Heard on the Street

OF ELK AND DEER

Missourians will not be able to import any elk or two species of deer into the state between May 11 and Aug. 31, as the result of an emergency rule filed May 1 that places a moratorium on importing the animals. The Missouri Department of Agriculture is banning the import of elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer that are 16 months and older, in order to protect the state's existing populations of those animals from chronic wasting disease. While there are no known cases of chronic wasting disease in Missouri's deer and elk, it has spread rapidly in other states, such as Colorado and Wisconsin. The disease affects the central nervous system of elk and deer, resulting in weight loss and death. At this time, though, there is no evidence that suggests the disease poses any risk to other livestock, such as cattle, or to people.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU

How does one say thanks to 1,200 clients? Invite them over for dinner. Nadia Cavner opted for the University Plaza May 2 for her fourth annual client appreciation dinner. Cavner is senior vice president and senior financial consultant for U.S. Bancorp, formerly Firstar Corporation, and she manages more than $400 million in assets. The keynote speaker was Lawrence J. Lasser, president and chief executive officer of Putnam Investments, a firm with nearly $303 billion in assets under management in equity and fixed income investments for more than 14 million individuals and more than 1,200 institutions. Lasser flew in from Boston for the reception.

BE NICE

To make sure that everyone enjoys visiting area trails, Ozarks Greenways has unveiled a new campaign to promote courtesy and safety on them.

"Regardless of whether you walk, run, or cycle on the trails, it helps everyone to be friendly and cautious when using the trails," said Carolyn Gerdes, chair of Trail Courtesy campaign. The phrase, "Pass Left, Walk Right," which is used on the campaign's logo, also will be displayed on signs along the trails to promote the most basic rules of successful trail use.

HEALTH FAIR PLUS

The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging Foundation will present its Health Fair Plus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 at the Southside Senior Center, 2215 S. Fremont Ave. The event is commemorating Older Americans' Month, but it is open to people of all ages. Admission to the health fair is free, and the first 100 moms in attendance will receive carnations courtesy of Wickman's Gardens. Free blood pressure checks and glaucoma screenings will be available.

Vendor booths also will be onsite and several arts and crafts will be on sale. For more information, call the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging.

MOVIN' ON UP

Union Planters Corporation, which has banking locations in Springfield, recently was listed among highest-performing public companies by two business publications. Union Planters was ranked No. 489 on the Fortune 500 list of U.S. companies, and Forbes ranked the company No. 227 on its composite ranking.

In the Fortune rankings, Union Planters also ranked 88th in total return to investors, with 32.4 percent in 2001. For the 1991-2001 period, Union Planters ranked 105th among the Fortune 500 companies in total return to investors, with a 16.6 percent annualized return.

The most recent Forbes listing ranked Union Planters 108th in profits and 318th in market value. Last year, the company was No. 243 in profits and No. 387 in market value on the Forbes list.

SLICE OF NICE

The fourth annual Steve Snyder Foundation Golf Tournament will begin with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start May 4 at the Deer Lake Golf Course on West Chestnut Expressway. Proceeds from the tournament will be used to award scholarship money to southwest Missouri high school students planning careers in journalism. The entry fee is $150 per team, which includes a golf cart and dinner.

TWICE OF NICE

The local branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers will May 11 participate in the 10th annual Nationwide Food Drive in Springfield-area communities. Postal patrons are asked to leave bags of non-perishable food items by their mailboxes, or to drop them off at a local post office. Food items collected in Springfield will go to Salvation Army, The Kitchen, Grand Oaks Mission and Victory Mission.