Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Chamber seeks nominations|ret||ret||tab|

Nominations for the Small Business of the Year Award should be turned in by May 4 to the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by the Branson chamber's Small Business Advisory Council, this is the third year for the award. |ret||ret||tab|

Members are invited to nominate small business owners whom they feel exemplify the qualities of business excellence. Forms can be obtained from the Branson chamber by calling 417-334-4084.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|VanBurch returns May 15 |ret||ret||tab|

Branson Magician Kirby VanBurch has returned with his magic show to Branson's Remington Theatre from May 15 through Labor Day. He first brought his show to Branson, at what was then called the Five Star Theatre in 1992. |ret||ret||tab|

VanBurch, named the 1999 International Magician of the Year, is known for his signature illusion, the appearance of a 35-foot Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter in four seconds. He also houses an exotic animal collection including a Royal White Bengal Tiger.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|City seeks name for new park|ret||ret||tab|

The Branson Parks and Recreation Department is seeking suggestions from the community on naming a new park donated to the city. The park is located on the northeast corner of the old Branson Primary School at 611 S. Sixth.|ret||ret||tab|

The school building and property were purchased by the Ozark Mountain Summit Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to acquire and recycle vacated school property. The city of Branson received the playground complete with recreational equipment and metal benches.|ret||ret||tab|

The deadline for suggestions is May 18.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Kids Kare event draws 440|ret||ret||tab|

More than 440 elementary-age children and their parents attended Totally Kids Kare 2001 at the College of the Ozarks at Point Lookout. The free event on April 21 was sponsored by the college and Skaggs Community Health Center of Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

The event featured displays hosted by local businesses and agencies providing information on a variety of topics, such as bike safety, hand-washing and germs, nutrition, and fire safety, and free vision, hearing, dental and height-and-weight screenings.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Administrators elected to MHA|ret||ret||tab|

Two Skaggs Community Health Center administrators have been elected to key positions in the Missouri Hospital Association. Bob Phillips, chief executive officer and administrator for the past five years, was elected to a one-year term as the MHA Southwest District Council president for 2001. The district consists of 25 MHA-member hospitals throughout southwest Missouri.|ret||ret||tab|

Raeanne Presley, chairman of the Skaggs Board of Directors, was appointed to the MHA Board of Trustees for 2001.|ret||ret||tab|

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Carthage|ret||ret||tab|

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Leggett and Platt earnings drop |ret||ret||tab|

Leggett and Platt has reported a drop in first-quarter earnings while sales remain flat.|ret||ret||tab|

The company announced April 17 that earnings for the three months ending March 31 came in at $46 million, compared to $73.8 million last year at the same time. That is a drop of 38 percent. Earnings per share came in at 23 cents, compared to 37 cents a year earlier.|ret||ret||tab|

"First-quarter earnings are disappointing in light of our long track record of consistent growth," said Felix Wright, Leggett and Platt's president and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement. |ret||ret||tab|

First-quarter earnings were up slightly, to $1.05 billion, compared to $1.04 billion for the same time one year ago. Company officials said that sales growth from acquisitions was more than offset by a 7.4 percent drop in sales at some locations.|ret||ret||tab|

Wright said that Leggett and Platt had sold or closed nine plants in the last six months, and other plants are operating at reduced levels with short production weeks or staggered shifts.|ret||ret||tab|

"Though we could trim labor costs dramatically, we are looking beyond the current downturn and want to be well-situated to ramp up production when the economy improves," Wright said.|ret||ret||tab|

Closing, consolidating and selling plants is part of the strategy Leggett and Platt announced last fall. The plan also included reducing the pace of its acquisitions and buying back up to 10 million shares of the company's stock.|ret||ret||tab|

Wright said that Leggett and Platt has acquired five companies in the last quarter that added $60 million in new revenue. The company purchased 1.4 million shares of its stock during the quarter.|ret||ret||tab|

According to Wright, the company now expects economic weakness to persist through the third quarter. He said the company expects to earn between 23 and 30 cents a share in the second quarter and between $1.20 and $1.25 a share for the full year.|ret||ret||tab|

Hollister|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|City plans infrastructure projects|ret||ret||tab|

The city of Hollister is improving the infrastructure of its community with a nearly $2.5 million investment. Among the projects:|ret||ret||tab|

The new St. James Bridge will have two-lane traffic, sidewalks and period street lighting. Completion of the $800,000 project is expected to be June 15.|ret||ret||tab|

Historic Downing Street will get new sidewalks, curb and gutter work, and period lighting. Utility wires are also going underground. The project, at a cost of $188,000, is expected to be finished by June 1.|ret||ret||tab|

A new well located on Maple Street will cost $1.3 million. The completion date is expected to be Nov. 1.|ret||ret||tab|

Another $82,000 in curb and guttering and other improvements will be made to six more city streets.|ret||ret||tab|

Turn lanes and a new traffic signal at Mall Road and U.S. Highway 65 will be completed by June 1 at a cost of $73,000.|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

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MSSC dedicates new addition|ret||ret||tab|

Dedication ceremonies were recently held on the campus of Missouri Southern State College for the Cragin Addition and newly renovated George A. Spiva Library.|ret||ret||tab|

Named after the late George A. Spiva, a Joplin businessman and financial supporter of MSSC, the library first opened in 1967.|ret||ret||tab|

Among the features of the $5.6 million expansion and renovation that began in 1999 are:|ret||ret||tab|

State-of-the-art Internet and multimedia technology;|ret||ret||tab|

A new Intervaces Inc. automation system to improve the interlibrary loan system;|ret||ret||tab|

Sophisticated fire-suppression systems and climate controls;|ret||ret||tab|

A first-floor coffee shop.|ret||ret||tab|

Edward Wimmer of Deutsch Associates provided lead architectural services. The Joplin Construction and Design Management Company was general contractor. The WL Cassel firm of Kansas City served as the mechanical and electrical consultant.|ret||ret||tab|

The addition to the library was made possible, in part, by a contribution from John and Joy Cragin. John Cragin is a former Missouri Southern faculty member, and Joy Cragin is the daughter of George A. Spiva. She served on the Missouri Southern Foundation Board from 1983 to 1994.|ret||ret||tab|

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Monett|ret||ret||tab|

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Jack Henry reports record revenue|ret||ret||tab|

Jack Henry & Associates Inc. reported record revenue and earnings per share for its third fiscal quarter.|ret||ret||tab|

"Demand for our integrated suite of banking and credit union solutions is strong, in spite of the general economic slowdown," said Michael Henry, chairman and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement.|ret||ret||tab|

Total revenue for the third quarter, which ended March 31, came to $92.8 million, compared with $58.4 million for the same period one year earlier an increase of 59 percent.|ret||ret||tab|

Revenue for the first three-quarters of fiscal 2001 came to $250.5 million, compared with $155.9 million for the comparable period a year ago. That is a jump of 61 percent.|ret||ret||tab|

Net income for the quarter came to $15.3 million, up 50 percent from income of $10.2 million for the same quarter a year ago. |ret||ret||tab|

Earnings per share for the quarter came to 17 cents, compared with 12 cents per share a year earlier. That marks an increase of 42 percent.|ret||ret||tab|

Income for the first nine months came to $40.1 million, which is up 77 percent over income for the same time last year, which was reported at $22.6 million. Earnings per share for the first three quarters came to 44 cents. |ret||ret||tab|

This was an increase of 63 percent from the 27-cents-per-share figure the same time last year.|ret||ret||tab|

All numbers have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split announced by Jack Henry in January, the issuance of 1.5 million shares last August and other financial transactions.|ret||ret||tab|

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