Heard on the Street

BOOKWORMS UNITE

Local voters will April 2 decide the fate of Proposition L, a proposal that would increase the Springfield-Greene County Library's property tax operating levy by a nickel per $100 of assessed property valuation and generate $1.6 million a year for the library. A key component of the library's plans, should the proposal pass, is a new north-side library center to be located in the former Heilig-Meyers building on Kansas Expressway. That building is 32,256 square feet and its purchase price is $1.35 million. The new branch would replace the existing Kearney branch. Money from the operating levy increase also would pay for computers and other technology, and allow later hours at the library facilities. As for the books and other materials, the money would increase the budget for those by $500,000, making the total materials budget about $2 million each year. And the demand is there: in 1980, at any given time, there were about 1,000 people waiting for materials on reserve; now there are 18,000 people on the waiting lists at any given time.

OINK, OINK ... CLICK?

For the first time in its history, the World Pork Expo is just a mouse click away. The expo now has its own Web site at www.worldpork.org. In addition to offering up-to-the-minute information about the World Pork Expo and its activities, the site also gives visitors the chance to order tickets to the event and purchase merchandise. The 14th annual World Pork Expo will be held in June at the Iowa State Fairground in Des Moines. More than 50,000 guests including some from other countries are expected at the event, which will feature 450 exhibitors.

DOUBLE SCOOP, HOLD THE SMOKE

Oklahoma-based Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores has announced that all 279 of its retail locations including those in Springfield are now smoke-free. Company President Drew Braum said the change is "the right thing to do," although he values the customers who do smoke and is apologetic for the inconvenience they'll endure as a result of the new policy. Braum's served its first ice cream cone in Oklahoma in 1968. Its stores are located in Okla-homa, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Arkansas.

REST ASSURED

A series of unannounced inspections of the 35 Missouri establishments that provide cremation services recently was completed by the Division of Professional Registration's State Board of Em-balmers and Funeral Directors. The good news: The board found that all facilities are operating in accordance with state laws and regulations. According to Pat Handly, executive director of the State Board of Embalmers and Directors, in light of the disturbing discoveries of hundreds of bodies in Georgia, the board decided that surprise inspections were appropriate. The state of Missouri has 723 licensed funeral establishments.

SPRINGFIELDCHAMBER.COM

Visitors to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's Web site, www.springfieldchamber.com, will notice that the site looks different these days. The site recently underwent a redesign and while it still offers a searchable business directory, and information about chamber events and programs, the site also boasts the new E-business Resource Center, providing information on e-business topics and technology strategies. It also has links to various sources, such as the Web sites of chamber members who provide Web site design or related services. Visitors to the online center also can see technology profiles that highlight innovative uses of technology by the chamber.

SLICE OF NICE

The Make-A-Wish Founda-tion of Missouri will hold its 10th Annual Dinner Auction at 6:30 p.m. April 15 at the Mid-America Cancer Center, 2055 S. Fremont. More than 200 items will be up for bid during the silent auction portion of the event, which also includes dinner and entertainment. The cost to attend the event is $25 per person. Reservations must be received by April 5. For more information or to make reservations, call the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

TWICE OF NICE

The Sixth Annual Steak & Steak Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 9 to benefit the Springfield Boys & Girls Club. Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics is this year's speaker. Tickets are $80 per person, and 10-person tables are available for $800 or $1,600. Tables come with some extras, such as tickets to the reception before the event. For more information, call the Boys & Girls Club.