Workers at Smurfit Stone Container will vote today on a new labor contract.
St. Joe ‘on to something good’It’s great to brag about St. Joseph’s No. 1 ranking for business recruitment and retention, advises Frank Spano.
“But you’ve got to back it up,” he said at the Economic Summit Luncheon on Thursday.
New York is convinced it’s the center of the universe.
They can’t imagine why any one would want to live anywhere else. As Eva Gabor told Eddy Albert, “Dah-ling, I love you, but give me Park Avenue.”
Gas prices headed up this week ahead of Hurricane Gustav, but farmers got a bit of a break.
Cool, wet weather affects research crops
ALBANY, Mo. — A cool wind blew and rain dampened the field day at Hundley-Whaley Farm Research Center on Wednesday.
Utility rates going up againUtility rates only know one direction: Up. And more hikes are on the way. Consumers already bearing the burden of higher fuel and food prices are doing their best to adjust. St. Joseph sewer rates will go up in October; a water rate adjustment is pending and Kansas City Power & Light expects to request a rate increase in the near future.
Build one convention center, for the sake of historySt. Joe loves us some history.
We don’t just keep it in the past, either. From the Pony Express to the Civil War, this city often recreates history.
I want my... I want my... i want my... DTV
In 177 days, digital television becomes the law of the land.
Broadcasters say they’re prepared and viewers are urged to get ready, as well.
Hundreds of people have bought digital converter boxes from St. Joseph Electronics. You don’t even need to wait to February to use it, said Aaron Swett, a sales representative at the store.
St. Joseph’s sewer problem represents a $450 million tab and years of investment.
5 groups to benefit from software grantThey started out to help one organization.
Saw dust, excitement in the air over East HillsConstruction workers in reflective vests outnumber teenagers at East Hills Shopping Center these days. There’s something else at the mall that hasn’t been there for a long time. Excitement.
Economy takes toll on small business
Closing the store was a tough decision. David and Linda Laderoute bought Designs by Gordon with high hopes in 2002. Bringing her expertise in horticulture and his business experience to an established floral shop seemed like a winning combination. “We spent a lot of time and research, but unfortunately we didn’t have a crystal ball,” Mr. Laderoute said.
Cell phones dazzle us with their repetoire of high-tech tricks. They can take pictures, read maps, send e-mail and play music. But one thing remains that I really want out of my cell phone. I wish I could hear it.
Call this number for the Homestead Preservation CreditPeople calling to find out about the Homestead Preservation Credit have been getting frustrated. We ran a brief notice about the credit in Wednesday’s paper, along with a phone number to call the Missouri Department of Revenue for more information. The number led callers to an automatic answering system, then put them on hold while customer service representatives were busy. I called the number several times and never got through to talk to a person.
Strike was close, but avertedEmployees of Missouri American Water Co. were prepared to go on strike Wednesday night.
Water workers approve pactEmployees of Missouri American Water ratified a new labor contract Wednesday night. The existing three-year contract expired at midnight Wednesday. Twenty-three workers are affected by the new labor agreement, which is for a three-year period. They are represented by Laborers’ International Union Local No. 579.
Big ideas abound for South BeltThe South Belt already has real estate waiting for renters: The strip mall near Wal-Mart, shops by DAV Thrift Store and The Commons development.
Inspectors condemn Bluetown Tavern
The Bluetown Tavern is closed following an inspection by the city of St. Joseph.
Woman a stickler for tradition
She broke ground in a man’s world. She knew the insurance industry inside and out. She insisted on working every day, even at age 94. And Dorothy Auten was always a lady. “She had lovely manners. I never heard her say a cross word,” said Dorothy Barnthouse, Mrs. Auten’s great niece and goddaughter who was named after her.
Looking at the big picture
St. Joseph’s original industrial park is ready for some upgrades. Decaying streets with huge potholes have led some businesses to consider forming a neighborhood improvement district. The district would work with the city and county to repair Leonard Road, Easton Road and Whitaker Road. “They’re all but shot and need to be replaced,” said Dan Hausman, Buchanan County’s Eastern District commissioner.
Blue days for greenbacks
Europeans looking for a good deal on a BMW or Mercedes may be surprised where the search takes them. Like to Gene Field Road in St. Joseph, Mo. “I get e-mails and questions everyday from customers in Europe,” said Phil Reasons, owner of Sterling Auto Brokers.
Dumped at the dance for the CanadiansWho put the bomb in the Bombardier? Who put the TIF in the tax increment financing? Since Bombardier pulled out of plans for a jet factory at Kansas City International Airport, we’re left wondering if we ever stood a chance.
Book cites St. Joseph as great place to live
St. Joseph is an amazing place to live. Says who? Says Barbara Corcoran, that’s who. Only a real estate guru and host of “The Millionaire Broker” on CNBC. She wrote the book “Nextville: Amazing Places to Live the Rest of Your Life.”
What do you want to see on the South Belt?The retail scene is changing in St. Joseph. The Shoppes at North Village have brought in a lot of national stores and restaurants. Some well known St. Joseph businesses, such as Jerre Anne’s, have closed recently.
Biofuels holding steady through the stormIt’s easy to understand why people are mad at oil companies. Arab sheikhs are raking in big bucks and fat-cat executives are smoking $100 bills while it takes some people an hour’s wage just to drive to work and back.
Work under way on city's third biodiesel plantSt. Joseph’s third biodiesel plant broke ground Wednesday morning on south Stockyards Expressway.
For New Orleans, road home a long journeyYou’d think the fastest growing city in the United States would be a bustling, exciting place. In places, it is. But a heavy cloud of discouragement still hovers over New Orleans.
We get around on new blogThe internet was supposed to be the death of newspapers. Fifteen years later after our predicted demise, we’re still kicking around. Newspapers, however, have changed significantly through the internet.
Utility merger in final stagesAquila will go dark at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Then it’s lights, camera, action for Kansas City Power & Light in Northwest Missouri. “Everything is on schedule for day one,” said Matt Tidwell, director of public relations.
McDonald’s opens on RiversideSt. Joseph has another McDonald’s restaurant. The restaurant located inside Speedy’s Convenience Store at Riverside and Mitchell has opened.
Smurfit Stone not utilizing county loanSmurfit Stone will not be accepting a $75,000 economic development incentive from Buchanan County.
Consultants making a differenceJohn and Amy Licata want to do more than business in St. Joseph. They want to make a difference. The Licatas are celebrating the grand opening of their business by awarding a $15,000 grant to a nonprofit organization.
Gas prices go bananasThe No. 1 economic worry for most people these days in gas prices. I’m trying not to fret too much. There’s nothing I can do about fuel markets and a certain amount of driving just has to be done.
Start-up firm eyes incubatorThe first business soon could locate in Missouri Western State University’s Christopher S. “Kit” Bond Science and Technology Incubator. The start-up company makes animal health biotherapeutics and medical devices. The business, which hasn’t been publicly named due to confidentiality issues, already has two products on the market. The Buchanan County Economic Development Advisory Committee recommended on Thursday giving the company $500,000 in loans from the taxpayer-funded economic development fund.
The cost of the commute
Fewer pickups show up in the parking lot at Hemisphere GPS in Hiawatha, Kan. They’ve been replaced by smaller cars and even motorcycles. This is the world where gas costs $3.87 per gallon. “Everybody’s feeling it,” said Jeff Ferrar, channel marketing manager for Hemisphere.
A pattern for better times at East HillsHere in Northwest Missouri, we know a lot about patterns. Right now, we’re in a wet pattern. That means it rains approximately every 3 hours, 17 minutes. For awhile we also appeared to be in a retail cycle. We were getting news of a new store or restaurant.... about every 3 hours, 17 minutes.
Employers urged to hire ex-offendersJeff Clark has a request of potential employers. “I would ask you, professional to professional, please look at the person, not at the offense,” Mr. Clark said.
Put away your lawn chairs, folks. Tonight’s Parties on the Parkway event at SW Parkway & 28th Street has been canceled due to weather conditions.
Failure to stimulate?
The sky’s the limit: Remodel the house, take a vacation, invest in the stock market, buy an electronic gadget. So what are most people doing with their stimulus payment? Paying bills.
Was this really what we wanted?Sweat trickled down my face and ran in my eyes. I brushed it away, then whacked the hoe at a stubborn stand of crabgrass that had the nerve to grow beside my green beans.
Crazy for tenderloinThe tenderloin contest is picking up steam. So far, we’ve heard from 11 different restaurants in the region, each one insisting they have the best tenderloin.
Know where I can get a good tenderloin?Chances are you do. Tenderloin is a deep-fried delicacy that inspires deep devotion among fans. I always enjoy a good tenderloin sandwich and have no doubt that the best in the state are served right here in Northwest Missouri.
Doggy aches and painsBabe has been kind of slow getting up, and her back legs are stiff.
Natural gas to increase $35 a monthReady for another hit in the wallet? Get prepared because natural gas rates are going up. Rates for Missouri Gas Energy customers will increase 27 percent, beginning June 3. The hike could end up costing households an additional $35 per month this winter.
Snorkel workers petition for unionWorkers at Snorkel International have filed a petition requesting a vote to organize a labor union.
For the love of moneyDebit cards, automatic deposits and electronic transfers can make money seem less like a tangible thing and more like a concept. Like love or time travel, it’s somewhere out there, just out of reach.
Western Incubator ready for occupancyThe Christopher S. “Kit” Bond Science and Technology Incubator is about to hatch.
Buffalo Wild Wings work beginsA drive on the north side of town reveals that a lot of work is taking place. Buffalo Wild Wings is wasting no time on its St. Joe restaurant.
Casino owner reaches deal with lenderHerbst Gaming has signed an agreement with a lender, allowing the company to continue operating.
Party like it’s 1987 and the Dow is 1,900The strangest things can blow into your yard. Last week, an old newspaper showed up against the fence. Before wadding it up and throwing it in the trash, I glanced to see if it was some of my finest work.