Southwest Missouri News

Branson

Fifth annual hospitality expo coming up

The Branson Lakes Area Lodging Association will host its fifth annual Midwest Hospitality Expo Aug. 22 at Chateau on the Lake near Branson.

Vendor booth space is available by calling the Branson Lakes Area Lodging Assocation at 332-1400.

Small businesses in Branson to be honored

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its second annual Small Business of the Year Award Dinner beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. June 8 at the Settle Inn in Branson.

The guest speaker will be Tom Samsel of Springfield Re-Manufacturing who will discuss the book, "The Great Game of Business."

For more information, call the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at 334-4084.

Chamber to host networking luncheon

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce will also hold its noon networking meeting at 11:30 a.m., June 15 at the Outback Steak & Oyster Bar in Branson.

The luncheon, which starts at noon, costs $7 per person and is sponsored by the Branson Regional Economic Development Association.

Park starts season with biggest expansion

White Water in Branson opened for its 2000 season May 13, showcasing its largest capital expansion in its two-decade history: an island adventure called Rain Tree Island.

The new area includes sluices, aqua-shooters, water blasters, splash geysers, elevated walkways, spray bursters, 150-foot-long escape slides and a massive tipping bucket that showers 700 gallons of water on guests below every seven minutes.

The million-dollar attraction encompasses 20,000 square feet, allowing for a capacity of up to 800 people with additional beach and sunning areas.

Old West BBQ opens new location

Old West BBQ and Catfish House has opened at a new location on Gretna Road across from the Wild West Musical Trails Theater.

The restaurant offers sliced brisket, ham, pork ribs and fresh catfish with daily lunch specials, and take-out and delivery. Business hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Wild West Theater under new ownership

The Wild West Musical Trails Theater, formerly the Wild West Theater, on Gretna Road in Branson, is now under the ownership of Garry Isaacs.

Describing the new show in a press release, Isaacs said, "The musical play will have dramatic sets, a "trails of life" theme and music and performers."

The show originally opened at the end of April with Joni Harms, a new Grand Ole Opry star.

"Joni is a great singer and our friend, but she was unable to commit to as many dates as the theater needed," Isaacs said in the release.

He said the theater would remain dark until Memorial Day weekend, and then open with the dramatic musical.

Hollister

City hires first parks director

The city of Hollister has hired its first full-time parks director. Shawn Wenger will be responsible for planning, promoting and organizing the city's parks, recreational services and facilities for the community.

Joplin

Empire gets international recognition

The Empire District Electric Co. was awarded first place for its new customer information software at the Object Application Awards 2000, which were held recently in Vienna, Austria.

The utility won for "Best implementation of a Distributed Application Using Object Technology" for Centurion, its new customer service system.

The contest had more than 100 worldwide entries, and Empire was the only American company to win an award.

The awards recognize outstanding customized computer software and are designed to honor innovative developers. Centurion, which was developed entirely by a team of Empire employees to support customer service and billing, has also won other awards for its advanced features and use of Java and Internet technologies.

Trainer opens dog day-care business

Kloud K-9, Doggie Daycare & Training Center, recently opened its doors. The new business will offer crate-free dog day care, do-it-yourself dog washing and all-breed obedience training.

Evelyn Redwine, a trainer whose dogs have won national obedience recognition, is the business's owner.

Neosho

Local college starts job training program

Crowder Community College plans to start a now job training program. The "One Stop Shop" program will be located at the former Joplin Job Service at Seventh and Wall, and will incorporate the activities of the job service and Private Industry Council. The program's goal will be to match the skills of job seekers with employers.

In addition, ACT testing for prospective job seekers will be offered, along with counseling on obtaining additional job training.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development has awarded the college a $270,000 grant for the program, and additional revenues are to come from fees paid by employers.

Chamber director resigns position

Nina Eads, executive director of the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, has submitted her letter of resignation.

Eads, who has been at the Neosho chamber since 1997, is planning a move to California where her husband has accepted a new job. During Eads' tenure at the chamber, membership grew steadily and the chamber's membership investment revenue grew by 140 percent.