BRENNECKE CHEVROLET MERGING WITH COAD IN CAPE

Brennecke Chevrolet, 700 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson, is merging its store with Coad Chevrolet at 517 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. Brennecke Chevrolet has already merged its sales department with Coad Chevrolet, but its parts and service departments will be operating at the Jackson location until the end of September, according to Sherry Honey, assistant office manager at Brennecke Chevrolet. Those departments will then move to the Cape Girardeau location. Tim Coad purchased Brennecke Chevrolet in 1982; he also owns Coad Chevrolet. Coad said Brennecke Chevrolet is a dated facility that is not handicap accessible. He said Coad Chevrolet is remodeling its facility as part of the General Motors and Chevrolet "re-imaging" program. The re-imaging will adjust the facility, hours and services the store provides. Coad said all employees will stay with the corporation.

NEW COUNSELING CENTER OPENS IN CAPE

Heartland Counseling Center opened at 2009 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau. The center specializes in marriage and couples counseling and individual counseling for adults. Shannon Anderson is the clinical director and owner, and counselors are Shay Alderman, Teri Kluesner and Amy Vinson. Anderson also operates Tender Hearts Child Therapy Center in the same building.

HAVCO ANNOUNCES LAYOFF OF 30 EMPLOYEES

Thirty full-time employees have been laid off and some temporary positions have been eliminated from the Havco facility in Scott City, effective Aug. 2, said Havco president and CEO Bruce Bader. Havco manufactures hardwood flooring for trailers, truck bodies and containers, including intermodal domestic containers. The overseas demand for the flooring Havco provides for intermodal domestic containers weakened, causing the layoffs, Bader said. He said the lack of need for intermodal domestic containers in North America is related to the "general economic condition."

BLUFF CITY BEER TO DISTRIBUTE FOR BOULEVARD

Bluff City Beer Co. in Cape Girardeau has acquired the distribution rights of Boulevard Brewing Co., according to a news release sent Aug. 6 from Kathy Bess Holloway, general manager of Bluff City. Boulevard is Missouri's largest craft brewer and the 12th largest craft brewer in the country, the release said. Bluff City will sell the brewery's core lineup of beers throughout Southeast Missouri in 20 counties, according to the release.

THREE RIVERS NAMED ONE OF SAFEST COLLEGES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- StateUniversity.com named Three Rivers College as one of the 10 safest college campuses in Missouri for the third year in a row. The website ranks the safety of colleges and universities in the U.S., based on incidents of campus crime as reported by campus safety officials.

POPLAR BLUFF CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of commerce held a ribbon cutting Aug. 13 for Midali Cheesecakes and Confections, 1345 N. Westwood Blvd., in the Mansion Mall Commons. Lorelei Morris is the chef for the new business. The chamber also held a ribbon cutting Aug. 16 for Dunham's Sports, a new store in the Valley Plaza.

FARMINGTON CHAMBER, DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION LAUNCH WEBSITE

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Downtown Development Association and Farmington Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to launch a new website, www.downtownfarmingtonmo.org, the Park Hills Daily Journal reported. The website promotes the vitality of downtown Farmington, including a calendar to track downtown events, property listings and other items related to the downtown area. Most of the content and structure of the website is already fully functional, but some items will be populated with data in the near future. These include property listings and the business guide.

EDWARD JONES TEAM RECOGNIZED FOR CLIENT SERVICE

Cheryl Mothes, a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Jackson, and Marie Schimpf and Tracy Hillman, the branch office administrators, were honored by the firm for their performance and client service excellence. Mothes, Schimpf and Hillman were selected to attend Edward Jones' Drucker Conference at the firm's headquarters in St. Louis. The three-day meeting pools Edward Jones' financial advisers and branch office administrators for discussions with the firm's management about issues from simplifying and serving complex client solutions to achieving work/life balance. Schimpf and Hillman were also invited to Edward Jones' annual Branch Office Administrators Managing Partner's Conference Nov. 13 to 15 in St. Louis. Schimpf will represent the branch office at this conference.

WORKFORCE ADDS NEW LOCATION

Workforce Employment Solutions, based in Farmington, Mo., opened a new office at 1185 Scenic Plaza Drive in Herculaneum, Mo., bringing the company's number of regional recruitment offices to 10.

BANK OF MISSOURI EARNS FIVE-STAR RATING

The Bank of Missouri was awarded a 5-Star Superior Rating from Bauer Financial Inc., an independent bank rating company. The rating is based on a complex analysis of financial criteria, including capitalization, asset quality, profitability, liquidity and risk. Bank of Missouri has received the rating for seven straight quarters, every quarter since December 2011.

BANK OF MISSOURI GETS SOCIAL MEDIA RECOGNITION

The Bank of Missouri was included in lists of "The Top 20 Community Bank Leaders in Social Media" and "The Top 20 Community Banker Influencers on Twitter" released by the Independent Community Bankers of America. Banks were chosen based on their engagement with fans and followers, the content distributed on their social media platforms, the number of fans and/or followers they have and the frequency of posting new content. View the entire list at www.icba.org/smleaders.

PERRYVILLE OUTDOOR GETS NEW CERTIFICATION

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville Outdoor Products received 5-Paw Certification from KIOTI Tractor; it was one of 53 dealerships in North America to receive the honor in 2012. Certification is part of the KIOTI 5-Paw Dealer Excellence Program, which was created to honor dealerships that deliver outstanding overall performance in service, sales, operations and parts.

CARPET CLEANING SERVICE SOLD

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mike DeClerk, owner of Mike DeClerk's Cleaning Services, sold his business to longtime employee Ryan Wofford of Perryville, The Republic-Monitor reported. Wofford has been working with DeClerk since 2007. The business will now be known as Ryan Wofford's Carpet Cleaning. DeClerk plans to stay with Wofford for the first year.

LAKENAN INSURANCE MERGES WITH OTHER LOCATIONS

Lakenan Insurance of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., and W.E. Walker-Lakenan of Cape Girardeau and Jakcson purchased Lakenan Agency in Perryville, Mo., July 1 as equal partners, The Republic-Monitor reported. The ownership is comprised of Lee Lottes, Joe Stahly, Chad Hartle, Dog Mueller and Bill Talley. The Perryville agency will now have access to more insurance carriers, added resources and a team of experienced insurance consultants, according to Greg Lottes, who will comanage the firm with Jon Stahly and the support of the owners.

TUMBLING AND CHEER CENTER CUTS RIBBON

DEXTER, Mo. -- A ribbon cutting was held in August for Dexter Tumbling and Cheer, a training facility for young cheerleaders. The business is inside the Dexter Chamber of Commerce building at 515 W. Market St.

P.B. CHAMBER HOSTS RIBBON CUTTINGS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the following ribbon cuttings: The Cedargate, to celebrate the company's remodeled expansion and new programs; Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, for the opening of the Physicians Office Plaza; and The Bank of Missouri, now open at 2016 N. Westwood Blvd., Suite 2.

TRUCKING COMPANY GETS SAFETY AWARD

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Double GG Trucking LLC received Great West Insurance Co.'s Platinum Award for outstanding safety performance in 2012. The company, owned by Gary Greenlee, hauls freight throughout the Midwest.

STOOGES UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

Ron Cook took over ownership of Stooges in Jackson as of Aug. 10, according to an email form Ted Clark, the previous owner of the establishment. Clark said he and his wife, Judy, still work at Stooges, and he will be in charge of entertainment, while Cook adds a few items to the menu and takes care of the food.

GOLDEN NAILS OPENS ON KINGSHIGHWAY

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Aug. 15 for Golden Nails and Spa, 1430 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

WORLD FINANCE RELOCATES

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for World Finance, which moved to 1053 E. Malone Ave.

SEMO GETS AWARDS TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Southeast Missouri State University received two federal awards focused on continued entrepreneurial development, according to a news release from the university. One award was a $1 million loan through the Missouri Research Corp. to establish a "revolving, low-interest fund for new and emerging businesses in Southeast Missouri," the release said. It also said the fund will be directed toward "gap financing," or providing funds to a business for immediate payment obligations, in collaboration with a primary lender throughout Southeast Missouri. The university will receive the loan and grant assistance to create jobs and boost economic development in rural areas. According to the news release, the awards involve funding provided through three U.S. Department of Agriculture economic development programs: the Intermediary Relending Program, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker previously announced that Southeast also is among the winners of the U.S. Economic Development Administration's 2013 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. Southeast already has received $198,987 and is projected to receive a total of $994,935 throughout the five-year award. The news release said Southeast plans to use these awards to develop "a pipeline of entrepreneurs by improving access to capital, creating an exchange of ideas and innovation and promoting opportunities within the region and in Missouri.

ITALIAN RESTAURANT TO OPEN IN JACKSON

Benny Hajdari confirmed the opening of Napoli's Italian Restaurant at 1815 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson. Hajdari is from Albania and is the owner of the restaurant. He said Napoli's will open sometime in the beginning of October.

MEXICAN RESTAURANT TO OPEN ON BROADWAY

Jason Coalter, owner of the building that will house El Sol at 1105 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, is leasing the building to a private owner. Coalter said the Mexican restaurant will open in early fall, and customers can expect a fun and energetic atmosphere. He said more details of the restaurant will be released soon.

NAIL PRO CLOSES

Oanh Le, owner of Cosmo Nails and Spa in Cape Girardeau, said Nail Pro on North Kingshighway has closed. The same family owned both businesses. Oanh said Cosmo Nails will accept gift certificates from Nail Pro, as long as they are not expired.

RED LOBSTER REMODELING

Red Lobster, 3269 William St. in Cape Girardeau, has begun a seven-week remodeling process. The remodel will feature new outdoor and indoor decor, as well as new seating that can accommodate more guests.

ALTO VINEYARDS OPENS TASTING ROOM

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Alto Vineyards added a 5,000-square-foot tasting room to meet the demands of a higher number of wine tasters and to provide an event space in Southern Illinois, according to a news release from marketing director Erin Downs. The room provides a large tasting bar made from wood salvaged from a barn that stood on the property. In addition to several lounge areas, a contemporary fireplace lines the south wall, surrounded by seating. A staircase leads to the Vine Deck, a second story open-air balcony. Paul Renzaglia is owner and winemaker at Alto Vineyards. Future plans are to open a kitchen to accommodate caterers, provide a small menu for tasting guests and host weddings and events.

CONVENIENCE STORE OPENS IN DOWNTOWN CAPE

A ribbon cutting was held Aug. 21 for Main Street Station, a new convenience store at 130 N. Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau. The shop is a convenient, fast food and general store, selling everything from a slice of pizza to medicine, according to an email from the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

LEARNING CENTER OPENS IN DEXTER

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Walk 'N' Roll Early Learning Center, 1017 Arvin Road. The center serves children from birth to 12 years. It offers before- and after-school programs, a certified preschool program for children ages 3 to 5, an infant center and a toddler center. All staff are certified in first aid and CPR.

DONUT SHOP OPENS IN KENNETT

KENNETT, Mo. -- A grand opening was held Aug. 15 for Daylight Donuts, 1123 First St. in Kennett, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. They offer doughnuts and breakfast items and plan to expand the menu to include lunch items.

JACKSON DISTRICT EARNS TOP ACCREDITATION RATING

Jackson's public schools reached the highest accreditation status possible, earning an "accredited with distinction" rating in the last school year, according to annual performance reports released Aug. 23 by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Schools in Advance, Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Scott City and Marble Hill all retained at least accredited status. The 2013 reports were based on the fifth version of the Missouri School Improvement Program, a revised accountability system approved by the state board of education in 2011, according to DESE. Each school and each school district in Missouri is awarded points based on performance in five areas: academic achievement; subgroup achievement (which includes minority students and students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches); college and career or high school readiness; attendance rate; and graduation rate. Schools or school districts that score a 90 percent or above are categorized as "accredited with distinction." Those that score 70 percent or higher are "accredited." "Provisional" includes those that score a 50 to 69.9 percent, and "unaccredited" includes those schools or school districts that score 49.9 percent or lower. Cape Girardeau's public schools scored 103.5 of 140 points, or 73.9 percent. The Jackson School District scored 92.5 percent, earning 129.5 of 140 points. Scott City's schools earned 128 of 140 points, or 91.4 percent; the Advance School District scored 87.9 percent and the Woodland School District scored 83.2 percent.

CAPITAL MORTGAGE CUTS RIBBON

DEXTER, Mo. -- Capital Mortgage Solutions, 506 N. One Mile Road, Suite C in Dexter, held a ribbon cutting in August to mark its grand opening and membership in the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, the Daily Statesman reported. Owner Brandon Wooley said the company is based in Jefferson City, Mo. and aims to communicate and educate throughout the home buying process.

CVS TO OPEN IN JANUARY

The construction of CVS Pharmacy, on the corner of William Street and South Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, is on schedule, and the pharmacy is set to open in January 2014, according to Mike DeAngelis, director of public relations for CVS.

FIRST MIDWEST BANK OPENS TEMPORARY LOCATION

First Midwest Bank opened a temporary trailer banking location Sept. 9 at 1820 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, where a permanent location will be built, according to Ron Cooper, BFA compliance officer at the First Midwest Bank home office in Dexter, Mo. The bank also has locations in Jackson, Sikeston, Mo., and Dudley, Mo.

BUCHHEIT CONDUCTING SEED TESTS IN PERRY COUNTY

Buchheit Agri Division, a subsidiary of Buchheit Enterprises, 33 County Road 540 in Perryville, Mo., in cooperation with Merschman Seed of West Point, Iowa, is conducting seed tests at the new Buchheit Tech Park off Interstate 55 south of exit 123, according to Eric Hasty, CPA vice president of the Buchheit Agri Division. Studies at the park include seed depth and weed resistance studies for varieties of corn and soybeans.

AUTO TIRE AND PARTS EXPANDING

Greg Stroup of Auto Tire and Parts, 212 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, confirmed the expansion of its current facility to include the old Bunny Bread facility at William and Christine streets, which is behind Auto Tire and Parts. The business is developing the building for an expansion of its warehouse, Stroup said.

BOLLINGER CHAMBER ADDS NEW MEMBERS

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce added two new members: Chatters Cafe & Market, 110 Highway 34 in Glenallen, Mo., owned by Lena Harris, and the Patton Lions Club of Patton, Mo.

JANITORIAL, FOOD SERVICE SUPPLY NOW OPEN

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Aug. 27 for CHEM-CO Diversified, 3440 S. Westwood Blvd. The janitorial and food service supply business is owned by Dale Pigg, Chris Pigg and Joshua Pigg.

ROBINSON CONSTRUCTION GETS TOP CONTRACTOR AWARD

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Engineering News-Record recognized Robinson Construction Co. as one of the Top Contractors in the Midwest. Based on 2012 revenue for work completed in the Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin), Robinson ranked No. 87 on the ENR Midwest Top Contractors list for 2013. ENR is a weekly magazine that provides news, analysis, data and opinion for the construction industry worldwide. The magazine performs annual surveys of the largest contractors and design firms in the U.S. and internationally and ranks them based on annual revenue.

LUCENT WINDOW AND DOOR BUYS NEW FACILITY

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Lucent Window and Door Co. LLC completed the purchase of a manufacturing facility on South Tenth Street in Ste. Genevieve, the Ste. Genevieve Herald reported. Tom Bruggeman, one of the principals involved in Lucent Window and Door, announced the purchase in late August. Lucent Window and Door will be a "high-end manufacturer of wood and wood aluminum-clad windows and doors," Bruggeman said. The facility includes 14.6 acres of property and buildings totaling 221,000 square feet. The Bank of Bloomsdale took ownership of the property in a foreclosure process in August 2011. The plant has been idled since April 2011, when BiltBest Windows' last production line ceased operation.

MALDEN PHARMACY CUTS RIBBON

MALDEN, Mo. -- The Malden Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Aug. 24 for Malden Pharmacy, 214 W. Main St. Phillip Wilkins is the pharmacist on staff. The pharmacy also held a grand opening.

SEMO EDUCATION PROGRAM RECEIVES AWARD

Southeast Missouri State University received the University Professional and Continuing Education Association -- Central Region 2013 Celebration of Excellence Award for Mature Programs as a partner in the University of Missouri Statewide Cooperative Ed.D. Program. The University Professional and Continuing Education Association is the association for top leaders in professional, continuing and online education. Southeast received the award in conjunction with other state partners in the cooperative program, including the University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., Central Missouri State and Northwest Missouri State. Southeast has been part of the MU Statewide Cooperative Ed.D. program, hosted through the University of Missouri since 1997, when Southeast and other universities in Missouri decided to develop a cooperative program for outlying regions in the states. The Cooperative Ed.D. offers educational leaders or those who aspire to be educational leaders in Southeast Missouri the opportunity to participate in a quality doctoral program from the University of Missouri, with most of the course work being offered at Southeast Missouri State and being taught by Southeast faculty.

SHAMPOO SHACK HAS NEW OWNER

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Chelsea McCoin purchased the Shampoo Shack at 414 Poplar St., according to the Daily American Republic. Previous owner Mary Kee retired after 31 years as owner and stylist. McCoin is joined in the business by stylist Larissa Williams.