Overheard

A local architect who purchased three vacant parcels on the northeast corner of Sunshine Street and National Avenue says the property will eventually be developed as three buildings offering a mix of office and retail space. Jack Hood, president of Hood-Rich Inc. Architects and Engineers, closed on the three lots west of Mexican Villa on East Sunshine this summer. Ken Carter with Sperry Van Ness Rankin Co. LLC assisted Hood with the transactions. The lots were purchased from the Ferguson and Robberson families for an undisclosed amount. Hood already owned the corner lot, which has about 700 feet of frontage along Sunshine, and had previously submitted a planned development to the city for an office building on that lot. Hood said those plans would be revised to include buildings on the newly acquired parcels, but he did not have a specific timeline. The three buildings will have a total of about 30,000 square feet when complete, Hood said.

Honorary Doctorates

Missouri State University will grant two honorary doctorates this school year. The recipients will be Annie Busch, executive director of the Greene County Library District, and Jim Craig, former president of the Better Business Bureau. The school will present the doctorates at its spring commencement May 18. Busch will receive a doctorate in humane letters. Under her leadership, every library branch in the system has been renovated and expanded, and The Library Center, which opened in 2003, received national recognition as a destination library. Craig will be given a doctorate of public affairs. He is known for crafting humorous stories about southwest Missouri and has shared them at conventions and gatherings in all 50 states. Past MSU honorary doctorate recipients are Sister Lorraine Biebel, Harold Bengsch, David Harrison and Pat Walker.

More Honors

The Ozark Trails Council presented the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award to Dr. John and Roseann Bentley during a Dec. 19 banquet at Hickory Hills Country Club. The award is the highest level of community service recognition given by the 13,000 members of the Boy Scouts’ local council. Roseann Bentley is a former state senator and now serves as a Greene County Commissioner. She perhaps is best known for initiating United Way of the Ozarks’ Day of Caring while serving the organization as board chairman. Bentley has served numerous organizations, including Springfield Public Schools Board, the Mayor’s Commission for Children. John Bentley has served on many organizations including the United Way of the Ozarks, Springfield Family YMCA, and Advocates for a Healthy Community. He perhaps is best known for securing a competitive grant to establish Jordan Valley Community Health Center as a member of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks’ Health Collaborative.

Springfield Police Chief Lynn Rowe received the 2006 Donald “Red” Loehr Outstanding Police Chief Award for his 13 years of service locally and his dedication to the law enforcement profession. The Missouri Police Chiefs Association, of which Rowe is a past president and member of its board of directors, presented the annual award. Rowe has been in law enforcement for more than 40 years.