Banker heads committee to find new Magnet chief

Cape Girardeau banker Danny Essner has been appointed to lead a search committee that will select a new executive director for the economic development organization Cape Girardeau Area Magnet. Essner was appointed by Magnet board president and Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger. Other members of the Magnet search committee are lawyer, city councilman and Magnet board member Mark Lanzotti, retired banker Moe Sandford, Jackson alderman and Magnet board member David Hitt, Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr, County Commissioner Paul Koeper and former Cape Girardeau mayor Jay Knudtson.

Dr. James Stapleton, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and John Mehner, president and CEO of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will also assist the search committee, Lanzotti said.

Mitch Robinson, who had served as executive director of Magnet for 18 years, left at the end of March. He accepted a position as executive director of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Economic Development Council in Hopkinsville, Ky. According to an advertisement posted on the Missouri Economic Development Council's website, the committee is looking for a candidate who will demonstrate an entrepreneurial outlook and the ability to build stakeholder relationships and facilitate economic development transactions. Advertisements have been placed both in print and online with state and national economic development groups. The application deadline is May 1.

* Menards is seeking to increase two variances for a sign that were previously approved by the city of Cape Girardeau last year. The Planning and Zoning Commission will review the company's request to increase the size of its sign from a total area of 400 square feet with 67 square feet of electronic message area to 700 square feet with 300 square feet of electronic message area. According to Menards' request, the larger sign is necessary due to the company's limited recognition in Missouri and the need for additional exposure to traffic on Interstate 55. The sign area variances that were granted to Menards already exceed what has been permitted for other businesses in the surrounding area, according to city planner Ryan Shrimplin.

* Charter cable customers will notice some major changes to their channel lineup beginning April 18. Charter is adding 28 high-definition channels and as a result will reorganize its current channel listing. Ninety percent of the channels in Cape Girardeau will be relocated to new numbers April 18. The realignment is designed to group channels into genre categories. Childrens', science, history, news, home and entertainment channels will be in the 100 channel range. Sports channels will be in the 200s, adult and pay-per-view programming will be in the 400s, premium services will be in the 500s and high-definition channels will be between 600 and 800. Basic and expanded basic channels will remain in the first 99 channels. Customers should reprogram their DVR series recordings with the new channel locations. Customers were mailed a new channel listing, but this information can also be accessed at www.mycharterchannels.com.

* Stevie's Steakburgers, 600 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, will reopen April 16, according to owner Steve Majeed. Majeed also owns SEMO Gas at 40 N. Sprigg St. The restaurant will feature the same steakburgers and gyros it's been known for, but it will not be open as late as in the past. Hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The restaurant will be closed Sundays.

* Kid Biz, in the Town Plaza Shopping Center in Cape Girardeau, is closing its doors in mid-April. All merchandise in the children's resale shop is being discounted to liquidate the store's inventory. Kid Biz is owned by Sharon Ebersohl.

Southeast Missourian business editor Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.