On the Edges

Bioproducts Inc. receives safety award

The Safety Council of the Ozarks presented Bioproducts Inc. a first-place award for most improved safety record and a second-place award for the most effective safety committee. The awards were presented Sept. 28 during the Safety and Health Conference of the Ozarks.

Bioproducts Inc. is the No. 1 producer of dog-food flavors in the world, said Dawn Oplinger, safety coordinator. The Ohio-based company has been in Aurora since 1984 and employs 40 people.

Oplinger said that four years ago the company had a high rate of on-the-job injuries and illnesses 24 percent more than the national average. Through a safety committee, Bioproducts' latest safety rating was reduced to three percentage points less than the national average for manufacturers of pet-food flavorings.

"It was a real honor to receive these two awards. We were able to achieve this through complete employee participation and safety practices. All the employees worked together it was a big team effort," Oplinger said. The company will celebrate three years without a lost-time accident Nov. 13 with a dinner at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.

Consignment, counseling businesses open

Bows & Britches, a children's and maternity resale and consignment store, has opened at 103 S. Delaware. Owner Elizabeth Snowden is now accepting consignments. The store's hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Dr. Pamela Payne-Edwards and Dr. Dennis Edwards have opened a counseling office at 212C Village Center Road. Payne-Edwards is a licensed professional counselor with a doctorate in education. She has taught at Southwest Missouri State University and at the Forest Institute of Psychology and counsels women, children and families of children with disabilities.

Edwards is a licensed clinical social worker with a doctorate in social work. He works with the geriatric population as a dementia expert and is a marriage and family counselor. Edwards also teaches social work at SMSU and supervises therapists seeking certification from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Both counselors do consulting and advocacy work. Payne-Edwards said she and her husband chose to set up a practice in Nixa because there is no other counseling center in the area to serve people in Nixa, Ozark and south Springfield.

November chamber news and events

The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce elected three members to its board of directors for three-year terms beginning in January 2000. They are Scott Harris of Ozark Bank, Kathy Iman of KJI Enterprises and the Rev. Lee Strawhun of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Morris Hudson of the Missouri Procurement Assistance Centers will be the featured speaker at the chamber's general membership meeting at noon Nov. 9 at Albertson's Restaurant. Hudson will discuss how the state of Missouri purchases goods and services. Also, people from Ozarks Public Television will discuss how chamber members can participate in the KOZK Teleauction Nov. 19-21.

Working Women in Nixa will meet at noon Nov. 16 at Fire it Up, a new paint-your-own ceramics studio at 1330 W. Schatz Lane. Participants will paint a Christmas ornament. The Wild Fork will provide lunch. Admission is $6 and reservations are due to Larry Perney, 725-1545, at the Nixa chamber, by Nov. 12.

The chamber's Seventh Annual Business Forum is set for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 30 at Empire Bank, 502 W. Mt. Vernon. The event costs $6 and reservations should be made by Nov. 26 by calling 725-1545.