Open for Business: Teaching Tools and Toys

Two former Nixa schoolteachers have opened Teaching Tools |amp| Toys, an educational supply store at 115 N. Massey Road in Nixa. Robbyn Bybee and Sheranne McMurdo (pictured) opened the store June 1. |quot|We carry educational toys and resource books for children birth through middle-school age,|quot| Bybee said. Bybee and McMurdo taught kindergarten and first grade together in Nixa for two years and have a combined nine years of classroom experience. The store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

T.E. Mortgage, formerly Liberty Financial, relocated its office to 1540 W. Battlefield Road Sept. 23. Manager Bart Bowe said the move improves the office environment and location. T.E. Mortgage did nearly $60 million in mortgage volume for 2001 and has averaged 80 mortgages per month this year. Bowe hopes the move increases loans to 100 a month, aided by the low interest rates. |quot|These are the lowest we've seen in 37 years. Life is good,|quot| he said. Springfield is the headquarters for T.E. Mortgage, which is owned by Terry Elliott. Other locations are in Joplin and Berryville, Ark.

Community Financial Credit Union Oct. 1 opened its second full-service branch at 1220 E. Walnut Lawn. The new, nearly $1 million facility features safety deposit boxes, a four-lane drive-up window and an ATM. |quot|This branch gives us the opportunity to serve our current members who live, work, or just find they need financial services while on the south side of town,|quot| said Cathy Stroud, president and CEO of the credit union. Community Financial also operates from 815 W. Tampa St. It has more than $37 million in assets and serves 12,000 members of select employer groups in nine southwest Missouri counties. The south side lobby is open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. The drive up is open 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

North Springfield's Days Inn |amp| Conference Center is home to a new restaurant. Fred's Fish House opened Sept. 1 at 3050 N. Kentwood Ave. inside the hotel. Owner Joan Cotter also runs Fred's Fish House in Ash Grove. The restaurant offers fresh catfish, steaks, salads and burgers, Cotter said. The Springfield location seats 150 guests and opens at 11 a.m. daily. It closes at 6 p.m. on Sunday, 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cotter said the restaurant also provides catering and will serve the hotel's food and beverage banquet needs.