On the Street

CU exec plans exit
After 32 years with City Utilities, Tony Shalloup, the 60-year-old manager of information technology, will retire April 1. But he doesn’t plan on slowing down. “I’m looking at some other opportunities in the Springfield area – nothing to confirm at this time. I’m still in conversation with some companies, so we’ll see what happens,” he said. City Utilities officials said the position will not be filled.

Sales talks continue
John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. has extended its exclusive sales negotiations with JQH Acquisition LLC through April 30. The exclusivity period regarding a merger transaction was scheduled to expire March 10. The investor group has offered Hammons Hotels (AMEX: JQH) $24 per share.

Costlier convention center
Branson’s Board of Aldermen learned at a March 4 meeting that its proposed convention center could increase in cost by $1 million, Branson Daily News has reported. Convention center manager Hilton requested that developer HCW build a larger ballroom in order to make the facility more competitive. The request of an additional 5,000 square feet would create a 23,000-square-foot ballroom, about 2,000 square feet larger than University Plaza’s ballroom space in Springfield. The current cost estimate for Branson’s 220,000-square-foot convention center is $40 million. It would adjoin a 260-room Hilton-owned hotel.

Springfield apprentice
Drury University’s Students in Free Enterprise March 1 began its own version of NBC’s “The Apprentice.” Students from Boys and Girls Club will work in teams on different challenges for eight weeks; the program concludes with a May 3 awards banquet at Drury. However, unlike Donald Trump, Drury SIFE will not fire any students. Each week the teams will accumulate points based on their work. The team with the most points will have the opportunity to interview with Wal-Mart, the project’s corporate sponsor. The student selected from the winning team will receive a summer internship with Wal-Mart. The student projects take place 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday.

Slice of Nice
Springfield Sister Cities Association is accepting applications through April 15 from performance groups interested in participating in the 2006 Isesaki, Japan, Summer Festival and Cultural Exchange. The group, which must pay for airfare to Japan but gets most other expenses covered by the city of Isesaki, should consist of four to 10 people. Past performance groups who have traveled to Isesaki include The UnCivil Servants, The Traditional Dance and Music Society, Pat’s Cloggers, The Hammers and Strings Dulcimer Club, and the M-Dock Band. In August, The Garbonzos will represent Springfield Sister Cities during the festival. The SSCA will offer a donation to assist with expenses, as well as provide logistical and cultural assistance. For more information or to request an application, call (417) 864-1191.