Overheard

A Lake of the Ozarks developer faces criminal charges for allegedly failing to withhold taxes from his workers, as many as 35 of whom were reportedly undocumented. Attorney General Jay Nixon and Camden County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Icenogle filed the criminal charges April 4 against Michael G. Schlup, the developer of the luxury condominium complex Plaza Gardens on the Lake near Sunrise Beach at Lake of the Ozarks. Reports of one worker death and several serious worker injuries set off an investigation.

Schlup, the Leawood, Kan., owner of Schlup Investments Inc. and Plaza Gardens on the Lake Inc., faces 12 felony counts of failure to deduct Missouri employer withholding tax, one felony count of failure to file a Missouri employer withholding tax return and one felony count of failure to pay Missouri employer withholding tax. Maximum fines total $140,000, with maximum prison time of 70 years.

Plan your Future

Young entrepreneurs from across the United States can win one of 10 $1,000 scholarships and up to $7,500 in seed capital as part of a business plan competition sponsored by BizFilings and the National Federation of Independent Business. NFIB’s nonprofit education organization, the Young Entrepreneur Foundation, is holding the Plan for the Future competition to enhance the entrepreneurial capability and strategic planning expertise in the next generation of U.S. entrepreneurs. College students and high school seniors can submit business plan entries through May 31. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries June 18-20 at the 2006 NFIB National Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Contest details are available at www.nfib.com or www.bizfilings.com.

Self-absorbed President

President John F. Kennedy was “the most medicated, one of the most courageous, and perhaps the most self-absorbed of our presidents,” writes Missouri State University history professor James Giglio, in the revised edition of his best-selling book, “The Presidency of John F. Kennedy.”

Giglio has spent much of the past decade combing through millions of documents and records as they were released by the federal government. He’s spent countless hours scouring the archives at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, where he enjoyed unlimited access to the president’s vast medical records that contradict the image of Kennedy’s youth and vigor. The 376-page second edition was released by University Press of Kansas in February.

Slice of Nice

Volunteers are needed for the 26th annual Artsfest Fine Arts Festival on Walnut Street May 6–7. Artsfest features more than 130 artists from across the country, five performance stages, Art-Town hands-on children’s area and the Arf-fest dog parade. Volunteer workers would take gate admissions, work beverage stations and perform other tasks. Those interested should contact Kelly Luke, volunteer coordinator for Artsfest, at (417) 799-0414 or kluke@springfieldmo.org.[[In-content Ad]]