On the Street

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has expanded Springfield’s economic area to cover five Arkansas counties. Used to show a city’s drawing power, the federal designation for Springfield now encompasses 27 counties and more than 935,000 people.

BEA moved four counties out of Springfield’s economic area and into Jefferson City’s and pulled Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Marion and Newton counties from Little Rock, Ark.’s economic area. The areas are largely determined by commuting patterns.

The average wage per job in Springfield’s economic area is now $25,877.

Public defender pinch

Private practice attorneys are volunteering to help Missouri’s troubled public defender system.

According to a Missouri Bar news release, caseloads for the state’s public defenders exceed national standards by nearly 30 percent. The Missouri Bar is asking its members to sign up for public defense traffic cases.

This is not the first time the Missouri Bar has stepped up for the public defender system.

SBJ reported in January that the Missouri Bar Foundation was hoping to raise $250,000 for a loan repayment assistance program for public sector attorneys. It has raised nearly $150,000 in cash and pledges to date. The fund-raising deadline is now Aug. 15.

Golf greats apply here

The Heart of the Ozarks Junior Golf Foundation is seeking nominations for this year’s inductees to the Ozarks Golf Hall of Fame.

The public can nominate a golf player, coach, teacher, administrator or promoter of civic, educational or charitable activities that promotes golf in the Ozarks. Nominees must live within 100 miles of Springfield.

An induction ceremony will be held Sept. 30 at Clarion Hotel, preceded by a pro-am tournament at Rivercut Golf Course. All proceeds go to support junior golf in southwest Missouri. Contact Rick Grayson at (417) 823-7888 for nomination information.

Slice of Nice

The 20th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon raised a record $1.6 million June 4–5 for sick and injured children in the Ozarks. The 2004 telethon raised $1.5 million.

Corporate donors this year were Krispy Kreme, Springfield Area Credit Unions, ReMax, Price Cutter, Great Southern Bank, KADI, Kum & Go and Wal-Mart. KY-3 televised the telethon and provided the hosts. All proceeds benefit the local CMN’s Care Mobile, medical equipment, financial assistance and educational programs. CMN services reached more than 100,000 children in the past year, according to Director Susan Scanlon.