On the Street

Luck o' the Irish

The 24th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will begin at 2 p.m. March 13 near the corner of Commercial Street and Benton Avenue. Applications for parade entries are being accepted up until the day of the event. In the interest of safety, there is to be no throwing of candy it should be handed out by someone walking with the parade entry and participants are asked not to drink alcoholic beverages, regardless of whether they are in or out of vehicles. The parade will disband in the city parking lot at South Avenue and Elm Street, and an awards ceremony will be held at Icon Nightclub, which is on Park Central East. Cash prizes will be awarded. Parade information and updates are available online at www.itsalldowntown.com.

What's up, Doc?

Doc Severinsen, Grammy Award-winning former music director of "The Tonight Show," will bring his big band to the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts on March 12. Doc Severinsen and His Big Band comprises 15 of the best musicians from "The Tonight Show," including Ed Shaughnessy on drums, and Snooky Young and Conte Condoli on trumpets. Bill Hartman, assistant professor of music at Southwest Missouri State University, will present an introduction of the show 45 minutes prior to the 8 p.m. show time. Tickets to the event range from $21 to $35 and are available through the SMSU box office and online at www.hammonshall.com.

Work comp

Missouri's workers' compensation fraud and noncompliance unit is second in the nation for the most workers' compensation fraud convictions per capita, compared to any other similar units in other states, according to information from the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. In 2002, Missouri had 58 criminal convictions for workers' compensation fraud, according to the coalition's statistical study of state insurance fraud bureaus. The state of Nevada ranked first with 220 convictions for workers' compensation fraud. The study was published in December 2003.

Slice of Nice

The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau is seeking nominations for awards that will be presented May 20 at the Fourth Annual Salute to Travel & Tourism Awards Banquet and Benefit. Nominations received by March 15 will be considered for five different awards: the Ambassador Award, the Hospitality Award, the Diplomat Award, the Spotlight Award and the Pinnacle Award. Proceeds from the event, which will include entertainment by Star Search winner Jake Simpson, will benefit the Springfield Regional Arts Council. The SRAC's Ozzie Awards will be presented in conjunction with the event. Nomination forms, tickets and tax-deductible sponsorship information is available by calling the CVB at 417-881-5300.