Overheard

Kevin Costner extended his stay in Springfield last week to show off his musical talents at Bass Pro Shops’ July 7 employee picnic. Springfield Underground was host of the evening party – on the same site that James River Assembly held its I Love America celebration days earlier. Bass Pro mailed about 1,300 private invitations and expected up to 3,000 in attendance. Costner is front-man for the band Modern West. He was in Springfield July 6 for a preview party of his new movie, “Swing Vote,” in which the actor wears a Bass Pro cap in several scenes. Costner and Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris are conservation pals, and Costner is a longtime customer. The outdoor retailer turned the $250-a-ticket private showing into a fundraiser for Upper White River Basin Foundation and Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, with Morris presenting each entity with a $50,000 check.

Green Before There Was Green

Green homebuilder Stuart Murr was driving his pickup truck on vegetable oil when the word “green” was just a color. He began conversations four years ago with Springfield-based Golden Fuel Systems - makers of diesel-engine conversion kits. SBJ Editor Eric Olson ran into Murr at Green Circle’s July 8 ceremonial opening, where Murr said he’s powered his truck on restaurant fryer waste or vegetable oil out of the bottle for about three years. Now, Murr estimates there are 150 people in Springfield powering their cars on veggie oil, and he’s encountered a supply-side problem to his ingenuity. Restaurants are becoming reluctant to share their waste, sometimes citing legal concerns, Murr said, and some grease is just too dirty. That’s right, quality matters when filling an engine with the greasy stuff. The upside: traveling in the $2.20 per gallon range, said Murr, who’s currently building an environmentally friendly home in east Springfield for Andy Kuntz of Andy’s Frozen Custard.

City Manager Update

Springfield’s city manager search committee plans to review seven or eight city manager candidates July 21 and narrow the list to three or four, assistant city manger Evelyn Honea reported during Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s July 9 Good Morning Springfield! at Lake Springfield Park Boathouse and Marina. Honea said the city intends to name Bob Cumley’s successor in early August.

Hang On American Eagle

Springfield-Branson National Airport was spared in late June from American Airlines’ flight cuts. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline announced that by November it would close operations at three airports and its regional affiliate, American Eagle, which serves Springfield, would cease operations at five airports. While dodging the blow, SGF officials are proceeding cautiously in these turbulent times. Escalating jet fuel costs combined with a weak economy has made for extreme competition among airlines.

“We’re not taking it to the bank,” Springfield airport director Gary Cyr said of American Eagle’s daily direct flights to Dallas, Chicago and St. Louis. “Who knows what could happen in six months or a year?”[[In-content Ad]]