Southwest Missouri News

Branson

Branson Dance Barn to open April 15

The Branson Dance Barn, located in a vacated retail space at the Factory Shoppes at Branson Meadows outlet mail, is scheduled to open April 15. The 6,500-square-foot space will incorporate new restrooms, a 3,000-square-foot floating wood floor, 17 ceiling fans and adjustable lighting.

The facility will also offer non-alcoholic refreshments and snacks and a Kiddie Korral where young children can play or sleep while their parents dance. The dance schedule will include dances for singles, country-western line dances, square dances, family barn dances and "tea" or ballroom dances. The dance barn can also hold private parties and special functions.

Dino headlines mornings at Grand Mansion

Dino Kartsonakis, moving from The Grand Palace, will headline morning shows at The Grand Mansion for the 1999 season. The Grand Mansion, located on Expressway Lane in Branson, housed Melinda, First Lady of Magic, in 1998.

Both The Grand Mansion and The Grand Palace are operated by Syncor Entertainment Inc. Syncor has also announced that entertainer Glen Campbell will be back in Branson to perform a limited number of engagements at The Grand Palace between April and September 1999.

Doctor added to Hollister Medical Center

St. John's Physicians and Clinics has announced the addition of Dr. Holli K. Ruby at the Hollister Medical Center beginning March 1. Ruby is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pamona, Calif. She most recently served at St. John's Mountain Home clinic. An open house is planned for 10 a.m.-noon April 24 at the Hollister clinic.

MSSC adds 250-seat center-stage theater

Joplin Construction & Design Management has been awarded the contract to build a 250-seat center-stage theater at Missouri Southern State College. The theater replaces the Barn Theater, which was destroyed by fire in 1990.

The $996,700 bid was the lowest of six submitted. Initial money for the project includes $400,000 in private donations; $100,000 from insurance settlement; $100,000 from the state and $100,000 from the college.

John Tiede, vice president for business affairs, said the rest of the funding will come from next year's budget. Construction is set to begin next month and be completed in nine months.

Chamber, BKD seek award nominations

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and the accounting firm of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson are seeking nominees for the 1999 Small Business of the Year Award.

Selection is made on the basis of successful operation and significant contribution to the community.

To qualify, the business must employ no more than 50 full-time employees and must have been in business at least four years. The business must be located within a 35-mile radius of Joplin and be a member in good standing of the Joplin chamber for at least two years.

Entry forms are available at the chamber office.

Spot-Not makes Entrepreneur franchise list

Spot-Not Car Washes is among the top 500 franchises listed in the 19th Annual Franchise 500 by Entrepreneur Magazine.

The results were published in the January magazine. Spot-Not is one of only two car wash franchises to make the ranking.

Spot-Not uses both automatic and self-service wash bays with most locations open 24 hours. The company, founded in 1968, has 37 franchises in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Freighters names sales manager

Elias Gonzalez has been appointed regional sales manager in the Reynosa, Mexico, area for Contract Freighters, Inc., a Joplin-based international trucking company.

Alejandro Salinas has joined the company as regional sales manager for the Tijuana, Mexico, area.

Contract Freighters Inc., was founded in 1951 and transports goods throughout the United States and Canada and has agreements with carriers in Mexico.

Candlewood Hotel CEO speaks at C of O

Jack P. DeBoer, chairman and CEO of Candlewood Hotel Company, will speak on entrepreneurs and the highs and lows of free enterprise at 7 p.m., March 10 in the Jones Auditorium on the College of the Ozarks Campus, located at Point Lookout.

The college, along with the Students in Free Enterprise team, is sponsoring DeBoer for its spring convocation, which is open to the public.

"He is a very successful businessman and is knowledgeable about the hotel industry. He should feel right at home here in Branson," SIFE President Cameron Richards said of De Boer.

DeBoer, a real estate developer of hotels and apartment complexes, was cited as the second-largest multifamily developer in the United States by National Real Estate Investor.

He designed and built the first Residence Inn in downtown Wichita and was a pioneer in the all-suite hotel concept.[[In-content Ad]]