Heard on the Street

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IT'S A FRAUD!|ret||ret||tab|

Small-business owners and managers have the chance to learn how to prevent and respond to fraud in their businesses at a seminar to be held 8 a.m.-noon April 23 and 24. Sponsored by the Springfield Police Department's criminal investigations section, the Greene County Prosecutor's Office and the United States Secret Service, the seminar is free, but seating is limited to 100, according to a news release from Kirk Manlove, SPD information officer. Topics to be covered are insufficient, forged and closed-account checks; credit cards and scams; identity theft; and counterfeit money. To register call the criminal investigations section at 417-864-1721. The seminar will be at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell.|ret||ret||tab|

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FED WATCH|ret||ret||tab|

Just a reminder for those with an eye on interest rates. The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board will meet again March 20. Subscribers who receive the SBJ Daily Update will be informed of the Fed's decision as soon as the information is released. To join the Update e-mail list, a subscriber-only service, contact Maria Hoover by e-mail at mhoover@sbj.net or by phone at 417-831-3238. |ret||ret||tab|

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ZOODOO VOODOO|ret||ret||tab|

A small, ongoing business enterprise of the Dickerson Park Zoo can work magic on ailing gardens. ZooDoo, a composted herbivore manure, can be purchased from the zoo every Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. while supplies last, but reservations are necessary, according to Melinda Mancuso, public relations and marketing director for the zoo. Area business owners and the general public can support the waste-recycling project for the betterment of their own grassy areas, flower containers or vegetable gardens. Mancuso promises there is no odor from the product, which is composted for a two- to three-month period. The exotic waste product comes from the zoo's elephants, hippos, antelope and even kangaroos, she said, all of them herbivores. The animals produce a ton of waste a day, which composts to about 600 pounds. "We had about 100 tons of ZooDoo" last year, she said. A pickup load costs $30, but smaller amounts are available. "Bring your own bag and shovel," Mancuso said. Last year the zoo raised $4,200 to benefit park projects. ZooDoo is offered in the spring and fall. "If we didn't compost, it would all end up in a landfill," Mancuso said, adding, "It's a great product for gardeners" and that they have many returning customers. To make reservations to purchase ZooDoo call 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 833-1570.|ret||ret||tab|

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STAMP OUT DIABETES|ret||ret||tab|

With 16 million Americans suffering from some form of diabetes, a disease which often has no symptoms until damage is done, awareness is crucial. To that end, the U.S. Postal Service has released the "Diabetes" commemorative postage stamp. For more information about the disease, contact the American Diabetes Association or the Cox Health Systems Diabetes Center. The stamp may be viewed on-line at |bold_on|www.stampsonline.com, by clicking on the "Postal Store" button.[[In-content Ad]]