Southwest Missouri News

Joplin

Eagle-Picher plans downsizing

Eagle-Picher Holdings Inc. has reported a drop in net sales to $694 million for its fiscal year, which ended Nov. 30.

The company reported net sales of $837.6 million during the previous fiscal year. The $694 million also is a dip from fiscal 2000 sales of $712.2 million, once several divisions sold during the past year are excluded.

"The company expects fiscal 2001 operating income to be in the range of $4 million to $6 million compared to fiscal year 2000 operating income of $59.9 million, or $64.4 million excluding the divested divisions," Eagle-Picher Hold-ings said in a prepared statement.

The company said it expects a net loss "in the range of $51 million to $54 million compared to fiscal year 2000 net income of $5.6 million, or $13.5 million excluding the divested divisions."

Eagle-Picher Holdings is the parent company of Eagle-Picher Technologies, based in Joplin, which is one of the area's largest employers.

Eagle-Picher Technologies recently announced it could lay off up to 15 percent of its work force in the next three months.

The division employs approximately 1,600 people, at plants in Joplin, Seneca and Stella, as well as other plants in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.

A layoff of 15 percent would affect about 240 people throughout the division.

All divisions within Eagle-Picher Holdings are streamlining and downsizing, the company stated.

The Dutch investment firm Granaria Holdings owns Eagle-Picher.

The Winged Lion receives award

The 2001 issue of The Winged Lion, a collaborative effort of the art department and English/philosophy departments at Missouri Southern State College, has been named by the American Scholastic Press Association as the Most Outstand-ing Art Magazine for 2001.

Since 1971, The Winged Lion has served as a showcase for the artistic and literary talents of MSSC students. Stu-dents in the English/philosophy and art departments volunteer to work on the magazine.

In addition to the ASPA honor, the publication received the Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press in 1985, 1987, 1995 and 1998.

Monett

Mobile MRI available in Monett

Cox-Monett Hospital, in partnership with Shared Medical Services, has made mobile magnetic imaging MRI available in Monett.

A high-field 1.01 MRI scanning system is now in service with Cox-Monett Hospital two days a week.

MRI creates detailed images of the soft tissues, organs and vessels of the body. Using the MRI, radiologists and physicians in many instances are able to make early diagnoses of a variety of medical conditions.

Neosho

Crowder launches Web site

On Dec. 19, Crowder College held a "ribbon-cutting" hosted by the Neosho Chamber of Commerce for the new college Web site.

Sunrise Media Inc., Joplin created the site, with involvement from the campus information technology department.

The new site links to the Business Training and Development Center, the Environmental Resource Center, Crow-der College Truck Driving School, the ACT Center and all of Crowder's off-campus locations.

In addition, the new site includes a search engine, improved regional and campus maps, online applications, an expanded career resources section, and a multitude of campus images.

La-Z-Boy launches joint venture

La-Z-Boy has launched a joint venture that will give a European flavor to its recliners.

The partnership is with Steinhoff Group, a German home furnishings and household goods manufacturer and re-tailer in Europe, Australia and South Af-rica.

The joint venture is being called La-Z-Boy Europe, and the company will be based in Netherlands. It will use Stein-hoff's German manufacturing operations.

La-Z-Boy will design and market recliners targeting Europeans' preference for firmer seating and classic-modern tastes. The recliners will be made in both fabric and leather and will debut at the Cologne Furniture Fair in January.

In its part of the venture, Steinhoff will manufacture and distribute the recliners through its European customer base. It owns 90 factories and production sites in four European countries, South Africa and Australia.

La-Z-Boy operates a plant in Neosho that employs more than 1,000, making it one of the area's largest employers.