Heard on the Street

40 UNDER 40 ... MINUS 1

The results are in! The Springfield Business Journal has selected the 40 under 40 class of 2001 ... well, almost. At press time, 39 individuals had been chosen from a field of more than 70 candidates, but a five-way tie was yet to be resolved. The young up-and-comers selected will be honored in a special magazine-style publication and will be feted at an April 19 reception. The 2001 honorees are Brian Asberry, Donna Baker, Shareen Beal, Thomas Beisner, Marci Bowling, Alexis Brown, Tom Buchner, James Combs, Mike Cosby, Joe Daues, Mar'Ellen Felin, Angela Ghan, Jerry Harmison, Stephanie Harper, Jason Hemingway, Troy Kennedy, Kelly Laurie, Paul Link, Russ Marquart, Douglas McCauley, Kyle McClure, Tim Parrish, Jeff Payne, Dana Peterson, Cord Polen, Kent Ragan, Lynn Richards, Tim Roth, Jeff Russell, Kevin Scheer, Crista Shuler, Blake Souter, Dean Thompson, Jack Thurman, Katie Vance, Mark Walterskirchen, Steve Warlick, Michael Wehrenberg, Rusty Worley III and ... ? All will be revealed in this space next week. Meanwhile, readers who receive the SBJ Daily Update e-mail already know! For daily business news, join the Daily Update e-mail list (available to SBJ subscribers only) by contacting Maria Hoover at mhoover@sbj.net.

FEED YOUR BRAIN

Scientists say stimulating the brain with new knowledge can expand our ability to learn. There are plenty of educational opportunities available at local institutions of higher learning this spring. Southwest Missouri State University and Drury University offer many continuing education courses for adults wanting to expand their talents and qualifications, including computer training and management development. OTC is offering a plethora of courses for knowledge and entertainment from foreign language courses in Japanese, Italian, Russian, etc. to cooking, horsemanship and golf. And for the arts enthusiast, beginning April 17 the Springfield Art Museum will offer classes for adults and children in painting, drawing and pottery.

AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

Missouri's first African-American woman to serve in the state House of Representatives will be honored again this spring when the eighth annual De Verne Lee Calloway Award is presented. Calloway, who died in 1993, dedicated her life to "putting people first," said Sen. Betty Sims in a news release. Nominations will be accepted if they are postmarked by Feb. 28. The award will be presented March 28 at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City. A reception in the Governor's Mansion will follow. The award is given yearly "to a Missouri woman who through her commitment and determination has made major contributions to equality and social justice concerning equal opportunities for all Missourians in the areas of education, housing, employment" and other similar areas, Sims said. In addition, a group of women are recognized each year at the ceremony. This year women in the medical profession dealing with women's health issues will be recognized. For more information call 573-751-7147, or e-mail bmmcracken@senate.state.mo.us.

ERIN GO BRAGH

Put on a bit o' the green! It's time for Springfield's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration. The center city parade, in its 21st year, begins at 2 p.m. March 17 at Commercial and Benton. Parade formation starts at noon. Entries are now being accepted at 869-8558. All entries must be pre-registered.