Southwest Missouri News

Branson

Co-op names coordinator

Doug Mann has been chosen to coordinate White River Valley Electric Cooperative's key accounts program, according to General Manager Chris Hamon. Mann will concentrate his efforts on White River's large commercial and industrial accounts, working with their electrical requirements.

Mann joined the electric co-op in 1993, serving as a lineman and later as a staking engineer.

Yacht gets new manager

Allen Deeds has been appointed the new general manager of the Polynesian Princess, a luxury dining yacht moored at Gage's Long Creek Marina, south of Branson.

Deed, who previously served as the boat's cruise director, spent 22 years at sea as a cruise director for the Norwegian, Ulysses and Starlite cruise lines. He also served aboard the Queen Elizabeth II.

Ambulance head honored

The Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association (MEMSA) named Steven C. Harris, administrator of the Taney County Ambulance District, Administrator of the Year Aug. 1. Harris received the award during the association's annual meeting at Osage Beach.

MEMSA represents paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders and other emergency medical care providers across the state.

Harris has worked for the ambulance district for more than 19 years, first as an EMT and paramedic, and later becoming administrator of the district in 1990. He said that during his tenure, the growth of the district has coincided with the overall growth that the county has experienced during the past decade. Harris said the district took 1,200 calls per year in 1990 and he expects to take 6,000 calls by the end of this year.

Employment rose from eight employees in 1990 to the current staff of 35 full-time and 26 part-time employees who provide 24-hour coverage to the Taney County area.

The district was also named Emergency Medical Service of the Year in 1996 by MEMSA, and is governed by a board of six elected directors.

Fiddle festival next week

The 13th annual Old Time Fiddle Contest, sponsored by the Downtown Branson Main Street Association, will begin at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 19 at North Beach Park adjacent to Lake Taneycomo. Preliminary rounds will go until 4 p.m. with final rounds beginning at 7 p.m.

General admission is $5 and the DBMA suggests that visitors brings lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

The DBMA is also seeking authentic American crafts for its 27th Annual Autumn Daze Craft Show Sept. 14-17 in downtown Branson.

Applications and more details are available from the DBMA by calling 888-322-2786.

Chamber mixer Aug. 17

Business After Hours, the monthly member networking meeting of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, will be 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 17 at The Woods Resort.

The Woods Resort is located at the junction of Roark Valley Road and Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson.

Hollister festival in Sept.

The third annual Grape & Fall Festival will be held 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 9 on historic Downing Street at Southtowne Center in Hollister.

Festival activities include an authentic grape stomp sponsored by Stone Hill Winery, entertainment, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, children's activities and an open car show.

New to the festival this year is a historical art display featuring local artist Thelma Adkins.

The paintings, to be displayed at Hollister Town Hall, depict some of the history of Turkey Creek Valley leading up to the establishment of Hollister.

The festival is a joint effort of the city of Hollister and the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce.

Joplin

Corporation reports net loss

Eagle-Picher Holdings, which has several operations in the Joplin area, announced a second-quarter net loss of $1.4 million.

That compares to a net income of $2.4 million for the same period a year ago. In a prepared statement, Eagle-Picher officials said it is difficult to compare the two quarters because the company shed several smaller divisions to narrow its focus to its core business.

The sale of those divisions brought in $83.9 million, which was used to pay debt.

New service at hospital

Patients with problem wounds now have a place to go for comprehensive treatment.

The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin is designed to provide a variety of approaches to chronic wound management.

The center's care includes extensive wound assessment and treatment using advanced methods, pain management and patient care.

Wounds and conditions that can be treated include ulcers, neuropathic wounds, diabetic ulcers and compromised skin grafts.

Among the therapies offered are debridement, compression, nutritional support and infection management.

Trucking company wins awards

Sitton Motor Lines has won three awards in the American Trucking national contest.

The company won third place in the general commodities category for business with 301 to 1,000 employees for its lost-time-on-the-job injury rate of 1.45 per 100 employees.

The national average is 3.3 lost-time injuries per 100.

Sitton also got third place for its number of U.S. Department of Transportation reportable accidents. Sitton won second place for the lowest frequency of all types of accidents.

The privatelyowned company is an irregular-route common and contract carrier for 48 states and Canada.

Card shop goes online

Steve's Cards, located at 3201 Chipmunk Dr., has formed a partnership with the Internet company Beckett.com for selling sports memorabilia.

The site has an umbrella for more than 200 hobby shops.

It features buy and sell listings as well as auctions.

Webb City

Store content always changing

Big Lots, a dealer in closeout merchandise, recently held its Webb City grand opening.

The new business is located at 1899 S. Madison in the Cardinal Shopping Center.

"It's like a treasure hunt," said William Kelley, chairman of Consolidated Stores, which operates Big Lots. "Consumers never know exactly what deals they will find on a constantly changing variety of merchandise."

The store employs approximately 40 people, and it is expected to bring in sales of about $2.5 million a year, which is the average for a Big Lots operation, Kelley said.