Three St. Joseph men can’t wait till weather clears this spring.
They formed Midwest Athletic Academy and recently purchased and renamed the former Bluff Woods Sports Complex. The non-profit organization plans to create a place where youth can get involved in all sports.
“The field is just an asset to fulfill our mission,” said Tony Rake.

Shawn Askinosie is a defense attorney turned Willy Wonka. In just three years, the Springfield, Mo., man turned a hobby of grilling to an obsession with cupcakes to a passion for specialty chocolate.

The local housing market is taking some hits in sales and foreclosures. Residential real estate sales decreased 20 percent in October at $8.6 million compared to the same time last year at $10.8 million, according to the St. Joseph Regional Association of Realtors. The number of units sold also decreased 19 percent, from 1,242 units in October 2007 to 1,000 units last month. But the real estate market for St. Joseph and surrounding areas has only started seeing the downward spiral in the past year. Area professionals have been setting records for the past seven years, said Don Evans, Realtor and president of the association.

Christmas is coming this week.
Today kick starts the beginning of Shop St. Joseph 2008. Shoppers can get out and start collecting tickets for a chance to win the $10,000 prize.
“I’m excited,” said Becki Long. Ms. Long and her husband, Jim Long, own Long Lighting Center.

St. Joseph might just be in its own little retail bubble. Despite heavy construction for most of the year, many store officials at the East Hills Shopping Center say they are doing well heading into the holidays. “We’ve been busier than usual, so it’s been pretty good for us,” said Stephanie Meyers, an employee at EyeMasters.

Snorkel International’s more than 300 employees are still at work this week, but they’ve been warned about possible layoffs.

Business has been good for Mark Segrist. His store, Niche of Time Jewelry, has nearly completed renovations.

Snorkel International’s more than 300 employees are still at work this week, but they’ve been warned about possible layoffs.
“We may have to make some more layoffs later this year and we have entered a consultation period with the work force, is all,” said Dan Jenkins, a spokesperson for Tanfield Group, Snorkel’s parent company.

Debt is an ugly word, but not an uncommon one. With a struggling economy, it’s no wonder the average person may be broke. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service released a quick test to see just where your finances rank.
If you’ve found you need some financial help after taking the broke test, you’re not alone. One out of every 100 families in the United States will file bankruptcy in their lifetime, according to the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Department of Health and Senior Services. On average, an American couple will have about $6,000 worth of debt they carry each month and 13 different credit cards.
Even though the average person may be in debt, Dr. Rebecca Travnichek said that the CCCS test may not be intended for the average consumer.

Gun enthusiasts are stocking up on firearms out of fears that a Democrat-led administration will result in tougher gun control.
Last month, as polls showed a Barack Obama lead, background checks for gun purchases jumped by 108,000 compared with October 2007 — a 15 percent increase — according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gun sales as of Oct. 26 were up 8 percent for the year.
Jerry Sharr said gun and ammunition sales have increased significantly since October.