Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Lakes area Web sites offer online info|ret||ret||tab|

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce has the first phase of its new Web site ready. Information at |ret||ret||tab|

www.bransonchamber.com |ret||ret||tab|

includes accommodations, theaters, camping and restaurants. The site went online during the week of March 13.|ret||ret||tab|

The city of Hollister and the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Web site can now be accessed through three different addresses: |ret||ret||tab|

www.ozarksoutherngateway.com|ret||ret||tab|

www.cityofhollister.com |ret||ret||tab|

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www.hollisterchamber.net. |ret||ret||tab|

The sites offer information about the city and chamber, business listings and historical pictures.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Home show set for April 1 at Chateau|ret||ret||tab|

The fourth annual Tri-Lakes Spring Building and Home Show will be held April 1 at the Chateau on the Lake Convention Center. The show runs 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and is presented by the city of Branson and the Tri-Lakes Building Safety Organization. |ret||ret||tab|

More than 80 vendors will have booths to display various building-related items, and there will be demonstrations showing the latest in building materials, safety gear and firefighting equipment. |ret||ret||tab|

"At this show, people can see and talk to experts about what's on the market this spring in the line of materials, procedures, tools, lawn and safety equipment," said Angelo Ribando, building inspector for the city of Branson and president of the Tri-Lakes Building Safety Organization.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Downtown association confers awards|ret||ret||tab|

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association announced award recipients, new officers and new board members at its 12th annual business meeting Feb. 24. Recipients were Branson Scenic Railway, Ken Awbery Community PRIDE Award; Joyce Thompson of Taney County Title, Charley Reish Vision Award; City of Branson, Service Award; and Linda DeRyke, Ambassador Award.|ret||ret||tab|

Newly elected board members for the association are Greg Baker of Ozark Mountain Bank, David Arney of Akers & Arney Insurance, Dick Hartley of Dick's Oldtime 5&10 and Bob Warlick of Naturegraphics. New officers are David Webb of Webbco, president; Greg Baker, vice president; and Phyllis VanderNaald of the association, secretary-treasurer. |ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Tourists who inquire end up visiting|ret||ret||tab|

Of those who inquired about visiting Branson last year, 76 percent actually visited the area, according to the 1999 Inquiry Conversion Study researched for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. That's up from an overall conversion rate of 74.6 percent the previous year.|ret||ret||tab|

According the chamber, inquiries from print media had a significantly higher overall conversion rate of 80.7 percent, compared to inquiries prompted by television advertising that resulted in a conversion rate of 67.3 percent. |ret||ret||tab|

By market, the highest conversion rate came from those within 100 miles of Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

Compared to other destinations nationwide, the Branson conversion rate is about 10 points higher than what is considered above average. The research was conducted by Montgomery Consulting.|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin|bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Road improvements authorized for park|ret||ret||tab|

The Joplin Industrial Development Authority has agreed to proceed with approximately $300,000 in road work at the Crossroads Industrial Park.|ret||ret||tab|

The authority, which owns the industrial park, has authorized Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, to evaluate the bids for the work and select the best one.|ret||ret||tab|

The development authority will pay for more than half of the project through the proceeds of a pending land sale. The pending sale of 10 acres in the park is expected to generate approximately $200,000. |ret||ret||tab|

The nearly 600-acre industrial park is located near Interstate 44 and the new U.S. Highway 71 east of Joplin.|ret||ret||tab|

Two companies are in operation at the park: Great Outdoors and Component Packaging. |ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Eagle-Picher develops generators|ret||ret||tab|

One of Joplin's largest employers is venturing into new territory. Eagle-Picher Technologies, known for batteries that have powered everything from the Mercury missions to the Hubble Space Telescope, has begun making backup emergency generators for homes and businesses.|ret||ret||tab|

With encouragement from The Empire District Electric Co., Eagle-Picher has begun making generators with small engines that can run off propane, natural gas, diesel fuel or gasoline. |ret||ret||tab|

Each generator can produce 7,500 watts, and units are being sold by Empire for $5,700.|ret||ret||tab|

Electronics for the company's generators were developed by the Eagle-Picher Electronic Group in Joplin.|ret||ret||tab|

The generators are being made at the Eagle-Picher plant in the Joplin-Webb City Industrial Park. [[In-content Ad]]