Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|ret||ret||tab|

Lodging association names officers|ret||ret||tab|

The Branson Lakes/Area Lodging Association Feb. 26 named its officers and board members for 2000. They are: Jim Curtis, president; Mike Klanchar, past president; Robert LaCore, first vice president; Duane Williams, second vice president; Paul Flanary, treasurer; Danita Brown, secretary; Jay Wilson, alternate secretary; Bonnie Keller, Jerry Lilley, Chris Myer, Stephen Marshall, Kent Turner, Mike Combs, Darl Berg and Mike Nangle, associate board members. Alternate board members are Harriet Heckman and Ed Michel.|ret||ret||tab|

The lodging association's monthly meeting, sponsored by The Vacation Channel, will be at 11:30 a.m. March 14 at the Radisson Hotel. The program will feature lodging and tourism statistics and an industry forecast.|ret||ret||tab|

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December unemployment figures released|ret||ret||tab|

The state Division of Workforce Development has released unemployment rates for Stone and Taney counties for the month of December 1999. Stone County's unemployment rate rose from 3.4 percent in November to 5 percent in December. Taney County's unemployment rate rose slightly from 1.6 percent in November to 2.8 percent in December. The state's average unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in December.|ret||ret||tab|

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Food service courses scheduled in March|ret||ret||tab|

The Branson Health Department will hold a Food Service Sanitation Course 5-9 p.m. each Wednesday through March 22 at the Branson Community Center. The course prepares restaurant managers to train their staffs in correct and safe procedures. The Branson City Code requires food establishment managers be certified, and passing the four-week course meets that requirement. Contact the health department, at 337-8551, for more information.|ret||ret||tab|

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Chamber gives awards at annual dinner|ret||ret||tab|

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual awards during its Black Tie Dinner Feb. 25 at the Chateau on the Lake. The awards and their recipients were:|ret||ret||tab|

Community Spirit Award for promotion and participation in community events: Silver Dollar City|ret||ret||tab|

Beautification Award for enhancing the beauty of the area: College of the Ozarks|ret||ret||tab|

Ambassador Award for exemplary ambassadorship for the area: Layne Morrill, Kimberling City|ret||ret||tab|

Pioneer Award for years of service and dedication to the Branson community: Peter Engler, Branson|ret||ret||tab|

Mary Award for volunteer service to the community: Thora Cowan, Branson|ret||ret||tab|

BoxCar Willie Award, a new award recognizing a person, business or organization reflective of the ambition, persistence and generosity of BoxCar Willie: Glenn and Venus Robinson.|ret||ret||tab|

Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

Trism restructures debt in reorganization|ret||ret||tab|

Trism Inc. emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Feb. 15 after company officials said they "significantly" reduced long-term debt and secured a multiyear $42.5 million financing agreement.|ret||ret||tab|

The company announced in November that it was cutting about 100 jobs, half of which were in Joplin. Trism, based in Kennesaw, Ga., is the parent company of Tri-State Motor Transit Co., located in Joplin. Tri-State is a carrier of oversize, environmental, secured and other specialty truckloads.|ret||ret||tab|

Trism announced its plan to reorganize in September, saying it could not make the interest payment due on its notes. The company had $86.2 million in 10.75 percent notes that were to come due in December 2000. Under the plan, which was approved by the bankruptcy court, Trism converted that $86.2 million into $30 million worth of new senior subordinated notes due in 2005, bearing interest at 12 percent. Existing stockholders will receive 5 percent of the new common stock of the reorganized Trism. The NASDAQ exchange dropped Trism's listing in the summer of 1999 because of the company's financial problems. The company has plans to apply to be listed again on the NASDAQ market. It is now traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board.|ret||ret||tab|

In November the company cut 37 mechanics and 15 administrative and support jobs in Joplin. Trism cut about 15 percent of its nondrivers throughout the company and moved part of its Joplin maintenance operations to Oklahoma City.|ret||ret||tab|

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MSSC makes agreement with French school|ret||ret||tab|

On Feb. 14, Missouri Southern State College took part in a signing ceremony formalizing its cooperative agreement with the University of Orleans in Orleans, France. The ceremony took place in Webster Hall at MSSC and at the University of Orleans using a video link between the two countries. Dr. Julio Leon, MSSC president, and Michel Murdy, University of Orleans president, signed copies of the agreement exchanged them by fax.|ret||ret||tab|

Chad Stebbins, director of MSSC's Institute of International studies, said the agreement includes:|ret||ret||tab|

A general exchange of faculty and students|ret||ret||tab|

Student exchanges as part of training periods at the end of their studies|ret||ret||tab|

Exchange of publications|ret||ret||tab|

Organization of mutual courses and conferences|ret||ret||tab|

MSSC officials visited Orleans in November 1998 to begin negotiations. Six Missouri Southern students attended a month-long language and cultural program on the Orleans campus in the summer of 1999. Two students from Orleans attended Southern during the fall of 1999.|ret||ret||tab|

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Wistrom-autographed ball raises money|ret||ret||tab|

A football autographed by Grant Wistrom moments after the conclusion of Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta has brought in $4,000 for a southwest Missouri child-advocacy group.|ret||ret||tab|

The football was among 180 items in a silent auction held Feb. 13 at Joplin's Wilder Restaurant to raise money for the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri. The auction was part of the third annual February Gala, the only fund-raiser the Children's Center sponsors. Wistrom, a graduate of Webb City High School, is a defensive end for the St. Louis Rams.|ret||ret||tab|

About 170 tickets were sold for the gala, raising about $25,000 for the center. |ret||ret||tab|

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Southern tuition heads up 4.6 percent|ret||ret||tab|

The average student at Missouri Southern State College will pay $105 more in tuition next school year. At its monthly meeting Feb. 17, the MSSC Board of Regents approved a 4.6 percent tuition increase, from $75.50 per credit hour to $79 per credit hour. Students enrolling in the fall semester will pay the new tuition. The increase will boost tuition and fees for a full-time student from $2,391 to $2,496 next school year.|ret||ret||tab|

The tuition increase was necessary to make up for decreased state appropriations and to allow for a 3 percent salary increase for faculty members.|ret||ret||tab|

In other business, the board accepted a bid of $658,614 from Dalton-Killinger Construction Co., Joplin, to build a food court for the second floor of Billingsly Student Center.|ret||ret||tab|

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Eagle-Picher battery orbits asteroid|ret||ret||tab|

A battery built by Eagle-Picher Technologies powered the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous spacecraft, which recently moved into orbit around the asteroid Eros. The spacecraft the first satellite to orbit an asteroid will undertake a year-long study to determine the origins of Eros and to help scientists develop a strategy to protect Earth from collisions with asteroids in the future. The nickel-cadmium battery used in the satellite was built in 1995 by Eagle-Picher's Power Systems Department, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The battery was delivered to the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, which built the spacecraft. The mission was launched in February 1996. |ret||ret||tab|

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