Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|ret||ret||tab|

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Program to reach $1 million|ret||ret||tab|

Celebrating its eighth anniversary, Operation Round Up, a program sponsored by White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Branson, will likely distribute its millionth award dollar in April. |ret||ret||tab|

Donations made by cooperative members by rounding up their electric bills to the next dollar have provided more than $991,070 in assistance to local families and community service-based organizations. According to White River Valley Electric, its members donate about $11,000 monthly to the program.|ret||ret||tab|

Operation Round Up, serving Stone, Taney, Christian, Douglas and Ozark counties, has provided more than $556,568 to area families with financial burdens of long-term illness, a tragic accident or a devastating fire. |ret||ret||tab|

According to the cooperative, an additional $185,652 helped rural fire departments, senior citizen centers, community libraries, area schools, countywide children's Christmas programs and Project Graduation festivities. The remaining monies of more than $248,850 went to 277 students for educational scholarships.|ret||ret||tab|

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SDC to feature Wildfire, World-Fest|ret||ret||tab|

Silver Dollar City will open its season April 4 with the debut of its biggest ride ever the new Wildfire multi-loop roller coaster. Wildfire begins with a vertical drop of 15 stories followed by a series of loops, and the coaster travels at speeds of up to 66 miles per hour. |ret||ret||tab|

Along with the introduction of its new ride, the theme park will host World-Fest beginning April 6 and running through May 6. |ret||ret||tab|

New to the festival this year are the Italian "whip snappers" who use leather whips to accent musical performances, Belgium stiltwalkers who dance above the heads of viewers on six-foot stilts and Korean Mask Dancers who perform historical folk dances wearing elaborate handmade masks. In all, more than 400 performers from 15 countries will be represented.|ret||ret||tab|

Carthage |ret||ret||tab|

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Leggett earning outlook altered|ret||ret||tab|

Goldman Sachs has cut its earnings outlook for Carthage-based Leggett & Platt Inc.|ret||ret||tab|

On March 21, Goldman trimmed Leggett & Platt's 2001 earnings per share view to $1.13 from $1.30 and its 2002 outlook to $1.40 per share from $1.50.|ret||ret||tab|

"We previously expected LEG to begin seeing improved end markets in the second quarter," Goldman wrote. "We now believe the weakness will persist for most of the year."|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

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MSSC to raise tuition, fees this fall|ret||ret||tab|

Tuition and fees at Missouri Southern State College will increase in the fall.|ret||ret||tab|

The MSSC Board of Regents approved an $11 per credit hour increase in tuition, bringing the total cost to $90 per credit hour. |ret||ret||tab|

Equipment at Missouri Southern will be $40 for full-time students and $20 for part-time students.|ret||ret||tab|

In other news, on March 21 Dr. Julio Lon, president of Missouri Southern, signed an official agreement for reciprocal study abroad with Ryukoku University of Kyoto, Japan.|ret||ret||tab|

MSSC made agreements with two other Japanese institutions, Tokyo's Gaskushuin Women's College and Kansai Gaidai, located in Hirakata City near Osaka, in the fall of 2000. |ret||ret||tab|

The three are the newest additions to Missouri Southern's list of bilateral study-abroad partners. The fall 2001 semester has been designated "The Japan Semester" at MSSC. The semester will feature a variety of Japan-based lectures, programs and artistic events.|ret||ret||tab|

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Neosho|ret||ret||tab|

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City, foundation reach agreement |ret||ret||tab|

The city of Neosho has reached an agreement with a nonprofit group spearheading the city's downtown improvement project.|ret||ret||tab|

The Neosho City Council has entered into an agreement with the Neosho Area Business and Industries Foundation. Work on the $225,000 project will include replacement of the sidewalks and installation of new lamp poles on the Neosho Square. Work began in October and is expected to be completed in two to three months.|ret||ret||tab|

The contract between the two groups states that the foundation will not be held responsible if all the sidewalks included in the original proposal cannot be replaced with existing funds.|ret||ret||tab|

The project is being financed with a $65,000 cash contribution from the city, $48,000 from Newton County government and private donations.|ret||ret||tab|

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Monett|ret||ret||tab|

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Jack Henry, eRevenue reach deal|ret||ret||tab|

Jack Henry & Associates and eRevenue have reached an agreement to jointly market the eRev Internet-based factoring solution to 2,800 JHA customers.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our banks will now have the opportunity to increase profitability with this Internet-accessible commercial lending instrument that further complements our core product offerings," said Mike Henry, chief executive officer of Jack Henry, in a prepared statement.|ret||ret||tab|

JHA and eRevenue plan to develop interfaces as appropriate to Jack Henry's core products. |ret||ret||tab|

Customers will consist of Jack Henry & Associates banks new to factoring and banks with existing portfolios on competitive products. eRev features provide operational efficiencies, bank customized credit rules, online payment history data, e-commerce computability, automated invoice verification, automated payment posting from Lockbox files, and GL interface.|ret||ret||tab|

"eRevenue's (application service provider) model is a completely scalable solution that accommodates banks without upfront installation fees or expensive upgrades," said David Keaton, eRevenue vice chairman. "eRev subscribers will take full advantage of future system enhancements such as integrated credit insurance. Our goal is to bring ease-of-use to our subscribers and their clients through an Internet enable accounts receivable financing solution."|ret||ret||tab|

Based in Monett, Jack Henry & Associates provides integrated computer systems and ATM networking products for banks and credit unions. JHA markets and supports systems throughout the United States and has more than 2,800 customers nationwide.|ret||ret||tab|

eRevenue Inc. is a privately held software company specializing in transaction-based financing efficiencies for community banks, and domestic and international financial institutions.[[In-content Ad]]