Heard on the Street

STRUBE FINALISTS. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce named five finalist for the 1999 W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year Award. They are: Aire-Master of American Inc., Corporate Business Systems Inc., Ollis & Company, ServiceWorld Computer Center Inc. and Springfield Mill & Lumber Company. Each company will be profiled in coming weeks in the pages of the Business Journal. The winner will be announced at an award luncheon toward the end of May during Small Business Week. Congratulations, and stay tuned.

CONSOLIDATION. NationsBank will close one of its Branson locations May 27. The branch at 3218 Shepherd of the Hills Expwy. will be consolidated with NationsBank's other bank in downtown Branson. On that same date, one of two locations in Pittsburg, Kan., will also close. NationsBank officials said the moves were part of continual review of operations and reflect business decisions related to performance of locations. The properties in Branson and Pittsburg are for sale.

WATERSHED PLANS. The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks is in the earliest stages of planning a facility for itself and for the community on 86 acres north of town at Valley Water Mill Road. The site, on land owned by City Utilities (a sponsoring organization of the committee), is the only thing close to certain at this point. Executive Director Loring Bullard said a facilitator has been hired and is conducting a needs assessment through interviews with the project's potential users. The project might include offices for the Watershed Committee, an interpretive center and trails through the property. Bullard said the site contains all of the elements typical of the area's geology: a 12-acre lake, a large spring, sink holes, bluffs and a portion of South Dry Sac Creek. The building might host educational events and professional development seminars on water-quality issues.

417 411. The night of long knives at 417 Magazine has resulted in a shakeup at the publication owned by Radio 2000. Vice President Rob Nicholson resigned under pressure April 19. Editor Ron Davis, Art Director Mike Wingo and Circulation Director Tim Gibbs also resigned. According to Davis, the three underlings' resignations were of their own volition and preceded Nicholson's ouster. "After 18 months of working to create the magazine, I felt it was time for someone else to grab tight and take it off the plain and onto another level," Davis said. "It was great work, but it really took its toll: 70-hour weeks weren't uncommon, and deadlines were always hectic." Radio 2000 President Frank Copsidas, according to Davis, asked Davis and Wingo to discuss their resignations. Davis said he decided his farewell stood. Wingo, however, went back to 417 as editor. "I encouraged Wingo to meet with Frank and hear him out[[In-content Ad]]