Heard on the Street

INTERIM NO MORE. Evelyn Honea is the city of Springfield's new, and first, director of information systems, City Manager Tom Finnie announced Aug. 11. Honea was serving as acting director prior to her appointment and previously worked as assistant finance director and comptroller for the city. She has worked for the city since early in 1982. Honea holds a master's degree in public administration from Southwest Missouri State University and a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas. Honea is the first to hold the position because the Information Systems Department was created in July. The job pays $76,502 annually.

SOUTHWEST MO INSURANCE NEWS. The Missouri Association of Insurance Agents held its centennial convention recently and installed officers that heavily represent the area. E. Ward Merrell, vice president of Barker-Phillips-Jackson Inc. in Rolla, is the group's new president. Jo Ann Evans, of Beimdiek Insurance Agency in Carthage, is vice president. Patrick D. Connell, of Branson's Connell Insurors, is Independent Insurance Agents of America state national director. Steven J. Harter, of Select Risk Management Services in Ava, is Professional Insurance Agents national director. And, as profiled in these pages two months ago, Bob Allen, of Willis Insurance Agency in Cassville, is past president of the association. In addition, awards were handed out at the Lake of the Ozarks Convention. Richard Ollis, of Ollis & Company Insurors in Springfield, served as chairman of the group's Young Agents Committee. For his work he was given the Chairperson Award.

ACTION. In this column a few weeks ago, a request was put out on behalf of the Urban Districts Alliance. The group's copier and fax machines were in a sorry state and in need of replacement. Answering the call was Robinett Business Systems Inc. Mark Robinett donated a digital copier and fax machine combined unit to the UDA offices. The donation has UDA in fine fettle, faxing and copying like professionals.

TOP 50. The urology services at St. John's Regional Health Center were recognized among the best in the nation by a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking. The magazine ranked hospitals in 16 medical specialties based on reputation, death rate, and a set of other medical data such as technology and nursing care. A release from St. John's said urologists at the hospital recently performed the area's first microwave prostate therapy and the first laparoscopic nephrectomy, the latter a minimally invasive surgery for kidney removal.

WEB INFO. University Outreach and Extension and the state's Small Business Development Centers have opened a new Web site to provide information to small-business owners in Missouri. The site, located at

www.mo-bis.org,

is an online library of references, tools and links for business data. Six broad categories, with 25 subcategories link to 436 other sources of information.

BRANSON CU. Postal Federal Community Credit Union opened a branch in Branson in July at 208 E. College, Ste. 20. The Towne Center branch in downtown Branson is a partnership between Postal Federal and Southwest Teachers Credit Union. Members of both credit unions may conduct business and open new accounts at the branch. Postal Federal also has an automated teller machine in the lobby of Branson Post Office at 320 S. Commercial St.

CARTOON REPLY. The editorial cartoon published in the Aug. 2-8 issue of the Springfield Business Journal depicted "Sesame Street" character Cookie Monster with his hand in a cookie jar labeled "donor list sale." The cartoon, by Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press, made reference to the recent hullabaloo regarding the actions of certain Public Broadcasting System stations in Boston, New York, San Francisco and elsewhere. Those stations sold or swapped mailing lists of donors with, among others, the Democratic National Committee. Be that as it may, Ozarks Public Television folks hastened to point out that the local PBS station has not and will not sell its mailing list to anyone or any organization.

SLICE OF NICE. The American Lung Association will hold its annual fund-raiser, Desserted Island, 7-11 p.m. Aug. 21 at Three Nineteen, 319 W. Walnut. The event will feature desserts from Springfield eateries which will be judged by celebrity judges from area media outlets. The evening will also feature a performance by Caduceus and a silent auction. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the door. For more information, call 883-7177.