Heard On The Street

Earl E. Newman has been appointed assistant director of Public Works for the city of Springfield. Newman, who was engineering manager for George Butler Associates Inc. in Springfield, will be responsible for the traffic and civil engineering divisions of the Public Works Department. Newman was Springfield's city traffic engineer from 1974-92, before his six years with Butler Associates. "Meeting the transportation needs of our community is a top priority. Mr. Newman brings a unique combination of public and private experience to the position," said Marc Thornsberry, director of Public Works.

BRANCH SALE

The Mercantile Bank branch in Miller is set to be sold to Sun Financial Corporation. A release from St. Charles-based Sun Financial said the Miller location will be a branch of Sun Security Bank of America in Mountain Grove. Sun Financial Corporation is a $170 million bank holding company that also operates Sun Security Bank of Mid-America and First Sun Bank of America. Miller is the holding company's 18th location. Regulatory approval of the sale is expected in the first quarter of next year.

GOT MILK?

Dairy Farmers of America announced Dec. 18 a joint venture with Suiza Foods that will result in a Northeast milk bottling operation with revenues of $1.2 billion. The deal, which DFA will have a 25 percent stake in, will be managed by Suiza Foods Corp. DFA's Tuscan/Lehigh dairy operation and Suiza's multiple businesses in the region are part of the joint venture. Suiza operates processing locations in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Maine. A DFA release said the deal will allow it to "participate in the restructuring of the dairy industry." Gary Hanman, president and CEO for DFA, said, "This kind of relationship is a good example of how dairy farmers, through a united effort, can strengthen their market position and create long-term income opportunities."

ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN'

A lawsuit filed by Carol Jones, Realtors, against Murney Associates more than a year ago has been settled. Parties on both sides have agreed to dismiss their claims, said Steve Garner, attorney for Murney Associates. Both sides also agreed not to say anything about the dismissal other than that the case had been dismissed. Each side will file a motion for dismissal under protest in the coming weeks. The judge received notification of the settlement Dec. 15. The case was originally to have had a March 1999 court date. The case was filed Aug. 29, 1997, after Patrick Murney left Carol Jones to start his own firm.

CONDEMN ME, CONDEMN ME NOT

The city of Springfield has reached an agreement on one property slated for inclusion in Civic Park and has signed a contract on another. Neither of the properties is Thompson Pontiac GMC Cadillac. The city announced Dec. 18 that it would buy the old Sears warehouse on Trafficway for its appraised value of $350,000. DaBryan Coach will also become property of Springfield soon; the city is set to enter into a contract to buy that property before the end of 1998. Though at SBJ's press time it had not filed a petition for condemnation of the Thompson and Greyhound properties, City Manager Tom Finnie said the city was proceeding with condemnation and would probably file such a petition in Greene County Circuit Court before Christmas. The city has already announced a deal with Tri-States Whitely. The condemnation of the Greyhound and Thompson properties will take place simultaneously, and only one petition will be filed in Greene County for both so that the same three commissioners will hear both cases, Finnie said. While the property acquisition goes on, the Civic Park Advisory Committee also continues to brainstorm development guidelines for private parties interested in placing businesses inside the park. The race is on to see whether the condemnation process ends before the guidelines are in place, or vice versa.

SLICE OF NICE

It's Girl Scout cookie time! Just as you are finishing off the holiday goodies, it's time to order some more yummy stuff from the young women of the Dogwood Trails Girls Scout Council. Cookies go on sale Jan. 9. This year's batch of cookies includes the old favorites: thin mints, peanut butter patties and shortbread, but also includes a new variety called Upside-Downs Frosted Oatmeal Cookies. Cookies are $3 a box and proceeds go to support Girl Scout programs. For more information, call the Dogwood Trails Council at 800-345-4335.[[In-content Ad]]