Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|ret||ret||tab|

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City pursues Branson Landing|ret||ret||tab|

Branson city officials are continuing negotiations with Branson Landing LLC and other developers regarding the development agreement, according to a press release from the city of Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

This agreement would name the selected developer as the principal developer of the public and private portion of the project.|ret||ret||tab|

The city continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a 404 permit application submitted by city architects and engineers. |ret||ret||tab|

The study examines the effects of the development on the surrounding environment and on water quality of Lake Taneycomo. Corps approval is expected in May.|ret||ret||tab|

The city also is continuing its efforts to convince the Missouri legislature to designate the Branson Landing development as a state tax increment financing district, which would allow the city to capture state sales tax money to finance the project.|ret||ret||tab|

Lakefront property assembled for Branson Landing is now being secured in preparation for the liquidation of buildings, equipment and fixtures later this spring.|ret||ret||tab|

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Duenweg|ret||ret||tab|

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Monett banker buys Trism|ret||ret||tab|

Monett banker Glenn Garrett has purchased Trism Inc. and plans to move its corporate headquarters to Joplin and operate the business under its former name of Tri-State Motor Transit. |ret||ret||tab|

The primary focus of the 71-year-old trucking company will remain the same hauling explosives, radioactive and hazardous waste, nuclear fuel and oversized products. |ret||ret||tab|

The U.S. departments of Defense and Energy are among Tri-State's largest customers.|ret||ret||tab|

Tri-State employs 700 to 800 drivers. The company has about 400 trucks, and the operators own an additional 50.|ret||ret||tab|

Tri-State will now be a privately held company.|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

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Mercy holds fund raiser in March|ret||ret||tab|

Tickets are currently on sale for the 18th annual "St. John's Blast from the Past," scheduled for March 15-16 and March 22-23 at the John Q. Hammons Trade and Convention Center in Joplin.|ret||ret||tab|

Presented by the Mercy Regional Health Foundation, this year's floor show will feature a tribute to the men and women of the armed forces, dance and lip sync competitions and classic rock and roll routines.|ret||ret||tab|

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Southern Union earnings flat|ret||ret||tab|

Southern Union Co., the parent company of Missouri Gas Energy, recently reported flat second-quarter earnings and said earnings are down for the first six months of the company's fiscal year. MGE provides natural gas to Joplin residents and a half-million other customers in Missouri.|ret||ret||tab|

Net earnings for the second quarter, which ended Dec. 31, came to $19.75 million, or 37 cents per share. That compares with earnings of $19.3 million, or 35 cents per share, for the same period one year ago.|ret||ret||tab|

The company reported a net loss of $10.6 million for the first six months, or 21 cents per share, compared with net earnings of $5.3 million, or 10 cents per share, for the same period one year earlier.|ret||ret||tab|

In a prepared statement, Southern Union said it has cut operating and maintenance expenses, but it added that re-sults were hurt "by unusually mild weather throughout all of the company's service territories."|ret||ret||tab|

The company also posted a charge to earnings of more than $20.3 million in the first quarter for restructuring costs. That plan included voluntary early retirement for 400 people, and job cuts at the company's Kansas City office and Aus-tin, Texas, headquarters.|ret||ret||tab|

Operating revenue for the second quarter came to $376.4 million, compared with $605.3 million for the same quarter a year ago. |ret||ret||tab|

Revenue for the first six months came to $550.4 million, compared with $749.8 million for the same period in 2000.|ret||ret||tab|

The last two quarters reflect an in-crease in the monthly customer charge and monthly energy charge, or delivery fee, for Joplin residents and other MGE customers. |ret||ret||tab|

Those higher charges about $18 to $20 a year for the typical customer took effect in August. They are expected to generate an additional $10 million in annual revenue for the company.|ret||ret||tab|

MGE recently announced a decrease of about 9 percent in natural-gas rates through the rest of the winter. |ret||ret||tab|

That was the result of mild weather and large stockpiles. |ret||ret||tab|

That reduction was on the wholesale price of natural gas, which is passed along by MGE. |ret||ret||tab|

The company makes its revenue from the monthly customer charge and energy charge, and none on the wholesale gas cost. |ret||ret||tab|

The decline in the wholesale price is expected to save a typical customer $20 through February and March. New rates will be set in April.|ret||ret||tab|

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Monett|ret||ret||tab|

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Hydro Aluminum forms corporation|ret||ret||tab|

Hydro Aluminum Wells and Hydro Aluminum Metal Products North Amer-ica have joined together to form a new corporation Hydro Aluminum North America.|ret||ret||tab|

Hydro Aluminum has headquarters in Baltimore and operations in Monett and Cassville. [[In-content Ad]]