On the Street

Bass Pro Shops continues to spread its retail web across the country. The Springfield-based outdoor retailer plans five grand openings in November – Council Bluffs, Iowa; Denver; Clarksville, Ind.; Sevierville, Tenn.; and Pearl. Miss. – and another seven locations have been announced this year. Among them are stores in Olathe, Kan., Macon, Georgia, a second California store and a fifth Texas store. Deals in recent weeks will bring the brand to Portage, Ind., and Washington, Pa., while negotiations continue for large vacant space in Memphis, Tenn. – The Pyramid – and Buffalo, N.Y.’s Memorial Auditorium. Tax incentives are part of those discussions. Broken Arrow, Okla.’s store opened Oct. 19, making it No. 28 in 17 states.

Missouri DNR denies Journagan air permit

Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources on Nov. 1 denied Leo Journagan Construction Co.’s air permit request that would have authorized construction and operation of a crushing plant at the Battlefield quarry site in Christian County. DNR also denied such a permit on Journagan’s site in 1997. Both times it was determined that the crushing plant would affect air quality. “This is an urban area presenting significant complications,” DNR director Doyle Childers said in a news release.

Central High award

The Broadcast Media Department at Springfield’s Central High School took second place in the National Scholastic Press Association’s Broadcast Story of the Year competition. Central’s entry, “For Better or Worse,” competed against more than 200 entries nationwide and covered the topic of teens choosing to get married before they graduate high school. Senior Hannah Dorr was the reporter for the entry, and senior Tyler Wasman was the videographer. All winners will be recognized Nov. 13 in Chicago at the NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention.

Slice of Nice

The Discovery Center of Springfield’s annual holiday fund-raiser is Nov. 19. Festival of Trees, celebrating its 20th year, begins with silent and live auctions at 7 p.m. Area businesses and individuals have donated decorated Christmas trees, jewelry from Maxon’s Diamond Merchants, privately cooked meals by Agrario, Clary’s American Grill and Steve and Debbi Stinnett, portraits by Nancy Rose and golf packages in Branson and St. Augustine, Fla. Tickets are $60, of which $35 is tax deductible. Clary’s is catering hors d’oevres, and a cash bar is available. The Discovery Center is an interactive children’s museum at 438 St. Louis St.