On the Street

BEEFY

Springfield's Ristorante Teatro received a Beef Backer Award from the Missouri Beef Industry Council and National Cattlemen's Beef Association in recognition of the eatery's beef menu items. Patrons, culinary organizations, fellow chefs and local beef producers nominated restaurants for the award. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges based on leadership in beef recipes, diversity of beef menu items and overall customer satisfaction.

BLACK GOLD

Stockton-based Hammons Products Company expects to start buying black walnuts in 13 states Oct. 1. According to the company, the bulk of this year's crop is in the Arkansas Ozarks, but the company's network of buying stations still is being finalized. In 2001, the company purchased more than 36 million pounds of black walnuts. Additional information about the harvest and hulling stations is available online at www.black-walnuts.com.

TERRORISM VS. DEMOCRACY

Benjamin Netanyahu will visit College of the Ozarks Oct. 3 to talk about leadership in a presentation titled, "Terrorism: How Constitutional Democracy Can Win." Netanyahu served as Israel's prime minister from 1996 to 1999. He was the youngest person to be elected to that post. During his term, his policies stressed security and bilateral negotiations for peace, and he opposed the formation of a Palestinian state. During his political career, Netanyahu has continued to emphasize the fight against terrorism something that affected him personally in 1976, when his older brother was killed in a hostage situation aboard an Air France aircraft. The Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger endowment is making the event possible, but tickets are required. Tickets will be reserved on a first call-first served basis. For more information, contact the College of the Ozarks.

SLICE OF NICE

The first Incredible Challenge to benefit Bridges for Youth and the Heart of Springfield Optimist Club will be held 8 a.m.-noon at Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company, 2850 S. Campbell Ave. For a registration fee of $30 per team, two-member teams one child and one adult will compete in a miniature golf and go-cart challenge. Each team will play nine holes of miniature golf and compete in a 10-lap go-cart race. Fifty-four teams will compete in the Incredible Challenge. Each team will receive T-shirts, buffet lunch and access to bumper cars. Sponsorships are available for prizes and mini-golf holes. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.heartof springfield.org.