Heard On The Street

TAX THOSE TOURISTS! The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has added a site to its home page providing information about the Feb. 3 hotel/motel tourist tax initiative. The "Recreate Springfield" site answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the proposed visitor tax increase. To access the site direct, go to http://www.spfld-mo-chamber.com/yes.htm.

RESUMANIA is the term Robert Half, founder of Accountemps, coined to describe the blunders that appear in resumes, job applications and cover letters. Favorite resume bloopers collected by Half include: "Worked party-time as an office assistant." "I am entirely through in my work; no detail gets by me." "Thank you for beeting me for an interview." "My qualifications are above repoach." "Outside activities: A bell ringer for the Salivation Army." "Typing speed of 40 - 50 rpm." "You have nothing to loose by calling me for an interview." "Planned and held up numerous meetings." And, "I felt my company was charging its customers absorbent rates, so I left." Accountemps recommends the use of a spell-check program, and particularly, proofreading by friends, family or colleagues, before sending a resume to a prospective employer.

COOKIE ALERT! The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is now under way in southwest Missouri, but don't forget the cookie crumbles Feb. 1 the last day to place orders. Cookies are $3 a box, and Girl Scout troops earn 37 cents for every box sold. Those earnings go toward such activities as troop trips and service projects. Individual Girl Scouts can earn "cookie coupons," good for discounts on summer camp, council events and items in the Girl Scout Council Shop. For more information on the organization or the cookie sale, call the Dogwood Trails Girl Scout Council at 800-345-4335.

FAST SERVICE, NO WAITING. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have granted O'Reilly Automotive early termination of the waiting period on O'Reilly's acquisition of Hi-Lo Automotive Inc. The waiting period is required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Acts of 1976. Early termination indicates that the government agencies do not intend to oppose the tender offer and related merger on antitrust grounds. Such early termination of the waiting period also satisfies one of the conditions of the tender-offer agreement between O'Reilly and Hi-Lo, announced Dec. 23, 1997. The tender offer, for $4.35 per share, is still subject to certain other conditions and will expire at midnight Jan. 26, New York City time, unless extended.

BLUNT IMAGES. Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt is launching "Ozarks' Picture Pages," an effort to bring "greater worldwide exposure to southwest Missouri's rich culture and heritage" by urging "everyone with a picture to share and a brief story to tell about their county to send it in now," according to a Jan. 15 press release. Blunt wants to use the pictures and stories about the Ozarks to add color and information to his congressional home page, located at www.house.gov/blunt/. "We have a great story to tell about every county, but the best storytellers are the people who live there," he stated. Each picture should be accompanied by a paragraph, limited to 50 words, explaining the story behind the photo. Send entries to the Springfield Constituent Service Center, 2740 E. Sunshine, 65804 by March 20, 1998. The Ozarks' Picture Pages display for each county should be on the Web in early April.

SLICE OF NICE. An underwater poker game will be held to benefit victims of multiple sclerosis and their families. Scuba divers from across the Ozarks are invited to participate in the game, which will be held 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Aquasports Scuba Center at 5601 S. Campbell. Divers must turn in a minimum of $25 in pledges and call to reserve a time and seat at the tables. More than 800 people in the southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas area have multiple sclerosis. The neurological disease attacks the central nervous system. There is currently no known cause or cure for the disease. For more information on the underwater poker game or to register, please call Valerie Earl with Aquasports Scuba Center at 883-5151 or 800-743-8355.

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