Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|ret||ret||tab|

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Dixie Stampede begins season|ret||ret||tab|

The Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show debuted the 2002 Branson season March 6, according to a release from Dixie Stampede. |ret||ret||tab|

The regular season for the show, which features 60 live animals, riders, singers, dancers and a four-course dinner, runs through Oct. 26. The Christmas season is Oct. 30-Dec. 31.|ret||ret||tab|

The 35,000-square-foot Dixie Stam-pede indoor arena seats 1,000 people for dinner and a show.|ret||ret||tab|

The arena floor is a unique combination of 320,000 pounds of clay, 160,000 pounds of river sand and 100,000 pounds of quarter-inch gravel that provides a dust-free surface that also is easy on the horses' legs.|ret||ret||tab|

The 32 horses featured in the show are cared for by their riders, and in the course of one year, the Dixie Stampede horses consume 104,000 pounds of grain and use 1,152 horseshoes.|ret||ret||tab|

Entertainer appears on PBS|ret||ret||tab|

Branson-bound entertainer Daniel O'Donnell starred in a nationally re-leased PBS television special, "The Daniel O'Donnell Show," this month, ac-cording to a press release from the Mickey Gilley Theatre.|ret||ret||tab|

The show was filmed live at one of O'Donnell's performances in his native Ireland, and it is being used in fund-raising efforts throughout the United States. |ret||ret||tab|

The show aired on March 10 on KOZK in Springfield. O'Donnell also will be appearing at the Mickey Gilley Theatre in Branson during the 2002 season. |ret||ret||tab|

Matinee shows will be held at 2 p.m. the weeks of Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. O'Donnell will perform his "Christmas from Ireland" show on its world tour.|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

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Eagle-Picher parent reports loss|ret||ret||tab|

The parent company of Eagle-Picher Technologies has reported a $67.3 million loss for its latest fiscal year.|ret||ret||tab|

Eagle-Picher Holdings reported that net sales for the fiscal year, which ended Nov. 30, came to $69.2 million, down from fiscal 2000 sales of $755 million.|ret||ret||tab|

The 2000 sales figures included several divisions that were divested in the past year. Sales in 2000 would have come to $712.2 million without those divisions.|ret||ret||tab|

The company reported a net loss of $6.2 million for fiscal 2000.|ret||ret||tab|

In 2001, the company took a $30.8 million charge for the sale of its construction equipment division. It also took a $14.2 million charge in connection with its recent restructuring and move of corporate headquarters from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Phoenix, Ariz.|ret||ret||tab|

That restructuring includes plans by Eagle-Picher Technologies, based in Jop-lin, to cut up to 15 percent of its work force and to close three plants, including one in Seneca and a second in nearby Grove, Okla.|ret||ret||tab|

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RMHC names board members|ret||ret||tab|

A new board of directors has been elected for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States.|ret||ret||tab|

Officers are president, Gary Brown, certified public accountant with Mid-America Hardwoods Inc.; vice president, Mike Jennings, McDonald's; and treasurer, Mary Davidson, Ronald McDonald House Charities. Four directors who will serve two-year terms are state Rep. Gary Burton, Carl Junction; Patty Coss, own-er-operator of the McDonald's in Car-thage; Phillip McClendon, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church; and Montie Taylor, with Team Bank at Parsons, Kan.|ret||ret||tab|

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Foundation holds fund raiser|ret||ret||tab|

The Mercy Regional Health Founda-tion will present the 18th annual "St. John's Blast from the Past," March 15-16 and March 22-23 at the John Q. Ham-mons Trade Center in Joplin. |ret||ret||tab|

A nostalgic event that relives the 1950s-1970s, this year's fund raiser will include a tribute to the men and women of the armed services and routines from classic rock n' roll.|ret||ret||tab|

Tickets for the event are $20 each and can be purchased at the foundation of-fice.|ret||ret||tab|

During the event, a raffle for the winner's choice of a vintage 1968 Corvette convertible or $15,000 will take place. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. |ret||ret||tab|

Proceeds from the Blast and raffle ticket sales support the foundation's ef-forts to fund unique and progressive health programs and services in the four-state area.|ret||ret||tab|

Freeman takes top Addy Award|ret||ret||tab|

Freeman Health System's marketing department took home a record 28 awards at the Joplin Area Advertising Federation's recent 16th Annual Amer-ican Advertising Awards Competition. |ret||ret||tab|

Freeman's Addy awards included the event's highest honor, Best of Show, for its image campaign featuring Freeman employees. |ret||ret||tab|

Thirteen Freeman entries were forwarded to the regional competition.|ret||ret||tab|

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Former president to speak |ret||ret||tab|

Former President George H. W. Bush will be the speaker at the 2002 Quality in Medicine Award Ceremony scheduled for Oct. 29.|ret||ret||tab|

The Freeman Foundation and Freeman Health System sponsor the event to recognize leadership in health care.|ret||ret||tab|

Past speakers include former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former First Lady Barbara Bush and Sec-retary of State Colin Powell.|ret||ret||tab|

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Newton County|ret||ret||tab|

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County takes public access on-line|ret||ret||tab|

Several Newton County offices now have Web sites for easier public access.|ret||ret||tab|

Three county offices including the auditor, the sheriff's department and emergency management have made use of the Information Superhighway in the last few months, providing online sources of information.|ret||ret||tab|

Both the auditor's and sheriff's sites came online in mid-January, while emergency management started its Web page nearly six months ago.|ret||ret||tab|

The auditor's Web site, which can be accessed at www.ncauditor.org, lists ba-sic information on where the office is located, phone numbers and office hours.|ret||ret||tab|

The site has information on the county budget, monthly reports presented to the county commission and the responsibilities of the auditor.|ret||ret||tab|

The sheriff's department's Web site can be accessed at www.nc-so.org. Currently the sheriff's site lists registered sex offenders.|ret||ret||tab|

The emergency management site, www.nc-em.org, has information on the office, with links to state and federal emergency management sites, the Mis-souri Department of Public Safety and the state of Missouri's site.|ret||ret||tab|

The site also has links to the National Weather Service, maps of Newton Coun-ty and Neosho, links to local media and provides activities for kids.[[In-content Ad]]