Southwest Missouri News

Branson

House considers Landing

The Missouri House Appropriations-Natural and Economic Resources Com-mittee has voted to include the Branson Landing development in the 2003 state budget plan, according to a release from the city of Branson.

While the measure must still be ap-proved by the full House and Senate, and signed by the governor, this marks the first step in getting state approval to designate Branson Landing area as a state tax increment financing district, which would assist the city in issuing bonds for the project.

As a state TIF district, a portion of the state sales tax generated in the district would be captured by the city and used to pay off the bonds.

City parks gain equipment

Residents and visitors to some of Branson's area parks this spring will see new playground equipment.

The equipment is being installed at Alexander, Branson North and Cantwell parks, according to Branson Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Shook.

"We budgeted $40,000 for new equipment this year because we wanted to up-grade our neighborhood parks," said Shook. "The equipment in these parks is very old and needs to be replaced."

Shook said the bid for the new playground equipment came in under budget at $36,000.

City crews have already started removing the old equipment in some of the parks, and Shook said the new playground equipment should arrive and be ready for use in all three parks by April.

"Parks are so important to a neighborhood because they bring people together for fun, exercise, fresh air and good times," said Shook.

Joplin

Empire employees aid KCPL

Nine three-man line crews and four support personnel from the Empire Dis-trict Electric Company provided storm restoration assistance to Kansas City Power and Light following one of the worst ice storms ever to hit Kansas City.

From Jan. 31 through Feb. 8, crews from 12 states assisted KCPL crews.

Empire personnel making the trip in-cluded Randy Caruthers, Branson; Rick Fields, Ryan Fenix and Grant Bard, Webb City; Joe Embry, Darrel Hilburn and Shane Slavens, Neosho; Bob Patter-son, Doug Fletcher, Bob Tracey and Brent Mishler, Baxter Springs, Kan.; Rick Sprenkle, Mike Parrish, Doug Bell and Joe Parker, Joplin; Calvin Fare, John Oczkus and Jeff Westfall, Aurora; Mike Qualls, Bryan Boyd, Mike Jennings, Wes Robertson, Dennis Lugenbell and David Michael, Hollister; Eric Jack, Dan Car-man, Chuck Mitchem and Mark Payne, Bolivar; and Greg Walker, Mike Mieseler and Kale Bailey, Ozark.

Neosho

La-Z-Boy reports increased income

La-Z-Boy Inc. reported a rise in in-come for its third quarter.

The Michigan-based company reported net income of $21.7 million for the third quarter which ended Jan. 26, up 34 percent from the $16.1 million reported for the same period a year earlier.

Earnings per share came to 35 cents for the quarter, up 30 percent from 27 cents in the third quarter a year ago.

La-Z-Boy operates a plant in Neosho that employs 1,275 workers and is one of the largest employers in the area.

Company-wide sales were down slightly. Sales for the third quarter came to $545 million, compared with $552 million in the third quarter of last year.

Sales for the first nine months of the company's fiscal year came to $1.56 billion, down 6 percent from $1.67 billion a year earlier.

Net income for the first three quarters was $36.9 million, down 36 percent from $58 million a year ago.

Earnings per share came to 60 cents for the company's fiscal year so far, compared with 96 cents for the comparable period a year ago, representing a 38 percent drop.

Seneca

Eagle-Picher closing in Seneca

Eagle-Picher Technologies announced Feb. 18 plans to close plants in Seneca and Grove, Okla., by May, and a plant in Colorado Springs, Colo., later in the year as it discontinues the production of some batteries.

Eagle-Picher employs 102 workers at the plant in Seneca, 31 in Grove and 71 in Colorado. The company announced in November that it would cut its work force by 15 percent as part of restructuring during its first quarter, which began Dec. 1.

"The closures at Seneca and Grove are a result of a strategic decision to cease manufacturing lead-acid batteries," Ea-gle-Picher said in a statement announcing the plant closings.

The company cited "increased foreign competition, the prolonged downturn in the national economy and a shrinking domestic market" as reasons for the decision.

Eagle-Picher's lead-acid batteries were used as reserve emergency power for telecommunications and lighting systems, and in children's toys.

Taney County

Grant addresses water system

The Department of Economic Devel-opment approved a $162,587 water grant for Taney County through the Com-munity Development Block Grant program.

The grant, awarded to the county on behalf of Taney County Public Water Supply District No. 2 in Powersite, will be used to connect the Five Seasons Mo-bile Home Park to the district, according to a DED press release. The grant application was prepared by Bacorn Enter-prises LLC.

The park's public water system is in violation of Department of Natural Re-sources regulations, and there are significant health concerns due to levels of fecal coliform and E. coli in the water. Plans call for the current water system to be abandoned in favor of connecting to the water district.

District No. 2 has an existing water main at the front of the park which will be upsized to serve residents of the park. Water will be furnished from the district's existing standpipe on Highway MM.

In addition to CDBG funds, local funds and a grant from the Department of Natural Resources Rural Water program are supporting the project.