Heard on the Street

FALLEN ARCHES. The McDonald's at 2152 E. Sunshine is coming down to make way for a new McDonald's at the same site. The building opened in August 1969, then owned by Joe Post, and the third McDonald's in Springfield. Post retired in 1992 and sold the store to Rich and Mary Coleman. A release from the local marketing folks extolled the virtues of the East Sunshine store's decor, its lineage at the beginning of the McDonald's tidal wave of locations across the globe, and the nostalgic place it holds in the hearts of Springfieldians. Unnecessary. Certain managing editors remember well the cheeseburgers, fries and shakes doled out in that late '60s summer. A combination anniversary (the 30th, for the math impaired) and closing celebration is set for Oct. 25-31. The restaurant will close Nov. 14 and will be rebuilt by February.

BY THE BOOK. The 62nd volume of the Official Manual of the State of Missouri is out. If you are not familiar with the wonders of this 1,520-page tome, you should be. Besides all the phone numbers, legislative, judicial and executive information, and state agency data, the manual lists the salary of every state employee. College students, take note: you can find out how much your professors make. Business owners, too. Next time you get a call from a Missouri Department of Revenue functionary, look up the guy's salary and either gloat or bemoan as the case may be. The manual is published every two years by the Office of Secretary of State. The 1999-2000 edition is the first produced completely electronically.

MARSHAL ERNST. Grand marshal for the 1999 Christmas Parade will be new Springfield Public Schools' Superintendent Dr. Jack C. Ernst Jr. The supe will preside over the Nov. 20 parade along Booneville. This year's theme: "Turn of the Century."

MOWDOT. Missouri's Department of Transportation is looking for bids to make hay while the sun shines. MoDOT will hold a special bid opening Nov. 19 for 40 right-of-way mowing contracts around the state. Some of the projects up for bid are in Greene County. An informational meeting will be held Oct. 27 at the MoDOT District Office, 3025 E. Kearney. "MoDOT staff will be glad to provide assistance and guidance to ensure that those who want to bid on these and other projects know exactly what's needed and when," said Henry Hungerbeeler, director of MoDOT. Call 573-751-4056 for more information or visit the department's Web site at

www.modot.state.mo.us.

OCCUPANCY. Latest figures compiled by the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau show hotel room occupancy rates holding steady from a year ago, with the number of rooms available up slightly. Through August 1999 Springfield hotels report an occupancy rate of 56.3 percent, about the same as the 56.6 percent occupancy rate reported through August 1998. About 1,700 more rooms were rented for a night in 1999, but there were slightly more rooms available than last year. Average room rate: $48.77 in 1999 compared to $47.88 in 1998.

AND IN THE BACKSTRETCH. The United Way of the Ozarks reported Oct. 14 it has reached 55 percent of its campaign goal at the halfway point of this year's effort. More than $1.6 million has been raised so far toward the $2.96 million goal. The campaign is about $110,000 ahead of the pace set by last year's campaign, according to a United Way release.

GUARANTY. Guaranty Federal Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary Guaranty Federal Savings Bank Oct. 15 announced its financial performance for the most recent quarter. The company had net income of $860,000 for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, up from the $798,000 in net income for the same period in 1998. The earnings represent 16 cents per diluted share for the 1999 quarter, up from 14 cents per diluted share of net income in the same quarter of the previous year.

SLICE OF NICE. Ozarks Public Television's 12th annual Wine & Food Celebration will be 2-5 p.m. Nov. 7 at University Plaza Convention Center. Advance tickets can be purchased for $25 at Brown Derby International Wine Center, Andy's Frozen Custard, Nearly Famous Deli & Pasta House or charged by phone at 865-2100, ext. 238. Tickets will be $30 at the door. More than 25 area restaurants will serve hors d'oeuvres at the event and more than 60 different wines will be available for tasting. A patron's party will be held 12:30-2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Tower Club. Tickets to the patron's party are $60 in advance and $65 at the door and include early admission to the Wine & Food Celebration. All proceeds from the events benefit Ozarks Public Television. For more information, call 865-2100, ext. 237.