Other Views: P&Z Commission is no place for developers
One of the pleasures of returning home after a couple weeks in the frigid north is rummaging through the papers to catch up on the news. A couple of things caught my attention, and probably yours. The first is the issue of how to fill the vacancy on the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission. Usually, […]
Banks with local branches named top performers
Three banks operating in the Columbia market have made the American Bankers Association list of Top 25 Performers of 2008. Commerce Bancshares, based in Kansas City, moved from No. 24 to No. 16 in the annual ranking published in the June edition of the ABA’s Banking Journal. Central Bancompany, based in Jefferson City, was ranked […]
Finance courses gain popularity
At a time when Americans are grasping to understand the causes and effects of an economic downturn, Missouri students are putting more emphasis on their financial education. For some students, the reasons may be tied to both personal and professional ambitions. “Student interest in finance appears to be strong right now,” said Bragg Stanley, director […]
SBA lending increases during credit crunch
While the financial crisis is making it harder for businesses to borrow money, lending backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration has increased significantly, particularly in the region that includes Columbia. The SBA loan program was bolstered by reduced fees and higher guarantees, and the lending pace is expected to pick up even more this […]
Garden center closing after three decades
The 29-year history of Total Environments Garden Center mirrors the life cycle of a plant: beginning with the seed of an idea, nurturing a growing business, enjoying maturation and preparing for the eventual fade and fall of the blossoms.
While plant life cycles typically reoccur naturally, this is the last growing season for the Goldenhersh family business. After expanding to a business with 15 employees and taking over adjoining property, Total Environments could not survive the recent spread of mega-store competitors, its founder’s death and, finally, the recession.
Visions of Earth: a travel and art photography exhibit
CBT Photo Editor Jennifer Kettler is showing her work from Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and India in a photo exhibit at Teller’s Wine Bar and Gallery on the corner of Ninth Street and Broadway. The show is on display through June 30, and will not only feature exotic travel photos but local art photography of […]
Providence Road extension
In the works since early February and scheduled for completion in November, the Providence Road extension will connect Vandiver Drive with Blue Ridge Road. The extension of Providence by about three-quarters of a mile and the widening of Range Line Street, a parallel north-south connector four blocks to the east of Providence, will help relieve […]
Stimulate the local economy: Have a wedding
After five years, I finally did something I never thought I’d do. My fiancé, John, and I set a wedding date. Actually, I wasn’t the only one doubting it would ever happen. Many of our friends and colleagues figured it was a long shot, and I’m pretty sure my parents had given up hope. Here’s […]
Oxygen chambers help treat wounds
New treatment is now available for patients who suffer from wounds that do not heal properly. The Boone Hospital Wound Clinic began using the hyperbaric oxygen last November. These chambers use 100 percent oxygen at a higher than normal atmospheric pressure. The oxygen surrounding the tissue around the wound would then allow further healing. During […]
Key leaders support downtown initiatives
Also by Mina Mineva Mayor Darwin Hindman and First Ward City Council Representative Paul Sturtz endorsed two new initiatives aimed at improving Columbia’s downtown, including a revamped management structure and the establishment of a half-cent sales tax inside the district. The boards of the Special Business District, funded primarily through property taxes, and the affiliated […]
Entrepreneurship: A 12-step program for marketing in turbulent times
Adapted from an Entrepreneurial Excellence Week presentation The following was printed in the Wall Street Journal. Can you guess the year? “It was quite the Thursday on Wall Street. A weak president, under-regulated credit markets and investors’ greed finally began to take their full toll on share prices, and after years of unprecedented growth, the […]
Rehab unit offers advanced treatment to stroke patients
Boone Hospital Center has opened a newly enlarged and remodeled Rehabilitation Unit. The unit was designed to serve the needs of patients who have suffered a stroke and may have experienced partial paralysis. The patients are re-taught how to perform common, necessary life tasks, such as putting on clothes, eating and walking. Most people will […]