Overheard

CoxHealth is raising funds for a healing garden atop Hulston Cancer Center for its patients to visit during lengthy treatments. The garden will be on the roof of the center’s first floor, facing east and overlooking Burrell Lake, and will feature potted flowers and trees, benches and water elements. About $57,405 has been raised, in addition to an initial gift of $50,000, according to Lisa Alexander, president of the CoxHealth Foundation. Officials hope to reach $190,000 by September. Alexander said there is no construction timeline set yet, but bids for the project will likely go out when fund-raising reaches about $150,000. To donate, call (417) 269-7109.

Leggett’s Largest Divesture

Carthage-based Leggett & Platt has sold its Prime Foam operations to Comfort Co., part of Greenwich, Conn.-based private equity firm Catterton Partners. In 2006, the Prime Foam division brought in $200 million in revenues, making the sale the largest divestiture in Leggett’s history. Leggett expects a pre-tax gain from the sale of $24 million, or 6 cents per share. The divestiture also is expected to reduce the company’s full-year operating earnings by 4 cents per share, creating a net impact on 2007 earnings of a 2-cent-per-share increase. The Prime Foam division produces foam used for cushioning for upholstered furniture and bedding manufacturers.

Small-business Finalists

The finalists for the 2007 W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year Award have been selected. They are: architecture and interior design firm Buxton-Kubik-Dodd Inc., pharmaceutical and health care equipment retailer Family Pharmacy (Plainview Road location), and grocer Smillie’s Market Inc. The award is presented by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council and is determined by an independent panel of judges. The honoree will be announced May 9 during Small Business Week. Stories about each finalist will be featured in Springfield Business Journal’s April 30 issue. A schedule of events for Small Business Week is available at www.springfieldchamber.com.

CU Electric Surge

City Utilities customers will see their electric bills increase in April as the result of a fuel adjustment adopted by the Board of Public Utilities on March 29. Customers can expect to see a monthly increase of $2.40 per every 1,000 kilowatts used, based on last year’s usage. The average residential customer uses 1,000 kilowatts per month. The increase will last through September, when the board will again recalculate the cost of fuel and purchased energy.[[In-content Ad]]