Business briefs

SIKESTON CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting recently for the Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium, which has a new office at 903 Kingshighway, Suite A. The organization, originally located in Sikeston, moved from Portageville, Mo., in September. CEO Cynthia Dean said the new office is more centrally located for its five-county service area. The chamber also held ribbon cuttings for Atmos Energy's new office at 1024 Linn St., and for Oasis Massage and Bodywork's new location at 609 S. Main St.

COLDWELL CHANGES HANDS

Coldwell Banker Select changes hands - pictured are Ken Ruth, Harriet Drusch, Gary Turner, Shelba Turner George Callis, Paula Mayfield, Ken King, Shari McConnell, Ken Inman, Chris Mathes and Jennifer Dunn. (submitted photo)

Gary Turner, Harriet Drusch and Ken Ruth purchased Coldwell Banker Select Realtors from Mike Mathes.

JEWELRY STORE OPENS IN KENNETT

KENNETT, Mo. -- Brian Chancey opened Chancey's Jewelry Design and Repair Center at 1615 Russell St. Chancey, a Kennett-area native, previously owned a jewelry business in Biloxi, Miss.

NESTLE PURINA RECEIVES HIGHEST QUALITY AWARD

ST. LOUIS -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke named the Nestle Purina PetCare Co. as a 2010 recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. Nestle Purina's Bloomfield, Mo., plant is among the company's 20 manufacturing facilities and 7,000 associates who earned the award. The award recognizes organizations that show consistent excellence in the areas of leadership; customer and market focus; strategic planning; process management; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; and results. Nestlé Purina is the first consumer packaged goods company to receive the Baldridge Award, as well as the first pet food manufacturer to receive the award.

WORK UNDERWAY FOR CAPE'S CITY CENTRE

The former Rust & Martin building, 2502 Tanner Drive, Cape Girardeau, is being transformed into a new multibusiness development called City Centre. Developer Jeff Maurer said he wants to mimic the feeling of downtown Cape Girardeau by using reclaimed brick pavestones, slate and marble storefronts and French-inspired iron gates. Mike Rust of Rust & Martin was responsible for the interior design work at City Centre. Three businesses -- LeBounce, an indoor inflatable play center; The Source Yoga and More; and Cafe Soupe -- are already slated for City Centre, scheduled to open in late January. Other store spaces are still available. The Source will be operated by Lauren Jones of Cape Girardeau and offer a variety of yoga, Pilates, dance, qigong, tai chi and meditation classes. Cafe Soupe will serve soups, salads and sandwiches with seating in the building's courtyard area.

NEW SHOP HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting recently for Three Generations, 520 E. Main St., Park Hills. The shop, in Ragsdale Plaza, sells a variety of new and resale items, including dishes, furniture, jewelry and crafts.

CAPE PONDEROSA CLOSES

Cape Girardeau's Ponderosa Steakhouse closed its doors Dec. 5, reported the Southeast Missourian. A representative from owner Adco Partnership of Paducah, Ky., wouldn't comment on the restaurant's closing or say how many employees were affected. According to a worker who asked not to be identified, the company told employees the restaurant was no longer profitable.

THREE RIVERS DEXTER CENTER TO OPEN THIS MONTH

Three Rivers Dexter center to open this month (submitted photo)

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers College is moving into its new off-campus center at 515 West Market St., off One Mile Road in Dexter, Mo. A front portion of the building will continue to be used by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, while the remaining space now includes classroom facilities. Classes in the Dexter Center are set begin Jan. 18. In addition to day and evening general education courses, the Dexter Center will deliver training in the medical coding option of the information systems technology degree, as well as a green diesel technology program. Three Rivers chose Bill Hampton of YHC-TV in Dexter as the center's coordinator. He has over 20 years of education and business management experience. The Three Rivers Center at Dexter is a partnership of Three Rivers College, Stoddard County Learning Center, Stoddard County Development Authority, the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and the City of Dexter.

COUNSELING CENTER EARNS ACCREDITATION

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities announced that the Community Counseling Center has been accredited for a period of three years. CARF reviews and accredits all aspects of agency operation, including governance, administration standards and general program standards for case management/services coordination, community housing, community integration, crisis intervention, outpatient treatment, intensive family-based services and more. This is the third three-year accreditation the Community Counseling Center has been awarded by CARF. The counseling center has offices in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Madison, Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties.

EXPANSION AT OSAGE CENTRE COMPLETED

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department held a ribbon cutting Dec. 16 at the recently expanded Osage Centre. The 13-year-old facility is one of Cape Girardeau's most-used facilities for meetings, special events and recreational play and fitness. The building, originally 34,000 square feet, now has 52,017 square feet of space and more than 200 additional parking spaces.

KENNETT THEATER, OTHERS SHUT DOWN

KENNETT, Mo. -- The AMC Kennett One, formerly known as the Palace Theater and the Kennett Theater, closed its doors after the last showing on Nov. 28, reported the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Justin Scott, director of public relations for AMC Theaters, based in Kansas City, Mo., said the Kennett theater was identified as one that no longer competes effectively in the marketplace. Other local theaters to close include The Richmond in Senath, Mo.; The Joy in Hayti, Mo.; The Gem and The Rogers in Caruthersville, Mo.; The Shannon in Portageville, Mo.; The Ford in Rector, Ark.; The Carolyn in Piggott, Ark.; and The Liberty in Malden, Mo. Also included in the lineup were Tommie's Drive-in and the Holcomb Drive-In on Highway 25.

PIZZERIA ADAGIO CLOSES

Pizzeria Adagio, off County Road 318 between Cape Girardeau and Gordonville, closed Dec. 18 after two years in business. Brian Probst, who owned the business with his wife, Gretchen, said the restaurant closed for both business and personal reasons, though he may someday reopen the business in a different location.

FRUITCAKE FEATURED IN MAGAZINE

My Daddy's Cheesecake's holiday fruitcake cheesecake was featured in the December issue of Relish Magazine in St. Louis. My Daddy's owner Wes Kinsey said the dessert "tastes similar to fruitcake, with a lot of spices, cinnamon, candied fruit and brandy. It tastes like a cinnamon-spice-type dessert." My Daddy's Cheesecake is based in Cape Girardeau but also has a location in Clayton, Mo.

FREITAG ADDS LASER THERAPY FOR PETS

Dr. Gwenn Freitag of LaCroix Pet Hospital in Cape Girardeau added the Companion Therapy Laser to her practice. Freitag's practice is the first in the region to use the therapeutic laser, which offers instant relief of pain, inflammation and swelling associated with soft tissue injuries, trauma, surgery and chronic disorders. A relatively new branch of medicine, the Class IV laser delivers a large amount of light energy into the pet's body. Healing is accelerated and pain virtually eliminated.

FIRE DEPT. EARNS WILDFIRE PREVENTION AWARD

BLOOMSDALE, Mo. -- The Bloomsdale Volunteer Fire Department received the 2010 Outstanding Contribution to Wildfire Prevention Award from the Missouri Department of Conservation, reported the Ste. Genevieve Herald. Leon Peterson, forestry resource technician and rural fire department coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation, presented the award to John Pfaff, chief of the Bloomsdale Volunteer Fire Department.

lawyer OPENS SECOND OFFICE

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Lawyer Shawn D. Young opened a second law office at 215 S. Third St., Hayti, Mo. Young acquired the practice of attorney William W. Carter, who took office Jan. 1 as prosecuting attorney for Pemiscot County. Young's other office is at Highway 162 East, Suite 64, Portageville.

CIE NAMED FOR DOUGLAS GREENE

On Dec. 8, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University was named for Douglas C. Greene of Vancouver, Wash., and Rancho Mirage, Calif. According to Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of the university, Greene has supported the entrepreneurship program in many ways, and the facility will now be called The Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

SEMO-NASV TO OPEN BENTON FACILITY

BENTON, Mo. -- The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence plans to open a facility in Benton and is working on a name change, reported the Sikeston Standard Democrat on Dec. 1. SEMO-NASV, established in 1997, provides advocacy, counseling and forensic care to children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse. Tammy Gwaltney, director of SEMO-NASV, said the organization serves 600 to 700 children per year in the 10 counties it serves, with half of those coming from Scott and Cape Girardeau counties. The organization is finalizing the purchase of a building on the north side of Highway 77, she added. SEMO-NASV also has locations in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, Mo.

CAMPUS SCOOTERS RELOCATES

Campus Scooters moved from 832 Broadway to 817 Broadway, Cape Girardeau. The new location is twice the size of the former building. Plans are being made for an indoor skate park to open later this year at the new store.

GRANDPA'S KITCHEN MOVES

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Grandpa's Kitchen moved from its Grant City Drive location to 901 E. Malone Ave. A grand opening was held Dec. 18. The McMullin Mini Mart, where the restaurant was previously housed, is still open.

THREE RIVERS MOVES HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The nursing and medical laboratory technology programs at Three Rivers College are moving to the new South Campus at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center this month. The EMS and paramedic programs will remain in the Rutland Library building until renovations at the new facility are more complete. Staci Campbell, nursing instructor and simulation coordinator at Three Rivers, said classes would begin in the new facility on Jan. 18. The entrance for Three Rivers' programs at the South Campus is on Pine and Sixth streets in downtown Poplar Bluff.

PRINTING COMPANY HAS NEW NAME

Cape Girardeau Printing Co. changed its name to The Printing Co. The 23-year-old family-owned business, at 112 S. Broadview St. in Cape Girardeau and 11 W. Saint Joseph St. in Perryville, Mo., offers printing, design, production and promotional products. The Printing Co. will continue to employ all associates working in both locations.

FSCB ACQUIRES RISCO BANK

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- First State Community Bank, a community bank based in Farmington, completed an acquisition of Sun Security Bank in Risco, Mo. The acquisition, which became final Dec. 11, is one of three bank acquisitions made by FSCB in 2010. Other acquisitions included three Premier Bank locations in Columbia, Mo., and two Truman Bank locations in Jefferson County.

COTNER BUYS OUT DUTCH ELECTRICAL

Dutch Enterprises of Jackson sold a division of its company, Dutch Electrical Contractors LLC, to Cotner Electric of Cape Girardeau. As a result of the acquisition, Cotner has added seven employees to its staff for a total of 15.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER RECEIVES GRANT

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University plans to implement a one-year $45,400 grant from USDA Rural Development titled "Facilitating Rural Community Projects," which will launch in 2011. The grant, awarded under the USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants program, will allow the center to continue offering its Operation Jump-Start program and work with rural Bootheel communities to facilitate community development projects.

NURSING DEPT. AWARDED WORKFORCE GRANT

The Department of Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University was awarded funds from the Missouri Foundation for Health to educate nursing students through an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program and to promote retention in the accelerated BSN, online RN-to-BSN and traditional four-year BSN programs. The $475,662 grant will underwrite critical nursing education programs and allow the Department of Nursing to implement an integrated tutoring and skill building support program to improve nursing student retention. Dr. Marcia Hobbs, chair of the Department of Nursing, will serve as project director for the four-year initiative.