Southwest Missouri News

Branson

Hospitality training set for April

Branson Hospitality Training Class of 2001 will hold a new training session 8:30 a.m.-noon April 10 at the Settle Inn in Branson. The registration deadline for the customer service course is March 30. For more information, call 417-335-3554.

Chamber sponsors two events

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce will present two networking events in March. The Wake Up to Business meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. March 13 at the new Oaks Retirement Center in Branson. Business After Hours will be held 5:30-7 p.m. March 15. The event will held at and sponsored by Outback Steak & Oyster Bar in Branson.

Mayor backs area airports

Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer said in a Feb. 28 news release that he does not oppose the construction of a new general aviation airport in the Branson West area. The mayor also said that he would continue to support the College of the Ozarks Airport, as well.

The city cited information from the Branson Regional Economic Development Association that both Stone and Taney counties stand to benefit from the general aviation facility proposed to be constructed in Branson West. According to the association, the airport would not only benefit existing businesses but new companies that might want to establish themselves in the area because of the convenience of another general aviation airport.

Tea room relocates on Main Street

My Cup of Tea Tea Room has moved to a larger location at 106 E. Main at the original Flea Bag in downtown Branson. The tearoom serves lunches, desserts, flavored coffees and teas, and Italian sodas. It has also added a new Sports Room for men. Winter hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Forsyth

Forsyth Medical Care adds to staff

Patricia A. VanSlyke, MD, has joined the practice at Forsyth Medical Care, a clinic located on Missouri Highway 160, north of downtown Forsyth. VanSlyke, who began seeing patients March 5, comes from Rolla where she provided health care to patients at a rural satellite clinic owned by Phelps County Regional Medical Center. She also staffed an adjacent urgent-care clinic. At the Forsyth clinic, VanSlyke joins family medicine physician Markus Kryger, who has served the community since 1986.

Hollister

Branson Creek earns ranking

Branson Creek Golf Club has been named to Golf Magazine's prestigious list of "Top 10 New Courses You Can Play." Courses were chosen for their beauty, design and standards of excellence. The Branson Creek Golf Club also was ranked fifth on the Golf Digest list of best new upscale golf courses nationwide for the year 2000. The golf course is located in south Hollister.

Chamber seeks state tourism grant

The Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce has applied for a Missouri Division of Tourism grant in the Small Project Marketing Category for fiscal year 2002. The grant will require $2,500 in chamber matching funds. According to the Hollister chamber, the funds would be applied to the cost of developing a color brochure and for event advertising. The target market will be family and seniors within an eight-hour drive of Hollister. Event advertising will target eastern and central Missouri, and northwest Arkansas.

Tri-Lakes Interiors plans opening

Tri-Lakes Interiors Inc., located at the SouthTowne Center in Hollister, will host a grand opening week March 23 through 31 at its new facility with a ribbon-cutting set for noon March 23. Tri-Lakes Interiors is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Joplin

Ozark Air Lines loses partner

Columbia-based Ozark Air Lines has been dealt another blow with the sudden shutdown of its partner in providing joint service to Chicago. AccessAir, based out of Des Moines, has declared bankruptcy and grounded all of its flights.

John Ruan, chairman of AccessAir, said the company ceased operations due to inadequate funding and low passenger loads.

Ozark had only 397 passengers in January in Columbia. In February, the company announced discontinuation of service to Joplin. The failure of its partner in Iowa leaves Ozark with only service between Columbia and Dallas-Fort Worth and some charter business.

Freeman takes Joplin Addy honors

The marketing department at Freeman Health System received 21 awards at the Joplin Area Advertising Federation's 15th annual American Advertising Federation Competition (the Addys) on Feb. 16.

Freeman took home 10 Addy Awards, nine citations of excellence, the Judge's Award for its Freeman Sleep Center campaign, and the event's highest honor, Best of Show, for the Guccione Family NICU campaign.

Three of Freeman's entries have been forwarded to the regional competition.

Standard Transportation site active

Standard Transportation Services Inc. has launched a new Web site that makes warehousing an interactive process for customers who utilize the company's four warehouses in Joplin.

The site, www.stdtrans.com, features the Warehouse Operations Real-time Control System, which allows customers to view inventory and demand levels in real time and enter customer orders to warehouse managers.

"We're glad to have the new Web site in place," said Geoff Roberts, vice president of Standard Transportation Services. "It's another value-added service we can provide to our customers."

Web developers Doug Hunt and Ken Southwick of Sunrise Media Group Inc., Joplin, and Becky Mitchell, Ozark Adworks, Joplin, collaborated to build the site for Standard Transportation.

CNC Machine announces venture

CNC Machine Products Inc. has announced a joint venture with Sanyo Special Steel U.S.A. Inc. of New York to operate a steel-sawing facility in Joplin.

It will eventually mean an expansion that will double the square footage of the local company and create as many as 30 new jobs within approximately two years.

Sanyo makes bearing-quality steel used in the production of ball bearings that CNC machines for other companies, including FAG in Joplin. The bearings ultimately end up on a variety of products including automobiles such as BMWs, Volkswagens and Chrysler models.

CNC has around 160 employees at its Joplin plant, and it might hire another 12 later this summer.

Over the next two years, CNC officials expect the steel-sawing operation and existing machining operations to grow at the rate of 20 percent to 30 percent per year.

CNC will invest $1 million to build a 50,000-square-foot facility in two stages, and Sanyo will invest $2 million in equipment. Currently CNC operates a 50,000-square-foot building.

Spalon Ja'Pho growing rapidly

Spalon Ja'Pho was cited as one of the 200 fastest-growing salons in the country in the January issue of Salon Today magazine.

The 200 salons were selected from applications submitted by magazine readers. Judging was based on increases in gross sales between 1998 and 1999 and projections for increasing sales significantly in 2000.

Owned by Wren and Brian Taylor, Spalon Ja'Pho opened in 1995. Sales for the Joplin business increased 16 percent between 1998 and 1999, and sales were projected to increase more than 32 percent during 2000, the magazine said. The salon employs 14 people.

Lamar

Chamber schedules annual meeting

The Barton County Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and awards banquet is scheduled for April 23 at Memorial Hall in Lamar.

The event will feature performances by the Lamar Jazz Band and vocalist Angela Stansberry. Several awards and a brief progress report will also be included.