Southwest Missouri News

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Forsyth|ret||ret||tab|

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Grant to improve water system|ret||ret||tab|

The city of Forsyth received a state grant of $480,000 to help pay for im-provements to its water system. |ret||ret||tab|

According to a press release from Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, the water system, which dates back to 1950, has several water mains that are more than 50 years old. Those mains have water leaks each day that are detected and repaired.|ret||ret||tab|

The water leaks result in low water pressure, which could cause a health hazard. The city of Forsyth has plans to replace the older portions of the water system. |ret||ret||tab|

Improvements will include replacement of the outdated water mains and hydrants, as well as related valves and fittings. |ret||ret||tab|

The project also is supported by local funds, in-kind services and a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program. |ret||ret||tab|

Joplin Area|ret||ret||tab|

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Alliance receives DED funds|ret||ret||tab|

The Southwest Missouri Development Alliance has received $14,500 for marketing projects from the state Depart-ment of Economic Development.|ret||ret||tab|

The group is comprised of Barton, Jasper and Newton counties, and the communities of Airport Drive, Carl Junc-tion, Carthage, Joplin, Lamar, Neosho and Webb City.|ret||ret||tab|

The money is to be used to conduct labor studies and generate economic data for the area|ret||ret||tab|

One project will survey the work force of Joplin, Neosho, Carthage and Lamar to determine demographic trends. Another will examine employers' needs in the area.|ret||ret||tab|

Groups taking part in the marketing program are the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, Empire District Electric Co., the Harry S Truman Coordinating Council, Airport Drive, Neosho, Webb City, Lamar, Carthage and Carl Junction.|ret||ret||tab|

Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

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RMH benefits from promotion|ret||ret||tab|

The Ronald McDonald House of the Four States recently received a check for $9,010, which was raised during the "Give a Little Love" promotion.|ret||ret||tab|

Area McDonald's restaurant owners, customers, managers and employees pur-chased hearts in the 24 participating restaurants.|ret||ret||tab|

The Ronald McDonald House in Jop-lin provides lodging for families with seriously ill children staying in Joplin hospitals.|ret||ret||tab|

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Industry of the Year awards|ret||ret||tab|

Empire District Electric Co. and Midwest Tool have been named winners of Industry of the Year awards by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.|ret||ret||tab|

Both companies were recognized for growth. Midwest began in 1990 in a 2,000-square-foot plant with three em-ployees. It now occupies a new 42,000-square-foot plant, employs 25 and had sales of $3 million last year.|ret||ret||tab|

Empire was noted for dealing with a failed merger with Utilicorp last year, and its partnership with Western Re-sources that resulted in the new State Line Combined Cycle power plant.|ret||ret||tab|

The two were picked from nine finalists, five in the large company category and four in the smaller company category. In the large company category, finalists were Joplin Workshops, Able Man-ufacturing and Assembly, Owens Corn-ing Vinyl Operations and Cliffstar Corp. In the small category, finalists were Richardson's Candy House, PG Walker and Liberty Group Publishers.|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin Globe to have new owners|ret||ret||tab|

The Joplin Globe will soon be under new ownership.|ret||ret||tab|

Dow Jones & Company announced Feb. 20 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell four of its Ottaway Newspapers Inc. properties to Commun-ity Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI). Properties to be sold are The Joplin Globe; The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky.; The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.; and The Herald, Sharon, Pa. |ret||ret||tab|

In 2001, the four newspapers had combined revenues of $47 million and operating income of $12 million. Ottaway will continue to publish 15 daily and more than 30 weekly newspapers in 10 states, with combined 2001 revenue of $301 million and daily circulation of about 444,000.|ret||ret||tab|

The purchase price for the properties is approximately $182 million, in cash, subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions. The deal is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2002.|ret||ret||tab|

"We are very happy to add these outstanding newspapers to the CNHI family," said Mike E. Reed, president and chief executive officer of Community Newspaper Holdings. "We anticipate no changes to the daily operations of the newspapers "|ret||ret||tab|

Community Newspaper Holding Inc., a private company, formed in 1997, which has headquarters in Birmingham, Ala., is the parent company for daily, weekly and semiweekly newspapers published in more than 200 communities throughout the United States. The company owns 105 daily newspapers and 77 non-daily newspapers in 21 states with daily circulation of more than 1.1 million.|ret||ret||tab|

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Taney County|ret||ret||tab|

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Grant to provide new jobs|ret||ret||tab|

A $625,000 Industrial Infrastructure Grant from the state Department of Economic Development Department will help create 125 new jobs and $8.7 million in private investment in Taney County in the next two years. A press release from the governor's office said the grant, which comes from the Depart-ment of Economic Development's Com-munity Development Block Grant program, will be used for road improvements that are necessary for the construction of Jabco LLC (Branson Underground Stor-age), which will be located just outside the Branson city limits. It will be constructed in an existing mined-out quarry. The new storage facility, will offer warehouse and inventory services. The company will contract with major food companies to provide storage and distribution of perishable and consumable goods. The projected annual salary of a new employee at Branson Underground is about $40,000, the release stated.[[In-content Ad]]