Heard on the Street

GOT LEGISLATION? Officials of Dairy Farmers of America pronounced legislation introduced by Rep. Roy Blunt a step in the right direction to remedy new pricing orders proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The proposed bill, passed by the House, would keep milk prices at current levels for most of the country and raise prices for dairy farmers in the upper Midwest. The bill addresses what DFA has characterized as flaws in rules proposed by the USDA. Blunt's legislation restores 24 cents per hundredweight of milk of the 47-cent reduction contained in the USDA proposal. The bill also extends for another year the price-support program that is set to be phased out. DFA said the Department of Agriculture proposal, if allowed to go into effect, would lower farmer income by almost $200 million a year. "This legislation would replace (the) proposed pricing system, without reducing dairy farm income," said DFA Chairman Herman Brubaker.

MILLENNIAL YULE. It's never too early to think about the Christmas Parade, or at least about the float your group will be entering in the parade. "Turn of the Century Christmas" is the theme of this year's Springfield parade, to be held Nov. 20. In preparation for the event, organizers will hold a free float workshop at 9 a.m. Oct. 9. A release from the Downtown Springfield Association, sponsor of the parade, said floats should reflect a theme of the past or look toward the future. Tips at the Oct. 9 workshop could help your group come up with an idea, and teach you how to execute construction, that might win up to $1,000 for award-winning floats. Call 866-0134 or visit the Web site

www.downtownspringfieldmo.com

for an application. The deadline for getting a spot in the parade is Oct. 22. Heading up the parade committee this year are co-chairs Rob Nicholson and Susie Wieland.

INSURANCE DAY. The Springfield Professional Insurance Organizations and Southwest Missouri State University's finance and general business department, Management Development Institute and College of Business Administration are sponsors of Insurance Day Oct. 7 at University Plaza. Along with educational sessions about employment practices liability, fraud in accident analysis and the opportunity to hobnob with state Department of Insurance types, the day will have two featured speakers. Ken Kube will speak in the morning on "My Crime, My Time." Kube's address will cover how he unwittingly broke compliance laws. Jack Agati is the featured speaker in the afternoon, discussing "Birth Order: What's It Got to Do With the Insurance Business Anyway?" Good question. The speech deals with management style and people skills. The day-long event costs $35. To register, call 836-5667.

PONIED UP. The Springfield-Greene County Library District is set to open its new resource center on South Campbell Nov. 6. In advance of that, the SGCL Foundation announced major donors to the building renovation effort: C.W. Titus Foundation, $186,000