Southwest Missouri News

Carthage

Texas firm buys area cable company

Southwest Missouri Cable has agreed to sell to TCA Cable TV of Tyler, Texas. Ruth Kolpin, chairman and CEO of the Carthage company, made the announcement in a press release.

"We have given much thought to our continuation in the cable business," Kolpin said. "However, in the tremendous wave of consolidation that is taking place in the cable industry, we want the best for our cities. While we are ahead of some of the larger companies, we know the future will be a deep-pocket challenge as telephony and interactive data services become a part of the cable infrastructure."

Kolpin came to Carthage in 1962 and purchased the radio station KDMO. The cable permit was granted in 1965 and eventually expanded to include 25 additional towns in southwest Missouri. Twenty of the smaller systems were sold in 1986.

The systems being acquired by TCA are in the towns of Carthage, Lamar, Monett, Aurora, Pierce City, Marionville, Verona, Lamar Heights, Brooklyn Heights and Fidelity.

TCA serves customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The company has agreed to merge with Cox Communications, which will make it the nation's fourth largest cable TV system with more than 5 million subscribers.

Completion of the Southwest Missouri Cable TV transaction and TCA-Cox merger is expected in late 1999.

Briggs, Mahan join Great Southern Travel

Linda Briggs and Veronica Mahan have joined the staff of Great Southern Travel in its new location at 714 Neosho Blvd. inside Great Southern Bank. Both agents worked previously for International Tours and Galaxsea Cruises.

Briggs has more than 12 years' experience in the travel business. She will serve as office manager. Mahan has more than five years' experience in the travel business.

Chamber schedules July events

Working Women in Nixa will meet at noon July 20 at Empire Bank, 502 W. Mt. Vernon. The featured speaker is Edith McCall, an award-winning author, columnist and member of the Missouri Writers' Hall of Fame. The cost is $6, and reservations can be made by calling 725-1545 by July 19.

The Nixa chamber's Business After Hours will be held at 5:30 p.m. June 29 at the Phil Aldrich Agency (Allstate) and CB Laser, 611 W. Mt. Vernon. The food, fun and networking opportunities are free.

A grand opening and chamber ribbon cutting will be held at 5:30 p.m. July 23 at the Garden Shed Restaurant, 1528 N. Main.

Fortner takes over as city administrator

Mayor Roger Fortner is serving as Ozark city administrator until a new person can be hired. Fortner is "setting aside" his electrical contractor business until September, when he hopes a new administrator will be in place. Ozark City Council set an Aug. 15 application deadline.

"There are lots of projects in the middle of being done, like the water system update the city has been needing a couple of years," Fortner said. "We needed it last year. We are not at a critical stage on the north side, but the need is there. The city has added several subdivisions, and we haven't increased the water source," he added. The project will consist of a new tower, well and new water line with an estimated cost of $1 million for the project. Fortner said he expects construction to begin in the next one to eight months.

Ozark is also working to preserve its past. City Council approved a certification agreement with the Missouri Historic Preservation Office, according to Fortner. [[In-content Ad]]