bin, will automatically update the library's systems. The system will also sort materials by type and place them on a conveyer belt that will then deposit them in a bin with other items for reshelving.

Martin anticipates the change will double business at the library, which will receive $100,000 worth of additional books, DVDs, CDs and audio books.

Once the library reopens on North Clark Avenue, a grand opening is planned.

"I can't wait for the public to see this building because it's absolutely beautiful with lots of space needed for different ages," Martin told me. "Everyone will find something they love about the building."

• Religious supply store benefits missions: A new religious supply store has opened at 14 N. Sprigg St. Proceeds from sales at the Life of Jesus help supplement various missions projects, including this year's medical missions trip to Africa, co-manager Dorothy Andersen said. The Life of Jesus store is part of the not-for-profit, faith-based Life of Jesus organization. One of the major projects is medical recycling and dist ribution of items such as walkers, slings, wheelchairs and crutches to local residents in need. The store also accepts monetary donations.

Open noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, the Life of Jesus can be reached by calling 332-1423.

• Heartland Gymnastics not closing: I recently received an e-mail from a concerned reader asking if the rumors were true that Heartland Gymnastics in Cape Girardeau was closing. Co-owner Kassi Knight-Younger told me those rumors are false.

She said the rumors have been started by some other parties in town, and she thinks their actions are childish.

"I have been in business eight years and nothing like this has ever happened," Knight-Younger said. "People will always talk about business but this is getting out of hand. I have parents wanting to know if they should pull their kids out."

• Upper cervical clinic opens in Jackson: Dr. Kendrick Morris has opened a new upper cervical clinic in Jackson. Missouri Upper Cervical Family Clinic, 1404 Old Cape Road, Suite 205, offers treatment for conditions such as neck and back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, he said. It is open 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2 to 6 p.m. Fridays. The clinic can be reached at 342-4220.
• HealthPoint to upgrade Jackson fitness center: Southeast Missouri Hospital will upgrade the facilities and equipment at HealthPoint Fitness in Jackson as part of what marketing director Mark Bliss calls a commitment to community health.

Some of the improvements include:

-- Expansion of cardio, free weight and cable system areas on the first level

-- New free weight equipment

-- New entertainment system with Cardio Theater

-- New cable system equipment

-- More cardio machines, an increase from 26 to 43

Established in 1995, HealthPoint in Jackson has nearly 1,500 members. The Jackson facility upgrades are expected to be completed by early June.

• Week offers exposure to business world for students: High school freshemen, sophomores and juniors have until April 17 to enroll in Missouri Business Week 2009. Scheduled for June 28 to July 2, the annual event now in its 24th year is sponsored by the Missouri Association of Realtors and its local member board and associations. The five-day experience will give students a hands-on approach to business education that provides students with the opportunity to work with Missouri business leaders. Students will form companies, compete in a business management computer simulation, produce television commercials and websites for their products, create a trade show display and design product logos and slogans. Workshops and presentations about team-building, leadership and business ethics will also be part of the week.

For more information on this program, visit www.missouribusinessweek.com.

• Seeking submissions for Made in Southeast Missouri: I'm looking for businesses to profile in our "Made in Southeast Missouri" series. I'm searching for businesses that make products of interest. Previous articles in the series have profiled Dexter, Mo., resident Jerry Brown, who has made more than 660 wagons for customers, Scott City's Pavestone stone producer, Nordenia USA, a local plastic manufacturer that has an international flavor, and Major Custom Cable, a Fruitland company that makes copper and fiber-optic cables for NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, AT&T and many more corporations.

I've enjoyed traveling around the region and meeting some outstanding entrepreneurs and exploring interesting businesses. Please e-mail your submissions to bblackwell@semissourian.com.

~Southeast Missourian business reporter Brian Blackwell may be reached at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.