Business Notebook: Charter digital conversion prompts some complaints

After Charter Communications last week switched its customers from analog to all-digital service, a story from the Southeast Missourian about the conversion prompted some complaints from Charter customers regarding the switch and its aftermath.

A set-top box now is required for customers to receiving the cable operator's services. With the conversion, Charter customers now receive about 175 HD channels, according to previous reports. Charter Internet customers were forecast to see their speeds double as a result of the upgrade.

Complaints of the switch included no- or weak-signal messages, error messages, calls to technical support, and visits from Charter technicians. A few said they would switch TV providers.

Wes Shirley, senior manager of communications for Charter, in an email to the Southeast Missourian on Tuesday said the transition was "going as anticipated."

Shirley said he could not provide specifics regarding what was anticipated of the transition.

When contacted Wednesday about customer complaints, Shirley said the company can't speak to individual situations, but if a customer has a problem, 24/7 technical supports is available and it "can usually be resolved over the phone."

"If not, we have service technicians available who can provide assistance in the customers' homes," he said in an email to the Southeast Missourian. "Sometimes when customers do a self-install, it's a simple fix, such as making sure the equipment is plugged in properly."

Shirley said overall, Charter has had "very few of these isolated situations," and they try to handle the issues as quickly as possible.

Grant funds available to Missouri specialty crop growers

The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced approximately $66 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants are available to state departments of agriculture for projects that help support specialty crop growers.

Missouri's available grant allocation for 2014 is $457,798.79, according to a news release from the USDA.

The program, supported by the 2014 Farm Bill, is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service and designed to enhance markets for specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture, according to the news release.

Projects may include research, programs to increase demand of specialty crops, education and promotion, among others.

Those interested in the grants should apply directly to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit the AMS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program webpage.

Missouri Department of Conservation news

* The Missouri Conservation Commission approved regulation changes at its meeting April 17 that will reduce the availability of firearm antlerless deer hunting permits from "any number" in a majority of the state to a limit of one.

Exceptions to the new regulation are six northern Missouri counties that will allow hunters to fill two firearm antlerless deer permits because of their location in a "Chronic Wasting Disease Containment Zone," according to a news release from the department. Hunters also will be allowed to fill two firearm antlerless deer permits in state counties where deer numbers are higher than desired.

The regulations are in response to the lower overall deer numbers around a majority of the state as a result of long-term efforts to reduce deer population through increased doe harvest, according to the release. An unexpected outbreak of hemorrhagic disease in deer related to the 2012 drought intensified the plan to reduce deer numbers. Previous regulations helped decrease and stabilize deer numbers in areas where deer numbers were too high.

The regulation changes will become effective for the 2014 fall deer hunting season.

* The Missouri Conservation Commission approved early teal-hunting season dates, contingent of results of population surveys.

Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal are legal during the September teal season in Missouri, according to a news release from the department. Teal season frameworks depend on the current year's blue-winged teal population indexes that are determined after surveys in May are conducted.

This year's contingent dates are: Sept. 6 through 21 if the blue-winged teal breeding population index is 4.7 million or more; Sept. 6 through 14 if the breeding population index is at least 3.3 million but less than 4.7 million; no season if the blue-winged teal breeding population index is below 3.3 million, according to the release. If there is an early teal season, the limits will be six daily and 18 in possession.

* Hunters checked more than 4,300 turkeys during Missouri's youth turkey hunting season on April 12 and 13 -- the second time in the season's 14-year history that more than 4,000 turkeys were harvested. The strong harvest can be attributed to the carry-over of adult gobblers from good turkey reproduction in 2011 and 2012, as well as favorable weather, according to a news release from the department.

Cape to host over 150 conference attendees

More than 150 water and wastewater professionals will visit Cape Girardeau on Wednesday for the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference -- 2014 Southeast Section Meeting.

Attendees will be updated on current regulations by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, according to a news release from the conference.

Training sessions will run throughout the day and will be facilitated by engineers, Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel, vendors and fellow operators, according to a news release.

Because of the growing number of attendees, the event will be at the Osage Centre. The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Kent Peetz at 243-4290 or kpeetz@jacksonmo.org.

'Green' sales tax holiday going on now

Missourians have the opportunity to save on energy-efficient appliances until Friday as part of the state's sixth-annual Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday. The holiday began Saturday.

State shoppers who purchase new Energy Star-qualified appliances, such as washers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, water heaters and air conditioners, during the holiday will not have to pay the 4.225 percent state sales tax, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Cape Girardeau County and the city of Cape Girardeau are not participating in the holiday, according to the Department of Revenue's website. Those who purchase qualifying items locally still will be subject to city and county sales taxes.

Business roundup

* Tailwinds R/C Hobby Center will move one door to 21 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau, making room for additional products and services. The owners plan to be in the new location by May 1, and also will introduce expanded store hours.

* The Better Business Bureau will open a Cape Girardeau office this fall, according to an email from the BBB's office in St. Louis.

* Pioneer Manufactured Homes, at Highway 74 and Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau, opened in February by owners Bill and Diana Beggs. The couple also owns Pioneer Orchard, Pioneer Court and Pioneer Development.

* Bootheel Harley-Davidson, 2100 E. Outer Road North in Scott City, was bought by Lawless Harley-Davidson in January. The new owner/manager of the business is Brian Brockel.

* Lattitudes, 137 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.

* Pizza Hut/Wing Street, 1015 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting at 10:45 a.m. April 29.

* Country Thang Leather, 2504 Albert Rasche Drive in Cape Girardeau, was issued a Cape Girardeau business license.

* Hutchings Group, 211 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau, was issued a Cape Girardeau business license.

Free-market economics speaker to visit Cape

Loren Spivack, the Free Market Warrior, will speak about free-market economics from 1 to 4 p.m. May 3 in the Geraldine F. Hirsch Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark St. in Cape Girardeau.

Spivack speaks to conservative groups and teaches study groups about classical economic theory.

The event is open to the public and is presented by Concerned Women for America of Missouri.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632