Heard on the Street

JUST MORE OF IT TO LOVE? Wal-Mart is at it again: this time adding one of its 105,000-square-foot behemoths to west Springfield. A supercenter store will go up at the southeast corner of West Bypass and West Sunshine, replacing the 64,000-square-foot discount center at the northeast corner of the same intersection. Wal-Mart spokeswoman Daphne Davis said the 64,000-square-foot store will close and either be leased or sold. Construction for Springfield's third supercenter should begin in the summer. City Council is set to hold a public hearing April 3 on annexing 22.26 acres at the southeast corner of West Sunshine and West Bypass.

BROWN AT HOMETOWN. Curt Brown, former general manager of KTTS, has joined Turtle Broadcasting Company's Branson radio stations KOMC-AM, KOMC-FM and KRZK-FM, also known as Hometown Radio. Brown said he oversees efforts to develop both traditional radio advertising business and nontraditional revenue sources, such as the Internet and special events, and does station editorials and assists the stations' director of sales with sales training. Brown said he learned of the position through friends Rod and Carol Orr, who co-own the company with another couple, and he decided to take it after realizing he was bored with retirement. However, he works with Turtle Broadcasting only three days a week and the office is near his lake house. "If you're going to retire, you've got to at least partially retire," he said.

PROMOTING OUR EMPLOYEES. In light of recent changes around the ol' SBJ newsroom, we've promoted Maria Hoover to a full-time editorial staff member, effective now, and (we hope) for a long time to come. Maria has been single-handedly turning out the SBJ Daily Update, a one-page daily news fax that many of you are probably waiting impatiently for each day. Maria will continue to focus her energies on that publication, but don't be surprised if you see her byline more frequently in the pages of SBJ.

TAXES. Ask any CPA and she'll tell you: it's tax season. If your taxes have you seeing double, you can turn to the largesse of Drury University, whose students are providing free tax help via the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The service will be available at the Springfield Community Center, 618 N. Benton, 3-7 p.m. April 4; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 8; 3-7 p.m. April 11; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 15.

VOTE. April 4 is the day you should cast your vote for three school board members and decide whether you support a $30 million bond issue for infrastructure improvements to Springfield Public Schools. Candidates running for the three spots on Springfield's Board of Education are Bruce Renner, Dianne Schelmbauer, Bruce Chrisope, Don Thomson, Jerry Harmison, Farris Robertson and Larry Russell. The bond issue will support, among other things, renovations to Central High School. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook is urging voters to "make their voices heard" in the April 4 election. For citizens who are unable to go to the polls April 4, absentee ballots can be cast in person until 5 p.m. April 3 at the offices of county clerks and election boards.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OTC. Ozarks Technical Community College will celebrate its 10th anniversary April 5 and 6 with a series of events, including a banquet April 6. Invitations to the banquet are being issued, said Mar'Ellen Felin, spokeswoman for OTC. April 3, 1990 was the day voters approved the creation of the college, which provides technical and job-specific training for the southwest Missouri area. The banquet will feature student stories, Felin said, and April 5, students and staff will bury a time capsule in the cornerstone of the college's new building.

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH EXPO. The Industrial Engineering & Plant Operations Show is April 5-6 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. The event is designed for people who are affiliated with industrial companies, institutions, government and the military and will feature millions of dollars of products on display. Show hours are noon-7 p.m. April 5 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on April 6.

SLICE OF NICE. The Ozarks Area Association for the Blind and the Visually Impaired Children Services are holding a joint yard sale and health information fair May 11, 12 and 13. If you have items in good condition that you would like to donate, call 869-1572 or 882-9272. The sale and fair will be held at 1600 N. Washington. Volunteers are also needed to help pick up items for the sale. All proceeds are to benefit the blind and partially sighted community.