Heard On The Street

PETERS I. Business guru Tom Peters will visit our fair city Oct. 6 for a one-day seminar sponsored by the Management Development Institute at SMSU. Peters, the author of such books as "In Search of Excellence," "Liberation Management" and, most recently, "The Circle of Innovation," will speak on the topic "How to Survive and Thrive in Uncertain Times." The event is part of the institute's Lessons in Leadership series. The day-long event will take place at University Plaza Convention Center and includes lunch. For the cost of the seminar starting at $349 per person and declining with more participants from the same organization you also get a copy of Peters' newest book.

PETERS II. Missouri's Sen. John Ashcroft has weighed in with his opinion on President Bill Clinton's Aug. 17 address to the nation. He said Clinton should resign. "I may be at odds with some in my party who counsel that the correct political course for Republicans is to allow a disgraced, ineffective president to stay in office. That would be wrong for the country and against our national interest," Ashcroft said in a release. He went on: "In effect, the president has resigned already. Continuing to blame others for his problems, refusing to testify fully, and delaying further would only prolong the crisis and further damage the country."

TIPTOE ON THE NORTH SIDE. It's free tulip-bulb time for northsiders once again. The North Springfield Betterment Association is handing out the bulbs to businesses, individuals and organizations that agree to plant the flowers in visible locations north of St. Louis Avenue. You can get in on the free bulbs by writing to PO Box 172 65801 before Sept. 30. Include your name, address and telephone number, along with a description of where the bulbs will be planted, in the request.

BEEMERS. Reliable BMW has officially opened its dealership doors, joining the Reliable Toyota and Lexus dealerships in the complex just east of U.S. 65 at Sunshine. The 14,000-square-foot building includes, along with the sales floor, a service center and "a complete parts boutique with BMW lifestyle accessories, including BMW off-road bicycles," according to a release from Tony Stubblefield, vice president, general manager and managing partner. The release said Reliable BMW has added 50 new jobs.

JOPLIN OPENING. Postal Federal Community Credit Union opened a new location in Joplin at 1901 E. 20th St., according to a release from the credit union. Springfield-based Postal Federal planned grand-opening activities Aug. 21-28, including discounted loan rates. Wayne Hughes is Joplin branch manager of the $58-million-asset credit union that has its main location at 1983 E. Seminole.

SOLD! McLeodUSA Inc. disclosed in an Aug. 14 filing that it paid about $6 million for Communications Cable-Laying Company Inc., better known as Dial US, the long-distance and local telephone company based in Springfield. The deal, spelled out in McLeod's quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, involved 151,019 shares of stock in the company and a payment of $78,000 in cash. At the time of the deal's closing June 29, the $6 million figure was based on the average closing market price of the stock at the time of the acquisition. McLeod's stock closed trading Aug. 19 at about $37.60, which would put the Dial US acquisition shares' value at $5.69 million. The stock's 52-week high value was $48.3125 and its low trading price in the last year was $30.125. McLeod earlier in the year acquired Springfield's Bi-Rite Directories Inc. for $3.69 million in cash and assumption of debt. Total revenue for the company for the three months ended June 30, 1998, was $155.7 million, with a net loss of $29.8 million for the quarter reported. "The company has experienced operating losses since its inception as a result of efforts to build its customer base, develop and construct its network infrastructure, build its internal staffing, develop its systems and expand into new markets," the report said.

SLICE OF NICE. The Springfield Family Y's "Slice Through the City," an eight-kilometer run starting on South National and ending at St. Louis Street and Jefferson Avenue, will be held Sept. 26. Proceeds from the run benefit the Y's Youth Scholarship Fund. Those interested in participating in the run can pre-register at either Y location or, on the day of the race at the starting line, 7-7:45 a.m. The run will start at 8 a.m. at Commercial Federal Bank, 3570 S. National, and end at Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street. For more information, contact the Springfield Family Y at 881-1599.

[[In-content Ad]]