St. Charles County Business Record, MO articles from June 2003

St. Charles County Business Record, MO archives from June 2003

Phase 3 homes in WingHaven come in all shapes, sizes.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Say "neo-traditional" and immediately one conjures up thoughts of returning to the past, to something comforting, reliable and solid. Neo-traditional homes are no different. Picture this -- a home with a front...

Commentary: In small business, you are the brand to market.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Tony Gartner Among several definitions for the word "brand," Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary lists, "a class of goods identified by name as the product of a single firm or manufacturer" and "a characteristic or distinctive...

Highway K Mobil On the Run recognized for excellence.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Anyone who has ever been "on the run" -- whether for business or pleasure -- knows the importance of finding convenience stops along the way that are quick, clean and well-maintained. One such convenience store in...

Ameristar Casino says it was overcharged for expansion project.
June 3, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Ameristar Casino St. Charles says it has discovered instances of overcharges and duplicate charges by some companies that did work on the gambling operator's $360 million expansion project that opened last year. The...

SBA assigns consultant to St. Charles County.
June 3, 2003... Byline: James Monahan The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced a new service in St. Charles County. It happens every Wednesday. A representative from the SBA of eastern Missouri is now available for consultation from 9:30...

Taxes may be why hotel is not next to Ameristar Casino.
June 4, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Ameristar Casino St. Charles has alluded to the future prospect of building a hotel next to its gambling facility ever since Ameristar Casinos Inc. took over the operations of the establishment from Station Casino in...

Employment picture in area continues to improve.
June 4, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Despite the spate of layoffs that have occurred at American Airlines, WorldCom and other employers in the area, figures recently released by the state indicate the employment situation in St. Charles County and the...

Job seekers may find comfort, answers from new SCC course.
June 5, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Job seekers beware: The rules in the game of finding gainful employment have changed. Through a history of events and a struggle to uphold the bottom line, Corporate America's hiring process has been outsourced to the...

St. Charles wineries serve up award-winning wines.
June 5, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Wines from Missouri are beginning to be recognized for their quality, and two St. Charles County wineries are serving up some of the nation's finest. Between April and May, Montelle Winery's 2002 Seyval Blanc won...

This year's Wing Ding includes 21 restaurants.
June 6, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Who has the best chicken wings in the area? You can decide for yourself at the fifth annual St. Charles County Wing Ding scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, at the Bass Pro Sportsman's Warehouse,...

O'Fallon's Grabenhorst named state's top economic developer.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Jim Grabenhorst, economic development director for the city of O'Fallon, has been named Missouri's top economic developer by the Missouri Economic Development Council, a professional association of economic development...

Commentary: Ownership rules prompt debate in news opinions and earnings.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Mike Nixon It was not long ago when small municipalities across the country clamored in hopes of attracting a Wal-Mart store to their communities. But in a short time long-standing business owners learned the hard way what became...

Coldwell Banker Gundaker Mid Rivers ranks high in sales.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff The Coldwell Banker Gundaker Highway 94 @ Mid Rivers office ranked No. 4 out of 39 offices in sales for closed business for the month of April. The office had a written sales volume of $31.4 million and a listing volume of...

O'Fallon Chamber announces new members.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff Recently joining the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce are Blue Sky Apparel & Promotions L.L.C., Kathy Gralike; Builders Network, Chad Centorbi; Commerce Bank, Linda Dillion; Educational Funding & Financial Aid Specialist, Scott...

St. Charles woman receives award from Blue Cross, Blue Shield.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri has presented an Office Managers Council award to Trish Schmidt, administrator for Boonslick Medical Group of St. Charles. The award was presented at the recent five-year anniversary...

Commentary: Tax increment financing not same as subsidized.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: I'm writing today to discuss the financing of the Main Street Project, and also to correct one of the more ridiculous charges of the group opposing any revitalization downtown. This group...

Lake St. Charles Retirement announces change in staff.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff Lake St. Charles Retirement Community has announced the retirement of Jean Jones as director of nursing for assisted living services. Assuming the position will be Mary Schmitt who has worked in the assisted living department...

SCI Engineering names new marketing coordinator.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff St. Charles-based SCI Engineering Inc. recently announced the promotion of Cheryl Hughey to marketing coordinator for the four corporate offices. Hughey holds a bachelor's of science degree from Maryville University. Coming...

SBA makes $1.4 billion more available for small-business lending.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that $1.4 billion in additional loan authority will be made available for small-business lending for fiscal year 2003. As a result, lending authority in the agency's primary...

St. Louis law firm names new senior associate.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff St. Charles County resident Dawn Gajewski has been promoted to senior associate in the St. Louis office of HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum) Inc. Gajewski serves as project accountant for the Indianapolis Midfield Terminal in...

St. Charles professor receives Golden Apple award.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff Leon Jones, professor of math at St. Charles Community College, is the recipient of the 2003 Golden Apple award for excellence in teaching at the college level. The award, created by the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce, was...

Jack Cooper Transport driver places third in state championship.
June 6, 2003... Byline: Staff O'Fallon resident Ronald Rowden, truck driver for Jack Cooper Transport in Wentzville, placed third in the Missouri Truck Driving Championship, Auto Transporter Class. The competition was held on May 30-31 at the John Q....

New Frontenac bank branch to open in old county gas building.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Frontenac Bank will open its first bank branch in St. Charles County within the old St. Charles County Gas Co. building at 1 Westbury Square off of West Clay Street in St. Charles. The bank branch will lease...

Concerns over flooding may postpone Sysco expansion.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Having experienced numerous instances of flooding, Sysco Food Services of St. Louis L.L.C. may postpone plans to expand its warehouse operation at its St. Charles location. Sysco is a leading distributor of food products...

Businesses savor opportunity to showcase wares at annual expo.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Members of the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce are hoping for a sunny day and blue skies on June 19. That's the date of Savor 2003, their annual taste extravaganza, during which local restaurateurs will transform the...

Customers find closeout merchandise at Wholesale Pitt.
June 10, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Adam Pitt thinks shopping should be fun. That's why this owner of the new Wholesale Pitt in St. Charles has music, rolling racks and tents of merchandise outside his store at 2701 W. Clay. He's even planning a dunking...

SCI Engineering celebrates WorkSAFE week.
June 10, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour In 2001, one workplace injury occurred every 7.4 minutes, and 14 employees died each day from an on-the-job injury, according to the National Safety Council. In a study conducted by Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance,...

Ameristar continues to lead in Missouri casino revenue.
June 11, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask A soft economy is not preventing Ameristar Casino St. Charles from doing a robust business. The St. Charles casino boarded 376,361 patrons in May, a 67 percent increase from a year ago, according to the Missouri...

Boone's Lick Corridor to be renovated.
June 11, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour After many years of discussions regarding the Boone's Lick Corridor, the city of St. Charles is finally closer to completing its plans. The Boone's Lick Corridor will see new lights, a new street and new decorative...

Builders showcase at Family Arena continues to flourish.
June 12, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Getting builders, Realtors and prospective buyers together under one roof sounds like a formula for success in promoting new home sales. And that's just what the St. Charles County Association of Realtors plans to do...

International Assn. of Administrative Professional installs new officers.
June 12, 2003... Byline: James Monahan The St. Charles chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals announced on June 3 the election of officers for a one-year term beginning July 1. Association members had nominated a new slate...

Third Strike Investigations to celebrate one year in business.
June 12, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour Good things come to those who wait, and Jeff T. Simpson Sr. only had to wait a year before his business expanded, and he was able to move out of his home and into an office. On June 26, Simpson, owner of Third Strike...

Commentary: Ruling appears to pit free speech against parental authority.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Mike Nixon Given first impressions, a ruling last Tuesday by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis did not offer any favors to parents seeking help in controlling their children's exposure to graphically violent video...

Area nonprofits expand in St. Charles County.
June 13, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Several area not-for-profit organizations are expanding their operations to improve service to the community. Community Living, an agency that has been serving developmentally disabled individuals in St. Charles...

More St. Charles County residents working close to home.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask In the early 1990s, a St. Charles City Councilman stated that St. Charles was a bedroom community and always would be. How times have changed. Local officials now say that more St. Charles County residents work...

MO's Purchasing Managers' Index score shows continued growth.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff Missouri's PMI score shows continued economic expansion. For the 16th consecutive month Missouri's Purchasing Managers' Index remained above 50, considered to be one sign of an expansionary economy. Economists consider...

McBride & Son Homes wins Botanical Heights contract.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff McBride & Son Homes Inc., the largest builder in the St. Louis metro region, entered a master development agreement with the Garden District Commission, a nonprofit organization of neighborhood residents, and McRee Town...

MediaCross expands account services team.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff St. Charles County resident Sue Adams joins MediaCross Inc. as account manager. Adams has more than 15 years of experience as a marketing leader for major corporations in the construction, health care and financial services...

Piglowski joins Coldwell Banker Gundaker Mid Rivers.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff Jennifer Piglowski has joined the staff of the Coldwell Banker Gundaker Highway 94 @ Mid Rivers officer as its director of training. Piglowski, a lifelong St. Charles resident, graduated from Columbia College with a degree in...

NE Community Action Corp. recognizes in-home services aides.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff The not-for-profit North East Community Action Corp. recently recognized four of its in-home services aides for length of service or outstanding performance. Alice Key of St. Charles was recognized for 15 years of service,...

SCI Engineering announces staff addition, promotion, contract award.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff Phillip Morris recently joined SCI Engineering Inc. as a project scientist to provide property cognition assessments, PCAs, for the environmental services group. Sherry McCoy of SCI was promoted to marketing manager for the...

O'Fallon renewal project has some businesses considering relocation.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour The downtown revitalization project in O'Fallon, which has created tension between the city and some residents and business owners since its inception, is the reason two businesses are relocating out of the city early....

Prudential Alliance Realtors earns top national awards.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services has honored Prudential Alliance Realtors with the national Gibraltar Circle Award, Cornerstone Award, Roundtable Award and Corporate Relocation Services/Midwest Award. The four...

Top GuideOne agent earns convention recognition.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff GuideOne Insurance congratulates Kermit Starnes of Lutheran Trust Inc. for earning the GuideOne Commercial Star award. This award is presented annually to an agent who achieves the status of the top commercial producer and...

First Bank announces staff promotions.
June 13, 2003... Byline: Staff First Bank announced the promotion of St. Charles resident Lisa Wolf to assistant vice president in centralized consumer lending at the Hazelwood office and the promotion of St. Charles resident Cindy Trigg to assistant vice...

Service Corps of Retired Executive offers advice via e-Mail.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour Need some pointers on writing a business plan for your new company? Need advice on how to survive in the slowing economy? Or maybe you need help marketing your services? All you need to answer your questions is an...

Pulaski Bank expands westward with O'Fallon branch.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Pulaski Bank, one of the oldest local, family-owned banks in the metropolitan St. Louis area, takes pride in having offered old-time personal service to its customers for more than 81 years. Michael Burdzy, the son...

Debate on O'Fallon, MO, downtown development continues.
June 17, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour It seems like O'Fallon city officials still have a long road ahead of them in convincing residents and business owners that the downtown redevelopment plan will be a boon for the city. Since the city announced its...

St. Charles-based NetLogic, an Internet provider, plans to spread quickly in region.
June 17, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Speed, quality and cost are key issues in selecting an Internet access provider, whether for business or home use. NetLogic, a company that's less than two years old, is betting on wireless service as the wave of...

Legal profession inspires name of new restaurant.
June 18, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Judging by the number of patrons frequenting this new pub and grill, Judge's Place is a big success. And in spite of the fact that its name would indicate that it was a gathering place for those in the legal profession,...

Wing Ding fundraiser gives donors publicity.
June 18, 2003... Byline: Erin Piel Business donations at fund-raising events sometimes go unnoticed, but such was not the case for businesses that participated in this year's Wing Ding fund-raiser. Tom Lloyd, owner of Big A's on the Riverfront in St....

Sports team ownership: Just another business venture.
June 19, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady Whether it's turning a profit or just supporting a local attribute, there are many reasons why businesspeople invest in professional sports teams. According to two local businessmen, sports team ownership is no...

Ameristar Casino St. Charles recognized in travel magazine.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Staff Ameristar Casino St. Charles received eight awards in the recent Midwest Gaming and Travel magazine reader's choice survey. Two other Ameristar Missouri casinos shared 19 other awards given by the magazine. The awards given...

Marketing Direct hires office manager.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Staff St. Charles resident Elizabeth "Besty" Ley, president and owner of Custom Word Solutions, has joined Marketing Direct Inc. as office manager. Ley's responsibilities include accounting and sales support, software applications...

Main Street Gym adds personal trainer to staff.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Staff Main Street Gym, at 220 N. Main Street in St. Charles, is pleased to announce the addition of personal trainer and Pilates instructor Karen Sullivan to its fitness team. Sullivan started her fitness career as an Amateur...

SCC professor co-authors award-winning textbook.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Staff The Text and Academic Authors Association recently announced that "Structure and Function of the Body," a textbook co-authored by Kevin Patton, Ph.D., professor of science at St. Charles Community College, has been awarded...

St. Peters Chamber of Commerce holds ribbon cuttings.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Staff On April 9, the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' new office, located at 1284 Jungermann Road, Suite B, in St. Peters. On May 7, the St. Peters chamber held a...

Commentary: Senate hearing on airline cuts leaves question of who benefits.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Mike Nixon As far as image goes, last week's Senate hearing, in which a collection of former St. Louis-based Trans World Airlines employees told their tales of mistreatment following the 2001 acquisition of the bankrupt but...

O'Fallon, Main Street Ventures announce hike in buyout offers.
June 20, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask If it's true everyone has a price, the city of O'Fallon and Main Street Ventures are hoping they have found it when it comes to buying out downtown's commercial property owners. The city and its development partner...

Advertising by e-mail -- to spam or not to spam?
June 23, 2003... Byline: Bill Mocca What is spam? I define spam as "unsolicited e-mail, usually promotional, sent out to multiple recipients." Professional spammers use special "spamware" programs designed to harvest e-mail addresses from public...

Historic fife, drum corps draws attention to St. Charles.
June 23, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot The bicentennial anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition will bring thousands of visitors to St. Charles, the point where the expedition launched into the unknown on its 8,000-mile trip up the Missouri River,...

Economic development director pitches St. Charles.
June 23, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask During the past few years, much attention has been paid to the considerable amount of home and commercial building that has taken place in the western portion of St. Charles County. But St. Charles has not been standing...

Medicorp Inc. builds new, bigger facility in St. Peters.
June 24, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady With the high cost of medical malpractice insurance running some independent physicians out of business, a recent trend shows hospitals beginning to hire doctors as employees. This is one of many changes Robbie...

St. Charles County appoints first director for community development.
June 25, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour Starting next month, builders in St. Charles County will visit one department instead of three during the building approval process. St. Charles County formed a community development department and selected a community...

SCI Engineering adds property assessment service.
June 25, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour SCI Engineering Inc. picked the right time to include property condition assessments to the many other services it provides. With interest rates at all-time lows, SCI Engineering should have no problem finding demand for...

Wentzville Marketplace lot owner looking for tenants.
June 26, 2003... Byline: Amy Armour Finding tenants in a sluggish economy can be hard, but it may prove even harder to find tenants to purchase land and occupy a building that the landlord wants to design. Scott Sacco, owner of the two outlots in the...

St. Charles waits for Client Services to decide on land.
June 26, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Almost six months after Client Services Inc. successfully bid for a city-owned, 26.5-acre tract of land in St. Charles, the collection agency still has not closed on the site. Client Services has until Aug. 1 to...

Better Business Bureau warns consumers in need of roof work.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff After damaging hail storms struck the St. Charles area this spring, many residents have been searching for siding and roofing companies to perform repairs. The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern...

True Manufacturing to build new plant in Pike County.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask A sizable state grant will facilitate True Manufacturing Co., headquartered in O'Fallon, in building a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in the city of Bowling Green in Pike County. Once the plant is built and...

St. Charles tourism bureau gets $144,000 in state grants.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask The Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau has some more money to market local attractions as tourist destinations. The bureau recently won three state grants totaling $144,281, state Sen. Chuck Gross, a...

St. Charles mayor announces new city attorney.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff St. Charles Mayor Patti York announced that she has extended an offer of employment to Michael J. Valenti to be the new full-time city attorney. Valenti accepted the offer on June 19 and is expected to begin employment no...

St. Charles County resident receives RX Systems scholarship.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff Lisa Gierer of O'Fallon, a fourth-year student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, has received the 2003 RX Systems Inc. Endowed Scholarship. Made possible by the RX Systems Endowed Scholarship Fund, the highly competitive...

City of O'Fallon holds ribbon cutting for All About Memories.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff On June 12, the city of O'Fallon held a ribbon cutting for All About Memories, located at 2398 Highway K in O'Fallon. All About Memories is an established scrapbook supply shop under the ownership of Dee King.

Better Business Bureau warns consumers about A to Z Pools.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois cautioned consumers through a press release about swimming pool/spa builder A to Z Pool & Spa of St. Charles. Since the beginning of June, 2001, the BBB...

Coldwell Banker Gundaker hires four new employees.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff Coldwell Banker Gundaker Highway 94 @ Mid Rivers office announced that four new members have joined its team. Bix Fisher, Marvin Bowser, Deanna Kerr and Dan Darmody are now part of the Coldwell Banker Gundaker office at 6235...

Ellinger & Taylor P.C. adds new associate.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff Tonya McAlpine has joined the law firm of Ellinger & Taylor P.C. as an associate. McAlpine will specialize in family law, personal injury and criminal cases. "We're pleased to welcome Tonya to St. Charles County," said Rory...

Hospital auxiliary awards scholarships.
June 27, 2003... Byline: Staff In an effort to support future caregivers, the Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital Auxiliary has awarded $1,000 scholarships to 10 St. Charles County college students pursuing health-related careers. Selection was based on...

Learning integral part of WingHaven development.
June 28, 2003... Byline: Joan Elliot Learning is one of the four components of LifeWorks -- the WingHaven concept that life works when people live, learn, work and play in the same community. Quality educational institutions are an integral part of the...