Heard on the Street

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|bold_on|LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION. The Missouri Film Commission has launched a new initiative, the Missouri Movie Scout Program, designed to teach communities the ways of the film industry and suggest ways that communities can promote themselves and the state to film and video producers. Groups interested in promoting Missouri to the film industry can schedule a free, half-day seminar by calling 573-751-9050.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|BLUNT OBJECT: MAJORITY. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert will be the featured speaker June 9 at "An Evening At the Fair with Congressman Roy Blunt." The $100 per ticket dinner event will focus on retaining the Republican congressional majority in the 2000 elections. "The rally in Springfield is a reminder of what is at stake in November, and southwest Missouri plays a vital role in the outcome," Blunt said in a press release. Entertainment will follow a 1950s theme with music and cars from the era.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|DRESSING DOWN ... WAY DOWN. A growing number of employees are taking dress-down Friday a bit too literally, according to a recent survey by Accountemps, a temporary staffing service for financial services professionals. While the majority of executives polled, 55 percent, said employees dress appropriately, 39 percent of managers believe workers appear too casual. Accountemps recommends that workers observe what managers at the firm wear and follow their example; be aware of the industry some fields, such as law and finance, are traditionally more conservative; be attuned to the company's culture; when in doubt, err on the conservative side; and always keep a blazer on hand in case of an unexpected meeting.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|GO WEST, a Tour of Homes in the Historic West Central End, takes place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 10. The tour spotlights five homes, including the Turner Mansion at 427 S. Grant. Features of the event include a display of vintage cars and booths with information on home mortgages, low-interest loan programs and remodeling tips from the Home Builders Association's Remodelors Council. Tickets are $5 and are available at Nonna's Italian American Cafe, Springfield Coffee Co., Corner Printing, The Mud House, Collections on Walnut Street and at the featured homes on the day of the tour. Proceeds benefit the West Central Neighborhood Alliance and Preservation Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|LEAVING ON A JET PLANE. American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, May 30 became the second airline in less than a month to announce regional jet service from the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport. American Eagle will introduce regional jet service between the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport July 5, leaving U.S. Airways as the only exclusively turboprop carrier from Springfield. American Eagle will operate two types of Embraer regional jets the 50-seat ERJ-145 and the 37-seat ERJ-135 to operate three of its nine daily flights between Springfield and Dallas. The airline will continue to serve the remaining six daily flights with a combination of 34-seat Saab 340B and 66-seat Super ATR turboprops.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|ON THE ROAD AGAIN. A new law will expedite $250 million in funding for Missouri highway and bridge improvements and provide up to $500 million a year for improvements before 2006. The measure authorizes the use of revenue bonds to generate funding for highway improvements. The bonds will be paid for using existing revenues generated by the state's motor fuel tax. No new taxes will be required. Starting in January, the Missouri Department of Transportation will submit a plan of proposed projects to the General Assembly at the beginning of each session. The funds can only be used for construction and engineering costs for highway and bridge improvements, not for administrative costs, planning or design. The MoDOT proposal must be accepted or rejected in toto, and lawmakers cannot make changes to planned improvements or add projects to the proposal. |ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|ROUTE 66. More than 100 at-risk teenagers will go to work this summer to transform a 500-foot-long concrete wall on College Street, part of historic Route 66, into a mosaic mural. Odds and ends are needed to flesh out the mosaic, examples include brass and copper buttons, keys, bells, cymbals and plumbing fixtures; stained glass; colorful broken dinnerware; glass buttons and marbles; mirrors; logo mugs; junk jewelry; and all manner of durable, glittery things (no wood, plastic, steel, iron or aluminum, please). These items will be permanently imbedded in concrete to form the mosaic. To contribute to the project, call Carol Ward at 888-4203 or Christine Schilling at 862-2272.|ret||ret||tab|

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