News Briefs
Joplin residents will be a beneficiary of the John Anderson Celebrity Golf Invitational, set for July 10 and 11 at the Country Club of Missouri. In addition, the Anderson Family Charitable Foundation will donate $10,000 to Joplin schools to help teachers and students restock their classrooms this fall. The celebrity event will also raise funds for The Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri. “With our mission of providing assistance to underserved school-aged children in the public school system, the Anderson Family Charitable Foundation is honored to not only support the Buddy Pack Program at the Food Bank and the local public schools but also to collect school supplies the kids and educators of Joplin so badly need,” said Anderson, an ESPN anchor and 1987 MU grad. The school-supply drive kicks off 6 to 9 p.m. July 10 at Shiloh Bar and Grill in Columbia during the Tournament’s Celebrity Meet-and-Greet. The drive will continue 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 at the Country Club of Missouri. The drive is being co-sponsored by Midwest Computech. Last year’s event raised more than $30,000.
Former Gov. Roger Wilson’s tenure as chief executive of the embattled Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance officially ended July 1. The company, in an announcement, did not disclose why Wilson was removed. He had been on administrative leave since May 13. The insurer has been in turmoil since criminal charges were filed against two members of MEM’s board of directors, who have since resigned. Wilson, who lives in Columbia, joined MEM’s board in early 2009, was named acting president in June 2009 and became CEO in January 2010. In a separate statement, Wilson said he was proud of his days at MEM and continued, “I wish them every continued success in building on the strong record we compiled together.” A spokesman for Wilson said the former governor is traveling and would not have further comment. The insurer said it is seeking a new CEO. Attorney Jim Owen of Chesterfield is now serving as interim president and CEO.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Columbia Area is already halfway to its goal in its capital campaign to expand its Teen Center at 1200 Seventh St. The campaign goal is $800,000, which will fund a two-story expansion of the existing facility and build an outdoor basketball court. The project will bring the two existing Boys & Girls Club facilities under one roof, which will allow the club to reduce facility operating costs while increasing the number of youths served in the community. Executive Director Valorie Livingston said the club has received more than $400,000 in monetary and in-kind donations but said that “continued community participation is critical to reach our goal.” The Boys & Girls Club is also in the middle of its annual campaign to raise $100,000 for day-to-day operations.
The University of Missouri System said it will cut its commitment to the Enterprise Investment Program, a key component of its research and economic development mission, to help address the additional $4.37 million reduction in 2012 state appropriations. MU will slash its commitment from $5 million to $2.8 million to make up part of the shortfall. “While the university will be able to fulfill its commitment for the first round of pending investments in early-stage companies, the cut will adversely affect future funding of collaborative ventures among the university, entrepreneurs and businesses,” said University of Missouri System Interim President Steve Owens. “In all likelihood, the cut also will reduce the amount of new revenues from licensing technologies that support the university’s economic development mission. This was not a choice we wanted to make, but it was the least objectionable option.”
City of Columbia parking meter rates in the downtown district have doubled from 30 cents to 60 cents per hour as of July 1. Rates will also increase at meters adjacent to campus, from 50 cents to 75 cents per hour. The city said it will take about a month to change meters to the new rates. Surface permits will also rise from $40 to $50. But in a nod to local business, downtown city garages will now be free on Saturdays. In addition, the city is putting permits for the new garage at Fifth and Walnut streets on sale through the end of the year. Permits will be available for $35 a month — a monthly savings of $25. Permits can be purchased on GoColumbiaMo.com or by calling (573) 874-7250.
Former Gov. Roger Wilson’s tenure as chief executive of the embattled Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance officially ended July 1. The company, in an announcement, did not disclose why Wilson was removed. He had been on administrative leave since May 13. The insurer has been in turmoil since criminal charges were filed against two members of MEM’s board of directors, who have since resigned. Wilson, who lives in Columbia, joined MEM’s board in early 2009, was named acting president in June 2009 and became CEO in January 2010. In a separate statement, Wilson said he was proud of his days at MEM and continued, “I wish them every continued success in building on the strong record we compiled together.” A spokesman for Wilson said the former governor is traveling and would not have further comment. The insurer said it is seeking a new CEO. Attorney Jim Owen of Chesterfield is now serving as interim president and CEO.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Columbia Area is already halfway to its goal in its capital campaign to expand its Teen Center at 1200 Seventh St. The campaign goal is $800,000, which will fund a two-story expansion of the existing facility and build an outdoor basketball court. The project will bring the two existing Boys & Girls Club facilities under one roof, which will allow the club to reduce facility operating costs while increasing the number of youths served in the community. Executive Director Valorie Livingston said the club has received more than $400,000 in monetary and in-kind donations but said that “continued community participation is critical to reach our goal.” The Boys & Girls Club is also in the middle of its annual campaign to raise $100,000 for day-to-day operations.
The University of Missouri System said it will cut its commitment to the Enterprise Investment Program, a key component of its research and economic development mission, to help address the additional $4.37 million reduction in 2012 state appropriations. MU will slash its commitment from $5 million to $2.8 million to make up part of the shortfall. “While the university will be able to fulfill its commitment for the first round of pending investments in early-stage companies, the cut will adversely affect future funding of collaborative ventures among the university, entrepreneurs and businesses,” said University of Missouri System Interim President Steve Owens. “In all likelihood, the cut also will reduce the amount of new revenues from licensing technologies that support the university’s economic development mission. This was not a choice we wanted to make, but it was the least objectionable option.”
City of Columbia parking meter rates in the downtown district have doubled from 30 cents to 60 cents per hour as of July 1. Rates will also increase at meters adjacent to campus, from 50 cents to 75 cents per hour. The city said it will take about a month to change meters to the new rates. Surface permits will also rise from $40 to $50. But in a nod to local business, downtown city garages will now be free on Saturdays. In addition, the city is putting permits for the new garage at Fifth and Walnut streets on sale through the end of the year. Permits will be available for $35 a month — a monthly savings of $25. Permits can be purchased on GoColumbiaMo.com or by calling (573) 874-7250.