Southwest Missouri News

Carthage

Precious Moments adds restaurant

A new restaurant has been added at Precious Moments.

Souper Sam's reflects the varied interests of artist Sam Butcher, creator of the Precious Moments characters. The restaurant's decor includes early Butcher drawings, and some musical instruments and pictures of Butcher when he was a drum major in high school.

Half of the restaurant is buffet style and the other side is for reservations and parties.

Price for the lunch buffet is $7.50, while the dinner buffet is $9. Restaurant hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Library expansion considered

A Kansas City architectural firm has been selected to design a proposed expansion of the Carthage Public Library.

The Carthage Public Library Board chose Gould Evans Goodman Associates to develop the scope, cost, planning and visualization of the project. The board has set aside $60,000 for this first phase of expansion.

Blockbuster under construction

Blockbuster Video will soon debut in Carthage. Construction on the store is expected to begin May 20 at the Wal-Mart Plaza Shopping Center. Block-buster had applied and received a building permit in September.

In addition, a new Taco Bell Restaurant is scheduled to be built on one of two out-lots along Grand Ave., in front of the shopping center.

Joplin

Laid-off workers get extra benefits

Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt recently announced that more than 100 workers laid off from two Joplin area companies during the last year, are eligible to receive up to two years of job training and an extra year of unemployment benefits.

The U.S. Department of Labor has certified the 90 employees from Eagle-Picher Technologies' plants in Seneca and Grove, Okla., and a dozen workers from Mid-Western Machinery in Joplin can receive Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits because of trade practices that led to the layoffs.

Benefits and services may include up to 104 weeks of government-paid job retraining and an added year of unemployment benefits beyond the standard 26 weeks while persons are in retraining.

The TAA benefits also offer job search and relocation benefits. Eligible workers should apply through the Missouri Career Center at 730 S. Wall in Joplin.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, prompted by an employee petition, concluded that the layoffs at the Eagle-Picher plants in Joplin and Grove were the result of increased company imports of foreign made lead-acid batteries. Workers who were laid off from the two Eagle-Picher plants since March 8, 2001, and those who may be laid off over the next two years from May 2, 2002, would be eligible for the increased benefits.

The Labor Department found that Mid-Western Machinery shifted production of pneumatic rock drills and replacement parts from its Joplin site to Mexico. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the dozen displaced workers are eligible for increased unemployment support benefits. Employees separated from Mid-Western Machinery since April 2, 2001, and those who may be laid off over the next two years from May 1, 2002, would qualify for the extra unemployment services.

Company closes machining center

Approximately 25 machinists at King Press Corp. will lose their jobs in coming weeks as the company closes its machining center operations in Joplin.

The decision will result in the purchase of more goods and services from outside vendors. In a prepared statement, the company said the move is designed to "create greater flexibility to respond to domestic and international sales trends."

The engineering, sales and assembly operations in support of the company's printing press manufacturing will continue to operate in Joplin. The transition is expected to be completed in the next 30 to 45 days.

Company wins national honor

Modine Manufacturing Co. has been chosen by Business Ethics magazine as one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" for the third consecutive year.

The article is in the March/April 2002 issue of Business Ethics, a publication that focuses on social responsibility of corporations and progressive management practices. Modine has a plant in Joplin.

The magazine evaluates companies based on corporate service to various stakeholder groups: stockholders, employees, customers, the community, the environment, overseas stakeholders, minorities and women.