Heard on the Street

ALTERNATIVES. Rolfing, reflexology and reiki are among the topics of the Summer Alternative Health Series to be held June 13, 15 and 20 at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell. Scheduled presentations are "Rolfing/CORE Massage: Touching the CORE" at 7 p.m. and "Foot Reflexology" at 8 p.m. June 13; "Reiki" at 7 p.m. and "The Mind Body Connection" at 8 p.m. June 15; and "Traditional Five-Element Acupuncture/Acupressure" at 7 p.m. and "Craniosacral Therapy" at 8 p.m. June 20. For more information about this free program, call the library at 874-8110.

BUILDING THE FUTURE. The Home Builders Association recently awarded six scholarships to Springfield students. John Verfurth and Robert E. Scott received scholarships to pursue their studies in construction technology at Ozarks Technical Community College. Verfurth graduated from Kickapoo High School in May, and Scott is a returning student who has completed a tour of duty in the U.S. Army and a stint with AmeriCorps. Andrea Cook and Lucas LaRue received scholarships for construction management studies at Southwest Missouri State University. Cook, from Nixa, and LaRue will graduate from SMSU in spring 2001. This is the second year LaRue has received an HBA scholarship. Grant Arle, from St. Charles, and Jennifer Robison, from Mt. Vernon, received scholarships to pursue degrees in interior design at SMSU. Both will graduate in spring 2001.

FREEDEM. The Democratic National Committee has launched FreeDem.com, providing free Internet access to anyone who wants it, regardless of political party, according to a release from the Missouri Democratic Party. In addition to a free Internet service provider, the party also announced a new portal site at FreeDem.com.

WAR! Harriet Beecher Stowe, Sojourner Truth, Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and Angus Augustus Burleigh will cross the barrier of time to speak at The Heartland Chautauqua, "Inside the Civil War." The event will be held 7:45-9:15 p.m. June 19-24 under a tent on the east side of the Public Affairs Classroom Building at SMSU, according to a release from SMSU. Scholars and performers will portray historic figures in full costume, some presenting monologues based on their research and others performing one-person plays followed by question-and-answer sessions. The Chautauqua gets its name from Lake Chautauqua in New York, where the first such event a week-long religious program led by Sunday school teachers began almost 127 years ago.

HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY to E.A. Martin Company, which celebrated 85 years in business June 8. Started in Joplin in 1915 by E.A. Martin Sr., the first E.A. Martin Machinery Company sold machinery and supplies used for mining lead and zinc during World War I, according to a company release. The company made a major shift to distributing construction machinery between 1918 and 1928 in response to a boom in new roads, airports, industrial facilities, etc. In 1928, E.A. Martin Jr. signed with Caterpillar as the distributor to 21 counties in southwest Missouri and nine counties in northwest Arkansas. The corporate office in Springfield was opened in August of 1967, joining the company's four existing locations. The 16th oldest Caterpillar dealership in the world, the company now has 12 locations throughout Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas.

HOMEWORK FOR TEACHER. Bank of America recently announced the availability of Teacher Flex and Teacher Zero Down mortgage loans. They are designed to help teachers and administrators meet the costs of homeownership and to thereby attract and retain teachers for the community. Teacher Flex is designed for those with limited savings or who have just started their careers. Teacher Zero Down is targeted to the educator with excellent credit but limited income and limited funds for downpayment. There are no income or location restrictions for either program and loans of up to $252,700 are eligible for either program.

SLICE OF NICE. Heart disease and stroke together kill more Americans than any other cause, and women are particularly at risk: more women than men have died from cardiovascular disease and stroke every year since