On the Edges

Nixa

Downhome Productions lights up events

Downhome Productions will provide lighting, sound and staging for several upcoming large events this spring and summer, according to President Mark West. These include the Miss Missouri pageant; Youth for Christ conventions in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.; the Tracker Boat Show in Nashville; the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shareholders meeting in Fayetteville, Ark.; and Firefall, at the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport July 1. Downhome Productions also sponsors a Firefall Web site, www.firefall.net. By May 19, the site will include schedules and information on the event, according to West. He was recently named one of the Springfield Business Journal's 40 under 40.

Family Dollar store opens on South

"A little bit of everything" is available at Nixa's new Family Dollar store, according to Manager Robert Devlin. The store opened March 23 at 421 W. South St., the site of the former Dollar General. The store has 7,680 square feet, including a sales floor of 5,795 square feet. It is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-6 p.m. Sunday.

"We carry clothing, household chemicals, health and beauty, food, plastic items and knickknacks," Devlin said. There are five employees in Nixa. There are close to 3,000 Family Dollar stores in the United States, he said.

New real estate company opens

Net Marketing Inc., Realtors, owned by Bill and Mary Werner, opened in February at 216-C Village Center Road. The Werners received their real estate broker licenses last fall but have lived in the Springfield area since 1965. Bill Werner said they are gaining customers through networking and advertising. A new Web site, www.netmarketinginc.com, offers photos and information on the company's listings, as well as links to relocation information for out-of-state buyers. It is maintained by Mary Werner.

Blue Haven Pools relocates office

Susie and Glen McDonald moved the office of Blue Haven Pools to 486 W. Tracker Road April 1. The company, a franchise of San Diego-based Blue Haven Pools, opened in Nixa in October.

"Blue Haven is the oldest pool company in the country, in business since 1954. We have their guarantee and are backed up nationally. There are 60 offices nationwide, and it is expanding more and more," Susie McDonald said.

The couple also owns and operates Advanced Marble Concepts out of the same location. Blue Haven Pools builds fiberglass in-ground pools that come in 60 shapes and sizes, according to McDonald. The company will offer pool opening and closing services this fall. The company employs four people and is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office space is 600 square feet with a 1,000-square-foot warehouse. The company serves within 75 miles of Nixa.

Nixa Residential Care Center expands

A sitting room and four residential rooms have been added to Nixa Residential Care Center, 902 N. Main St. The facility, owned by Americare Properties Inc., has been in Nixa for seven years.

"About every six to seven years, the company puts money back into the center to refurbish, redecorate and add on," said Denise Price, director of nursing.

With the additional space, the assisted living center can now house up to 26 residents in private or semi-private rooms. The contractor for the 1,872-square-foot project was K.C. Construction. Price said Americare also has three facilities in Ozark and Springfield. An open house was held May 13, and a Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting was held May 5. Nixa Residential Care Center offers 24-hour care and is staffed by certified medication administrators, according to Price. The administrator is Francie Larsen. Nixa Residential Care Center offers recreation opportunities, transportation to medical appointments, Branson trips, a beauty shop, all meals and laundry service.

Republic

MFA Town & Country celebrates opening

The Republic MFA Town & Country held a grand-opening celebration May 5-6 at its new store at 860 U.S. Highway 60 West. The store opened for business March 20, Manager Kip Baker said.

"We've had a wonderful reaction from the community and have been very busy. A lot of curious people came in when we first opened, but now we're starting to see regulars coming in weekly," Baker said.

The store features typical MFA products such as fertilizer, seed and animal feeds, and it also has a rental department, paint and hardware items.

The opening featured a carnival, petting zoo, pony rides, drawings and a free lunch for customers, Baker said. The store is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. It employs about 25 people and encompasses 20,000 square feet. The building was constructed by Ron Deffenderfer Construction.