August: Briefly in the News
MU Health Care begins expanding orthopedic center
University of Missouri Health Care began construction on a four-story, $40 million expansion to the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute.
Already the largest orthopedic care center in the region, the expansion will take the building’s square footage from 114,000 to nearly 200,000. The first three floors will be dedicated to patient care, and the fourth floor will be dedicated to research.
The project also includes accessibility improvements: the building’s main entrance will switch from the north side to the east side of the building, and a sidewalk will be installed from the building to the Virginia Avenue parking garage. Other renovations include dozens of patient rooms, five more operating rooms, an expanded restaurant and added coffee kiosk.
Currently, the institute employs 400 staff, including 34 physicians. MU Health expects the expansion to be complete in 2017.
Sager Braudis, formerly PS Gallery, shows off new name and new exhibit
The art gallery formerly known as PS Gallery started the summer with a new look and name. Sager Braudis Gallery debuted at its summer exhibit reception, which showcased the gallery’s new art on display for the season.
Over the past few years, the gallery has transitioned ownership from Jennifer Perlow and Chris Stevens to Joel Sager and Scott Braudis. A press release from the gallery said: “Although much of the character of the gallery remains the same, we felt the change in direction necessitated formal acknowledgement. The renaming of the gallery is a reflection of our continued evolution.”
PS Gallery opened in 2006, in Columbia’s North Village Arts District. Co-owner Joel Sager is one of the artists on display in the summer exhibit.
Boone County National Bank changes name and celebrates
Like the Sager Braudis Gallery, Boone County National Bank celebrated its name change in style.
The bank became Central Bank of Boone County, reflecting the growth of its parent company, Central Bancompany. The $1.4 billion bank has 16 locations in the region.
To celebrate its name change, the bank hosted a series of light shows projected against the side of its building in downtown Columbia, with each show telling a story about the bank’s history.
The bank also placed 15 “dream orbs” throughout the community and in bank locations. The orbs, resembling giant snow globes, each contained a prize, such as a laptop or grill. The prizes were awarded in a summer festival at the beginning of June, a week before the name change went into effect.
MU Retirees give nearly $2.5 million
The MU Retirees Association raised $2.49 million for the university and presented a check to MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin at a retiree’s luncheon on campus.
The MURA has more than 800 former staff and faculty as members, and 350 attended the luncheon. Loftin thanked the group for its contributions to the university through donations, volunteerism and attendance at school functions, calling the group “the most engaged group of retirees I’ve ever seen.”
Two retirees were honored as faculty and staff retirees of the year: George Kennedy, who retired as managing editor of the Columbia Missourian in 2001, and Susan Turner, who retired from the School of Medicine Department of Child Health in 2001.
Columbia Public Schools pursues new site for elementary school
After nine months of searching and deliberating over potential properties in east Columbia, Columbia Public Schools chose a site for its newest elementary school.
The board authorized the district to seek a purchase agreement for a 26-acre site off Columbia Gorge Parkway, next to the Vineyards subdivision. The site was one of three finalists and was chosen after considering criteria such as cost of development and accessibility. The district estimates it will cost $832,000 to acquire the land; development, including necessary infrastructure, will cost $1.7 million. Voter-approved bonds will fund the purchase and development of the property, and the school is expected to open in 2018.
Mid-MO Mobility Project secures funding
The Missouri Department of Transportation approved funding for the Mid-MO Regional Planning Commission’s mobility project. The $200,000 grant will go toward funding the hire of a mobility manager and supporting the efforts of the Mid-Missouri Transportation Coordination Council.
The project and position are designed to increase access to transportation in mid-Missouri and encourage the region to coordinate transportation efforts. That coordination includes partnering to bolster the services of other agencies, such as United Way’s 2-1-1 program. The mobility manager will work in coordination with Central Missouri Community Action, which would supervise the position.
THHinc merges with Iowa-based engineering firm
Columbia engineering consulting firm Trabue, Hansen and Hinshaw merged with McClure Engineering. The resulting company, THHinc McClure Engineering Co., now offers expanded water and wastewater engineering services in the Columbia area.
BONSAI soft skills program graduates first class of MU grad students
Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders for Science, a program developed by BONSAI, Monsanto Co. and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, graduated its first class of MU students.
PTLS trains doctoral and postdoctoral CAFNR students to develop soft skills: interpersonal and leadership qualities that complement hard technical proficiency and make students more appealing to employers. The three groups are finalizing next year’s PTLS student class.
Missouri REALTORS uses online service to increase efficiency
Missouri REALTORS implemented service of a new online program, Inman Select, to help its real estate agents stay up to speed on market developments. Inman Select offers members breaking news, business intelligence and market reports prepared by Inman’s research team.