Heard on the Street

THE SEARCH IS ON ...

Kay Logsdon, city of Springfield public information officer since the position was created in 1989, will resign Oct. 13 to accept the position of vice president of communications and market development for Way2Bid Inc., a Springfield-based provider of bidding services for governmental and educational agencies. Logsdon took an unpaid leave of absence July 10-Aug. 26 to help Way2Bid establish its communications department. A nationwide search for a new city public information officer will commence "yesterday," according to Assistant City Manager Bob Cumley. He said the city hopes to have a new officer by the beginning of 2001. Kristin Kubitschek will continue to serve as the primary point of contact for the city until the new officer is hired.

FRIENDS DOWN UNDER

Friends of the Zoo will seek out wildlife adventures in Australia March 5-19, 2001. Melinda Mancuso, public relations/marketing director for Dickerson Park Zoo, will escort travelers from Springfield. The package includes round-trip flights from Springfield to Australia, plus all domestic flights, first-class and deluxe accommodations throughout, a variety of meals, comprehensive sight-seeing including national parks and reserves, local naturalist guides, entrance fees to points of interest and gratuities for baggage handling, hotel tips, taxes and transfers. The cost, including roundtrip airfare from Springfield, is $5,495 plus an international airport tax/customs fee of $86.45. Accommodations are double occupancy, but single accommodations are available for an additional charge. An optional extension to New Zealand also is available for an additional fee. For more information, contact Nancy Ferguson at 833-1570.

MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's Manufacturers Council is soliciting nominations for the Manufacturer of the Year Award. This year's Manufacturer of the Year award ceremony will be held Dec. 13 at the University Plaza Holiday Inn. Manufacturers may be nominated by others or may nominate themselves. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 2. For more information or to receive a nomination form, contact Allen Kunkel at the chamber, 862-5567.

LOCAL HEROES

The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 178 of United Association recently donated $5,000 to the Children's Miracle Network of Cox Health Systems, according to a release from CMN. The money will go to revamp the scrub room used by parents and family members visiting premature and sick newborns in the Cox South intensive care nursery. The scrub room will be transformed into a "Garden of Friends" by local artist Heather Ward. Ward will paint an enchanted garden featuring storybook animals on decorative tiles. The project is designed to create a warm, welcoming environment for new parents before they enter the high-tech intensive care setting. "The generosity of the members of Local Union No. 178 will make a wonderful difference to the families of our area's tiniest citizens," said Carla Molter, assistant director of CMN, in the release.

NO SPOT CHECK

TWA announced Sept. 6 that is will continue indefinitely its policy of not accepting pets for transport as checked baggage. The airline will continue to carry pets as cargo shipments, and pets small enough to be transported in travel cages that fit under the seat will be allowed with prior reservations. The policy, started at the beginning of the summer, "has worked well for pets and has gotten a good reception from customers," said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, vice president-airport operations, in a release. "Transporting pets in carry-on containers or as cargo shipments assures that every pet traveling on TWA gets the attention and care it deserves."

SLICE OF NICE

The One Missing Link Trail Ride begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at the Wrangler Camp at Bar K Ranch near Chadwick. All proceeds of the ride will go to One Missing Link, a not-for-profit organization that helps reunite missing children and adults with their families. The entry fee is $15 and riders may seek sponsorships to raise additional funds.

Anyone bringing in $1,000 or more in donations on the day of the ride will receive a gift certificate for a western saddle.

Other awards will be presented, including gift certificates to local restaurants and western wear stores. For more information about the event, contact Sandy Goss at 732-9268. One Missing Link was founded more than six years ago by Stu and Janis McCall.

Their daughter, Stacy, was one of three Springfield women who disappeared June 7, 1992, and remain missing. Since its founding, One Missing Link has helped reunite more than 400 individuals.