Heard on the Street

40 UNDER 40. The Springfield Business Journal will present 40 Under 40, a new special section spotlighting up-and-coming young professionals, in the April 19 issue. If your company has a rising star who exemplifies leadership and dedication, as well as excellence in personal/professional development and community involvement or service, let us know. Send your nominations to Clarissa French, special sections editor, at PO Box 1365 Springfield 65801, by fax at 831-5478 or by e-mail at sbj@sbj.net. Please include your name, address, phone number and company name, along with the nominee's name and title, phone/fax numbers and a brief statement of what makes the nominee a standout. The deadline for submissions is March 31.

SHARED UNIT. Empire District Electric Company announced Western Resources Inc. as its partner in constructing a 500-megawatt generator at its State Line Power Plant near Joplin. Construction of the plant was announced last year, at which time Empire said it would seek a partner for the project. Empire District will operate the plant. Construction is set to begin in the fall of this year. Topeka-based Western Resources is a consumer services company with interests in monitored security and energy. "This generating unit will provide both companies with an economical source of energy to serve our expanding customer needs and fits nicely in the generation mix of both companies," said Myron McKinney, president and chief executive officer for Empire District Electric.

DT's. DT Industries Inc. announced Feb. 10 second-quarter net income of $1.1 million, or 11 cents per diluted share. That's down from the second quarter the year before when the Springfield-based company had net income of $8.2 million, or 66 cents per diluted share. The company had earlier warned that its official second-quarter numbers would be off. Net sales for the quarter ended Dec. 27 were $111.6 million, compared to $132.4 million in the year before. Delays in anticipated orders within the company's automation group were cited in a company press release for the diminished performance during the quarter. The release also said order activity during January showed "measurable improvement."

ST. PAT'S. More news from the 19th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Springfield, set for March 20. Unless you really hurry, you're probably too late to enter the poster contest; entries are due at Corner Printing, 411 S. Campbell, by noon Feb. 15. The contest is open to folks 16 years old and younger. In addition to the honor of designing the event's official poster and T-shirt, the winner will be this year's grand marshal. Designs should fit a standard 12-by-18-inch format. Activities on the day of the parade start at 11 a.m. when food and drink booths open on Park Central Square. Tulamore, a traditional Irish musical group from Kansas City, will perform on the square beginning at 11:30. The parade begins at 2 p.m., traversing Commercial, Boonville and ending at the square. After the parade, Paddy O'Brien and Chulrua will perform at Springfield Brewing Company, where the St. Patrick's Day awards ceremony will also be held.

NEW ZOO REVIEW. The Diversity of Life Building project at the Dickerson Park Zoo has been re-bid without prevailing wage and will be out for bid until Feb. 19. The expansion project

was put on hold after an official with

the state Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division intervened and said the project should pay prevailing wage. Zoo officials contend that because the project is owned by Friends of the Zoo, a nonprofit fund-raising group, the job should not pay prevailing wage. One wage-and-hour inspector told those affiliated with the project that he

would hate to show up at the bid awarding with a court injunction. Stay tuned for updates on injunctions and wages.

SLICE OF NICE. The Boys and Girls Club of Springfield will hold its Youth of the Year luncheon at noon Feb. 17 at University Plaza. "This is without a doubt the most exciting activity that we have during the year," a release from the club said. Two youths of the year will be named; a girl and a boy. Each Youth of the Year will receive a $6,000 college scholarship and will serve as a spokesperson for the club during 1999. The scholarships are funded by the Springfield Boys and Girls Club Ladies Auxiliary. Each winner will also become a candidate for state Youth of the Year. Tickets, which are $15, and more information is available by calling Linda Perkins at 862-9249.

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