Heard on the Street

PROMOTE FROM WITHIN. Joseph W. Turner was promoted Sept. 8 to chief executive officer of Great Southern Bank and president of Great Southern Bancorp Inc., the holding company for the bank. Turner had been president of the bank, a title and position he will continue to hold. William V. Turner, who had been CEO of the bank, will continue as chairman of the board of the bank and chairman and CEO of Great Southern Bancorp. Joe Turner began at the bank in 1991.

KTTS NABS NAB AWARD. Curt Brown, vice president and general manager of Journal Broadcast Group's Springfield operations, was in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 2 and picked up some hardware for the radio station back in the Ozarks. The National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Radio Awards Dinner was held that night, and Brown accepted the Marconi Award for Small Market Station of the Year on behalf of KTTS-FM.

LEGACY. Preservation Springfield announced Brian Fogle as recipient of its first Community Heritage Legacy Award. The new organization will present the award to Fogle, vice president of community development for Bank of America, at a Sept. 25 dinner set in the future ballroom of the Seville Hotel, now being renovated on Walnut Street. The award was established by Preservation Springfield to annually recognize individuals who demonstrate commitment to preservation of Springfield's historic past. "Brian has a clear vision for how our community's historic sites can, and should, be preserved as we continue to grow," said Richard L. Burton, executive director of Preservation Springfield. "From his early involvement in development of the Walnut Street Historic District to his contributions to the most recent designations of four new National Register historic districts in center city, Brian has been engaged in the preservation of our historic resources."

LANDSLIDE. Stockholders of Joplin's Empire District Electric Company Sept. 3 approved the proposed merger with Kansas City's UtiliCorp United Inc. A host of state and federal regulatory approvals remain before the merger will be final, which the companies expect in mid to late 2000. More than 76 percent of outstanding shares and more than 93 percent of about 14 million shares voted were cast in favor of the merger. Empire stockholders will receive $29.50 in cash or that average value in shares of UtiliCorp in exchange for each share of Empire stock, according to the merger agreement announced May 11. A number of stipulations are provided for in the agreement regarding the amount of cash that can be elected by Empire shareholders and the ultimate exchange amount at the merger's close, depending on UtiliCorp's average trading price. UtiliCorp closed Sept. 8 at $22.875. "Our stockholders have voiced their overwhelming support for the merger between Empire and UtiliCorp," said Myron McKinney, president and CEO of Empire. "The combined company will be an even stronger competitor that will serve the interests of our stockholders, customers and employees."

FINAL HURDLES. In other merger action, Firstar Corporation Sept. 1 received Federal Reserve Board approval to complete its merger with Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. A release from Firstar said the transaction's closing date is expected for Sept. 17. Firstar and Mercantile shareholders approved the merger July 28 after an April 30 announcement of the definitive agreement between the two bank holding companies. Mercantile stockholders will receive 2.091 shares of Firstar common stock per Mercantile share under the terms of the agreement, for a total value of about $10.6 billion.

PHI BETA LAMBDA. Eight Evangel University students spent part of the summer at the National Phi Beta Lambda Conference in Chicago. Phi Beta Lambda is the national professional group for business majors. Among those who attended, four students placed in competitions at the conference. Kris Barefield, a junior market and management major, and Rebekah Ming, a junior accounting major, were part of the statewide parliamentary team that placed second in the nation. Kim Bracci, a sophomore marketing major, placed seventh in the job-interview competition. Kevin Lotter, a senior marketing and management major, placed 10th in the management category.

SLICE OF NICE. Springfield's North Town Mall is holding an I Feel Good Health and Fitness Fair Sept. 18-19. The Ozarks Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Association will perform a demonstration and provide information about joining the group and learning ballroom dancing. The North Town Mall event will be held 5-9 p.m. Sept. 18.