RUST COMMENTARY: BLACK ICE, ESTATE PLANNING: A MESSAGE?

While driving to Memphis Thursday night (for a $81 round-trip flight to Atlanta compared with a late-inquiry $700-plus from St. Louis) I hit what people are describing as "black ice." At 32 degrees temperature, the rain turned to ice on an overpass bridge at Blytheville, Ark. Thanks to my anti-skid brakes and computerized car steering, I managed to escape by slowing down to avoid other vehicles which were sliding off the highway.

One car thumped me as it slid past me on the right side.

I pulled into a truck stop and could find little damage. The Blytheville policeman who came in said that there had just been a six-car collision on that bridge, and I-55 was backed up for a mile.

It turns out (I found out this week) that were over 75 accidents in Blytheville

Thursday night. All flights were cancelled out of Memphis where 2 to 6 inches of snow and ice accumulated ... but I finally got to Atlanta after a 2 1/2-hour delay caused primarily by waiting for the airplane to be de-iced.

I thought later of the headline, "Business Man Killed on Way to Estate Planning Meeting." The ultimate control of one's life is out of our hands. There is a message there someplace.

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After being in and out of town for the last three weeks, I got back to DAVID LIMBAUGH'S Old Testament Bible study at Sunday school.

I recommend to all of you Psalms and Proverbs. Short messages ... to the point with much wisdom to think about.

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I've been having to give considerable time to my estate planning recently, and too much of the study has little to do with my children, business or goals in life.

If improperly structured, 65 percent to even 90 percent of what I've worked to build for my family and employees could be TAXED away by Uncle Sam.

I call this non-productive time necessarily spent to prevent this from happening.

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Other than aviation currency books I've been reading recently ... I've enjoyed the autobiographies of "Bloomberg on Bloomberg" and "Soros on Soros." You need to be interested in business, computers and investments before you tackle them.

Some movies I would recommend did well in the Golden Globe awards Sunday evening.

JACK NICHOLSON (a funny, talented actor), HELEN HUNT and GREG KINNEAR made "AS GOOD AS IT GETS" a don't-miss film.

"AMISTAD" and "TITANIC" are both outstanding. I was less entertained by "WAG THE DOG," which has been getting excellent reviews (probably because the concept was built upon the gullibility of the American public to accept political campaign diversion strategy). That might be more true than I'm willing to admit, but it challenged my enjoyment.

I walked out on "THE POSTMAN," which was directed, starred in and produced by KEVIN COSTNER whom I've generally liked in movies. I didn't think the picture could be as bad as the reviews ... but it was worse.

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Monday morning, SATORU AKIYAMA, president of BIOKYOWA, and his new plant manager, BILL HINKLEY, announced a major expansion and new plant facilities of approximately 48,000 square feet.

Fifty new skilled employees will be needed for their plant expected to be on line by 1999.

BIOKYOWA recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Cape (seems like yesterday).

My special compliments to MAYOR AL SPRADLING (looking good at 20 pounds lighter lost in 30 days with a 2,500-calorie diet and exercise) whose remarks always make our community look good.

Presiding County Commissioner GERALD JONES has established himself in that position with his direct, knowledgeable and insightful remarks and performance.

Both are up for election this year, and I predict they will be re-elected with comfortable margins. (Note: Both are unopposed at this writing.)

PHIL TATE of the Missouri Economic Development council again was professional and candid in representing Gov. CARNAHAN and the state of Missouri. Yes ... as he said ... there's been a lot of growth and solid economic activity in Southeast Missouri in the last two years.

JOHN MEHNER has taken up the momentum generated by previous Cape chamber president BOB HENDRIX and along with MITCH ROBINSON, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association, we have one of the best economic development teams in place in our history (when looking at the elected and professional leaders ... including DAN OVERBY, director of the Southeast Missouri Port Authority).

Incidentally the state has granted $496,310 to help with the construction of a rail spur in the industrial park to not only help Biokyowa but other industries wanting to locate in the Greater Cape Industrial Park.

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Speaking of seeming like yesterday ... 42 years ago I was playing basketball with NORM STEWART on the University of Missouri Tigers basketball team.

I bring this up because I received an invitation Monday to attend an event in Columbia congratulating Norm on his 600th coaching victory at Missouri and 700th career win as a head coach. That's an average of almost 20 victories per year AFTER Norm got his first coaching job.

And what a big victory Monday night when MISSOURI defeated third-ranked KANSAS 74-73. For the third consecutive year they've upset KU at home.

~Gary Rust is president of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian and other newspapers.