Southwest Missouri News

Branson

Ride the Ducks expands to coast

Branson-based Ride The Ducks Inc. will in 2002 launch operations in Baltimore, according to a company news release.

In Baltimore, the Ducks vehicles will carry passengers past the stadiums that are home to Baltimore's other "birds," the Orioles and the Ravens, and through historic and cultural neighborhoods before hitting the water for a floating tour of Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor.

Ride The Ducks operates more than 40 vehicles from its existing locations in Branson, Boston and Seattle, carrying an estimated 750,000 passengers each year. The vehicles are all 1945 Army DUKWs that have been converted into open-air vehicles, each of which accommodates a total of 38 passengers. The vehicles, which have the automotive characteristics of a conventional 6-by-6 truck and also come equipped with a watertight hull, are converted in the Ducks' Branson manufacturing facility.

Ride The Ducks Inc. recently announced plans to partner with Silver Dollar City Inc. to facilitate expansion throughout the United States and around the world.

Joplin

FirstPlace, Jack Henry recognized

FirstPlace Software Inc., of Joplin, and Jack Henry and Associates, Monett, were recognized recently by the accounting firm of Deloitte and Touche as two of the fastest-growing technology companies in Kansas and western Missouri.

FirstPlace Software came in third and Jack Henry came in 20th.

15 restaurants donate funds

Fifteen area restaurants donated 5 percent to 20 percent of their proceeds on Nov. 5 to the United Way of Southwest Missouri.

Donations from the Menu for Caring will go toward the United Way of Southwest Missouri's campaign goal of $975,000 to assist 19 agencies.

Modine plant to remain open

The Modine Manufacturing Co. plant is not included in a list of three operations that the company has announced will close.

Modine announced Oct. 17 that it would close six plants as part of a restructuring to take place in its third quarter. The company has three dozen plants around the world.

Plants scheduled to close are in St. Paul, Minn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and LaPorte, Ind. The 270 jobs that will be lost at those three plants will be phased out over a period of three to 15 months.

The company has said it is closing the plants "in response to weakness across many of its markets and a continued softening of the U.S. economy."

In October, Modine announced that it will cut its dividend in half, and also reported that earnings and revenue had fallen. Second-quarter earnings dropped more than 66 percent.

The Joplin plant employs 170 people making air and oil coolers for a variety of engines.

In addition to Joplin, Modine has plants in Trenton, Camdenton, Jefferson City and Kansas City.

Neosho

Employee group buys Sunbeam

Sunbeam Products Inc. has signed a letter of intent with a group of former and current employees to purchase the Neosho grill plant.

Sunbeam announced Nov. 2 that it had signed the intent letter with Outdoor Leisure Products Inc., a Neosho firm. Under the terms of the agreement, OLPI will make and market Sunbeam-brand grills, accessories and other outdoor products.

OLPI is a new company made up of former and current Sunbeam employees. Rick Davidson, former president of Sunbeam Grills, will lead the investor group. Davidson, who has 25 years of experience in the grill industry, is a native of Neosho.

He will remain president and chief executive officer of O'Sullivan Industries, a manufacturer of office furniture in Lamar, and will serve as OLPI's chairman of the board.

Jerry Levin, chairman and chief executive officer of Sunbeam Corp., said the move would benefit customers, vendors and employees.

"OLPI is acquiring a business with solid value and a skilled work force," Levin said. "Sunbeam is pleased to find a buyer who is committed to keeping the Neosho facility in operation, and OLPI is determined to keep workers in place. In addition, Sunbeam has found a licensing partner in OLPI that we believe will assure that only the highest quality products wear our respected brand name."

Levin added the sale was part of the company's strategy to streamline operations and restructure the company debt after seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. The bankruptcy court must approve any deal before it can be consummated.