Heard On The Street

STARSTRUCK. Star 104.1 FM, owned by Radio 2000, has changed its format, name and call letters. The former adult contemporary-oriented station is now active rock, a mix of Top 40 tunes with a smattering of classic cuts each hour, said Radio 2000 Vice President Rob Nicholson. And it's now called Channel Z 104.1. Radio 2000 sold to Sunburst Media its station at 95.5 on the FM spectrum in 1997 which under Radio 2000 ownership was Channel Z. "The one thing we didn't sell was the name," Nicholson said. The Sunburst station now goes by The Edge. Also changed are the call letters of the former Star, formerly KQMO, now KZRQ, as approved by the Federal Communications Commission. The former format of 104.1 was set in motion before the sale of Channel Z was considered, Nicholson said. After that sale, he said it was determined to go ahead with the adult contemporary format. "We decided to do what we set out to do and see if it works but it didn't work," Nicholson said. He characterized the former format as passive, as opposed to the active new format, which will include concert promotion, event sponsorship and community activity. "We're not patient enough to sit for two, three years waiting for something to happen," he said of the return to the old Channel Z's more pro-active strategy.

SELLOFF. Kerr-McGee Chemical LLC has agreed to sell off its forest products operations to Castle Harlan Inc., a New York private merchant bank. Springfield has one of the six plants in the division, which chemically treat railroad ties. "The dedicated efforts of the employees have built the forest products division into a leader in the crosstie industry," said Luke R. Corbett, chairman and CEO of Kerr-McGee, in a release. "However, we believe that the full potential of these operations can best be realized apart from the existing corporate structure." He said in the release that Kerr-McGee is following a strategy to focus on oil and gas exploration, and titanium oxide pigment operations. The division has about $125 million in annual sales.

TALLY HO. The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced it will once again go to northern England in April to lead a group in Business Connections '98. The expo links business folks throughout Europe. For a $400 registration fee, participating companies get a booth at the event, arranged meetings with potential business partners, cut rates on hotels and "some complimentary meals," according to the state agency's Office of International Marketing. The deadline for participation is March 27. Call Ann Pardalos at 573-751-4855 for more information on the April 28-29 event. The state has led a delegation to Business Connections for the past three years.

WITH LIBERTY AND HEMP FOR ALL. Cannabis Country Hemporium has announced it will display an 1856 original copy of the Declaration of Independence written on hemp paper, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 3 and 4 at its 2005-E E. Kearney location. Every 10 years, starting in 1856, 200 copies of the historic document were produced. Of that first batch of 200, three known copies survive: one in the White House, one in Massachusetts and the one that is visiting Springfield. These days, thousands of copies of the document are produced, but only the 1856 copies were printed on hemp paper. Security for the display will be provided by Security Unlimited.

REJECTING FAMILY VALUES. Patrick Reynolds, grandson and former heir to the fortune of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds, will address the Springfield community and local seventh graders at 7 p.m. April 30. After losing several family members to cigarette-related illnesses, Patrick Reynolds kicked the habit, denounced the family business, sold all his stock and started the Foundation for a Smokefree America. His presentation, "Tobacco Wars The Battle for a Smokefree America," is free and open to the public, part of Cox Health Systems and St. John's Health System's joint observance of April as Cancer Control Month. Both health systems will also offer free oral cancer screenings April 29 and 30. To participate in the screenings, call 269-8161 or 885-2273.

SLICE OF NICE. Lunch for Life, an educational fund raiser to benefit AIDS Project of the Ozarks, will be held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March 23 at area restaurants. Each restaurant will be provided with educational pamphlets to be distributed to their customers. All proceeds from this event will go to benefit HIV/AIDS clients throughout southwest Missouri. To participate in the Lunch for Life, simply go to one of the participating restaurants during the appointed hours and have lunch. For more information, please call AIDS Project of the Ozarks at 881-1900.

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