Heard on the Street

AND THE WINNERS IN BOAZ ARE ...

One of our own, Larry Smith, SBJ account executive extraordinaire, can also play golf and play it well. Our Mr. Smith and his golfing buddy, Sean McQueary, shot a 14-under-par 59 and took top honors at the Springfield Contractors Association's two-man scramble golf tournament Aug. 10 at Hidden Valley Golf Course in Boaz. The fund-raiser keeps the nonprofit trade organization operating until annual dues are paid, according to Sheryl Letterman, executive director. She said 204 participated in the golf outing and pig roast. In case you don't know, Boaz is west of Highway 160 on Highway 14 near Nixa. Way to go, Larry and Sean!

OPT-OUT UPDATE

Consumers all over the United States in June received notices from their banks, credit unions, and any organization that holds financial information about them, but the notices were confusing to some. According to Norman Magnuson, of ACB Credit, a credit industry trade organization, even some Internet messages about opting-out are confusing. By calling 888-567-8688 one can tell the four major credit reporting organizations not to provide one's name and address to companies for the purpose of sending promotional, pre-approved offers for insurance, credit cards and loans, but one can't use that number to prevent credit companies from sharing that information with their affiliates.

On July 1, Magnuson said, a new federal law went into effect that would allow credit agencies to share credit information with other financial institutions, that's why consumers received the opt-out information in the mail in June. To prevent sharing of information with affiliates, consumers must personally contact the credit agency. The toll-free number isn't enough. Go online at http://ACB-cred it.com for more information, Magnuson said.

BASEBALL BEEN BERY, BERY GOOD

Local businessman John Q. Hammons has another coup in regard to HIS baseball stadium he has purchased the land from the city on which to build his baseball stadium. Originally, the Springfield Center City Development Corporation was to buy the land and lease it to Hammons, who was to construct a stadium that the city would own. Instead, Hammons will own the stadium and land on which it is built. The result of the turnabout is Hammons has reaped the benefit of the city's exercise of eminent domain and now owns the property at "fair market value," but not necessarily at the price the property owners might have asked had the city not used its authority to force them off the land. Demolition of the buildings is expected before the end of August or in early September, according to Louise Whall, city information officer, at Hammons' cost. She said Hammons reimbursed the city what it paid for the land $200,000 for Colorgraphics, $161,000 for Unibody and $950,000 for O'Reilly. She wasn't sure if Hammons has to pay the relocation costs for the businesses but said she will find out. Keep your eye on this column.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Some business leaders have come down hard on Gov. Bob Holden and his now infamous Executive Order 01-09 which allows state workers who are under his authority to bargain collectively if they wish. No surprise there because labor unions try to get more money out of employers. But some state workers already belong to unions, so what's the true beef? You can take a look at the executive order on the Secretary of State's Web site. An astute reader would find that the funding to pay for negotiated benefits and wages is subject to approval by the Missouri Legislature unless the funds have been previously appropriated.

SLICE OF NICE

Every day in Missouri, 50 children are abused or neglected. Here's a chance to do something to reduce those numbers and help those already abused eat some chicken. The Ex-change Club will hold its 45th annual Chicken Bar-B-Que Aug. 30 at the Pat Jones River Park. Gates open at 5 p.m. and a $12 ticket entitles the bearer to soda or beer and half a chicken, according to Andy Osis, club member. The main proceeds will go to Court Appointed Spe-cial Advocates, which offers trained community volunteers judicially appointed to advocate for abused and neglected children in court. Prevention of child abuse is the prime directive of the Exchange Club, Osis said. Tickets are available from any Exchange Club member. For more information contact Osis at 887-4420. Remember what we told you last week 303,000 of Missouri's little ones live in poverty every day and 140 calls are made daily to the Child Abuse Hotline.