Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 19

Coach House I JLi, Find what you need in todays Classifieds C2-8 Ant More than just garagesSunday Money HOAX RED On Biz Questions or comments regarding this section? Contact Business Editor Scott Perry at 421-7976 LEADERS BREAKFAST 1 1 Garden expo helps businesses blossom If if'; ft v- raimi ii hi in A iliii fur it Herald ReviewKevin Kilhoffer People listen as Jack Schultz, president and CEO of Agracel, speaks during the Coles Leadership Breakfast at Eastern Illinois EntreDreneurial Pastabilities alive and kicking' RUMORS OF THE demise of Pastabilities Italian Grill are greatly exaggerated. In fact, the downtown restaurant is "alive and kicking" and looking toward its third anniversary next month with much anticipation, said owner Jon Constant. Constant said the business fielded two calls this week asking if it was closing one call from a Herald Review reporter based on an e-mail he received. Constant assumes the confusion stems from a For Lease sign on a door leading into the business. The sign is seeking tenants for the rest of the building.

HBO MACON ICE CREAM opens today at 130 E. Prairie offering five flavors of ice cream, one gelato, one ice and one sorbet with plans to rotate flavors. "The flavors are just unbelievable when it's made fresh, and we plan to make at least one batch every day," said manager Lynn Byrum. Byrum is the former license plate packaging forewoman for Macon Resources, and Macon Ice Cream is the agency's latest foray into new territory to provide training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The shop, the former Milton's Shoe Shine Parlor, may be too small to include indoor seating, but outdoor seating may be added in the future, Byrum said.

The grand opening March 24 and 25 will feature drawings for prizes, a clown and other activities. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the telephone number is 424-2365. fil LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE Saloon closed its doors this week.

According to the company's corporate Web site, 30 underper-forming Lone Star restaurants were closed after business hours on March 12. The store closings resulted from analysis of performance, related return on investment targets, geographical location of stores in comparison to other stores and demographic changes in the Jocal markets, according to the site. A company spokeswoman did not return calls seeking ment leaders honoring the success of 20 people younger than 40 recognizes more young entrepreneurs every year. The number of entrepreneurs on the list expanded from two 2004, the year the awards were established, to four in 2005 and eight this year. "Anybody see a trend here?" said Schultz, the CEO of Agracel who wrote the book "Boom- Schultz entrepreneurs in our communities." As for where such entrepreneurs originate, Schultz offered four examples, three of which include an appeal to the quality of life often found in smaller communities: Grow (your) own Some communities will be able to raise their own entrepreneurs.

Recruit in Other small communities can seek out entrepreneurs "looking to get out of the rat race of the big cities." Come back home Some entrepreneurs may find "soft spots in their hearts for where they were born and raised." Dumb luck Some communities may have entrepreneurs who stumble into success thanks to a lucky convergence of the right place and the right time Schultz said passion is a vital trait for entrepreneurs looking to transform their communities. "One person with passion in a community is more important than 50 or 100 who are 'kind of he said. Nathaniel West at can be reached at nwest or 238-6860. '20 Under 40 'award sees growth in numbers from Coles County By NATHANIEL WEST Staff Writer CHARLESTON The exponential growth of entrepreneurs on the annual a20 Under 40" award indicates that Coles County has tapped into a key resource for economic development. That's what Jack Schultz believes.

"It's happening right here in Coles County," he said. Now in his third year of speaking engagements nationwide, the author and community development expert told a record audience at the Community Leaders Breakfast on Thursday that cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit is key to the success of an area such as Coles County. Schultz said it bodes well for Coles County that the 20 Under 40 Awards the annual collaboration between the Mattoon Journal Gazette, Charleston Times-Courier and economic develop- Staff Report DECATUR What's growing on? That's the question heading into this weekend's Home, Lawn and Garden Expo at the Decatur Civic Center. While thousands of local homeowners will come to the show looking for advice to help make their lawns and gardens grow, local businesses have come to count on the event to help them grow, too. "If I didn't come, I'd probably be sorry I didn't," said Connie Burgett, owner of Connie's Country Greenhouse in Latham and an exhibitor since 1997.

"I keep saying I might not do it, but I always do." And as recent attendees of the Home, Lawn and Garden Expo know, she always comes bearing gifts. In addition to the 2,000 seed packets the Civic Center will provide to visitors, Connie's will give away a free tomato plant to the first 1,500 women at the show. "I've already had customers call up asking if I was doing that again," Burgett said. "They've helped us make an impression." The annual event runs today through Sunday. Darren Miller of Prairie Ornamentals in Decatur also will be looking to make an impression, actually a first impression, as he is one of 20 new exhibitors at this weekend's event.

"I need to educate people that I exist," he said. "And people who are familiar with my work suggested I go to the show." For the past five years, Miller's work has included handmade plant stands with custom paint finishes for the home or garden, but this is his first expo. "And what I've got, people aren't used to seeing," he said. As Burgett and the more than 50 other returning vendors can attest, that may not be the case for much longer. "This really is a great way to market your business and get your name out there," she said.

town USA: 7Vz Keys to Big Success in Small Towns." Schultz's new theme is "Hometown Entrepreneurs," leaders who are causing a shift in economic development strategy. "Traditionally, we have looked at economic development as job attraction and job retention," Schultz said. And while these two components are still essential, he said successful communities now spend their resources less on recruiting large companies and more on nurturing entrepreneurs. "We are going to develop a new model in economic development," he said. "We are going to be planting gardens of attoon schools poised to beef up ag curriculum FFA chapter may start next year JOE AND CAROL HARDING recently purchased GJ Builders Hardware 1500 E.

Eldorado St. GJ has been in business for more than 36 years and sells commercial steel doors and related hardware, such as door frames and hinges, according to a company news release. The Hardings are longtime Decatur residents. take during high school, Bunselmeyer said. When students start earning college credit, there is a good chance that they will seek a postsecondary education, Bunselmeyer said.

"Seventy-five percent of students who took ag classes move on to postsecondary institutions," Bunselmeyer said. "When they are receiving college credit in high school, it boosts their confidence, and it starts to open doors for students who once didn't think they could go on to college." Lilly said the organization's statistics pertaining to ag-related job opportunities are impressive. "There are about 1.15 million people employed in the ag industry in Illinois," Lilly said. "Just a little less than 3 percent are farmers, and 97 percent are in related industries." There is a shortfall of graduates who are able to go into those jobs, Lilly said. "We want to prepare our students for opportunities that are out there and give them opportunities they didn't know were there," Lilly said.

There are five ag curriculum pathways the school district can opt for. Those pathways include horticulture, environmental servicesnatural resources, ag mechanics and technology, agribusiness or ag science School officials can select all five or can choose the ones they want, Bunselmeyer said. "There will be a committee created to decide which paths MHS will offer," said Smith. The curriculum is already written for the school districts, and it is aligned to state standards, Bunselmeyer said. Krista Lewin can be reached at or 238-6858.

van, Windsor and Shel-byville, offer agriculture-related curriculum. After a presentation Tuesday from Mindy Bunselmey-er, field adviser for Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, the Mattoon school board voted to proceed with development of courses. Lilly hopes a proposed program will be ready for the board's approval by August or September and the program will kick off by the fall of 2007. "We have wonderful ag-related resources here," said Susan Smith, curriculum director. "It seems a shame we don't have a program." One of those resources is Lake Land College, which offers an articulation agreement for many high schools offering ag classes, said Bunselmeyer.

High school students can earn college credit at Lake Land for some of the ag classes they By KRISTA LEWIN Staff Writer MATTOON With numerous agriculture-related job opportunities increasing, Mattoon school officials have decided to start development of an ag program and offer an FFA chapter. "There are a growing number of ag-related jobs in Illinois," said Larry Lilly, school superintendent. "Agriculture is not as we once thought of when it focused on the production side of farming." It has been a couple of decades since the existence of an agriculture program or an FFA chapter at Mat-toon High School. Many nearby school districts, including Charleston, Sulli What: Home Lawn and Garden Expo When: Friday, March 17, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 18, 10 p.m.; Sunday, March 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Decatur Civic Center OBSTETRICIAN AND gynecologist Dr.

Anthony Amie recently relocated his practice, Vivian Women's Center, to 1750 E. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 300. His office number remains 422-0560. fee. DOW (Industrials) 52- 52- S2-wk Hi bo Hi Lo Name Name 1 Chg.

Last Chg. Chicago (AP) Futures trading on the Chicago Board of Trade: Open High Low Settle Chg. WHEAT 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel May 06 362V2 363 351 352 SVi THE STATE BANK of Bement recently opened all four lanes and a walk-up at its new drive-up facility. The drive through is at 181 E. Wilson north of the bank building, across the railroad tracks.

Hours for the new facility are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

A 24-hour ATM is on sita Jul 06 373 374'A 362 3644 -84k 384 384VS 375 377 -VM 397 398 387 388 -SI 406 407V4 39814 398 -8 403 403 403 403 -8 414 414 406 407 -71 Sep 06 Dec 06 Mar 07 May 07 Jul 07 Wad's sales 39,175 Wed's open int 391,043, down -2253 CORN 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Grain markets Chicago (AP) Futures trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange: Decatur area prices supplied Open High Low Settle Chg- by ADM Growmaric-Tabor Co. CATTLE Com $2.05 40,000 cents per lb. Beans $5.56 Apr 06 83.20 83.70 82.67 83.42 .42 JunOe 78.70 79.30 78.35 78.55 Aug 06 80 80.70 79.85 80.22 23 Oct 06 84.17 84.50 83.75 84.07 .05 Prices supplied by USDA Dec 06 85.65 85.95 85.35 85.50 Eastern Combelt Negotiated Price 86-85 87.00 86.60 86.87 .05 Apr 07 85.50 85.65 85.50 85.65 .05 Range $46.50 to $58.11 Wed-siate. 3362 Weighted Average $57.18 Wad's open kit 219,076, up 1345 Cattle FEEDER CATTLE 50,000 cents per lb. Volume Top Mar 06 104.10 104.87 104.10 104.80 .92 Peoria None NA Apr 06 105.15 105.90 105.15 105.75 .90 May 06 105.70 106.60 105.62 106.30 .75 IlfMM" 1 Aug 06 107.65 108.05 107.10 107.77 .40 I Sep 06 106.60 106.90 106.25 106.85 .22 Mmmmmmmmua oct06 106.25 106.25 105.90 106.20 20 Spot commodity prices: Nov 06 105.55 105.70 105.50 105.70 .17 Prev.

Year Wed's sales 5,622 Close Day Ago Wad's open int 36,682, up 362 HOGS-Lean Aluminum 110.4 110.8 90.1 40,000 per lb. Copper 230.00 231.00 156.00 533,, 5740 58.42 Gold 552.75 556.50 438.00 uoe 6S.S0 65.50 64.65 65.42 May 06 229 229 V4 224 224V2 -4 Jul 06 Index Name Close Chg. 239 239 235 -4V4 246V2 2481A 244 244'A -4 258 259V4 255V 2553 -3V4 265 2664l 263 263U -3 270 270 2671 267 -23 273 273 270VS 270VS -24 Sep 06 Dec 06 Mar 07 May 07 Jul 07 Hi Lo Name Last Chg. 2459 14.48 Motorola 2216 22 3735 29.75 NattCny 35.42 -21 4296 2555 Navistar If 28.83 -24 54.00 2930 NorikSo 5355 -27 7333 55.64 PPG 6355 55 6227 4330 Penney 6251 .40 60.55 51.75 PepsiCo 59.90 2921 2020 Pfizer 2655 .10 6250 5136 ProctGam 59.39 -51 28.98 18.66 RatSoShk 19.00 21 35.90 29.16 RegionsFn 35.90 .16 24.64 15.26 Saks 20.04 .71 163.50111.64 SeansHldgs138.44 6.15 14.28 11.69 Svcmstr 1279 -52 21.95 16.30 SteaknShk 19.00 24 6531 4276 Stricyde 66.111.12 87.05 69.71 3MCO 7439 39 35.63 24.60 TycoWl 2654 .14 754 4.38 Unisys 7.04 .11 79.97 66.10 UPS 78.00 -23 3630 29.13 VerizonCm 3452 .13 44.95 37.67 WacomBn 3831 -55 5243 4233 WalMart 46.36 154 4951 40.98 Walgm 4454 91.92 60.78 Whripl 8754 50.49 38.50 Wyeth 49.67 .32 27.12 8.40 AMR 26.86 5423 37.60 DuPont 42.64 28.82 21.75 Inc 27.11 -20 531 121 Dynegy AJBB -M 50.00 37.50 AbtUb 45.00 -25 34.99 22.34 EnPro 33.55 20 39.67 21.15 Agas 39.10 -27 41.18 281 EqtRess 375057 6322 49.90 Afce 54.46 59.90 43.69 Exekn 56.37 .29 78.68 6270 Atria 73.90 .03 65.96 52.78 ExxonMU 61 4 .62 56.77 47 .51 Ameren 51.06 2 32.09 19.40 Fan! 25.75 20 48.49 40.15 Anhauer 43.34 46.03 25.54 Fastenals 45.76 -D8 86.40 33.11 AppieC 64.31 -152 3925 3125 FMWBc 36.77 28.65 19.73 Apptebees 24.54 147 7.39 FonJM 7.93 .08 3430 1755 AichDan 34.63 .58 37.34 3221 GenElec 34.38 -M 3526 2837 AsscdBanc 3339 37.70 18.33 GnMotr 2222 .72 103.9477.76 AutoZone 97.78 .19 45.82 33.60 Goodrich 43.59 .12 72.88 57.95 BP PLC 69.90 19.31 11.24 Goodyear 13.65 .38 41.07 32.77 Baxter 3826 66.20 43.97 Hanson 66.88 1.60 56.00 31.93 BestBuy 66.951.59 34.52 19.57 HewtettP 3336 30.13 19.91 BobEvn 2951 .16 43.98 34.56 HomeDp 4Z75 .49 4520 33.11 CBRLGrp 44.30 .09 13.88 8.55 KronOffSol 13.82 .05 30.00 2335 CBS Bn 2422 4298 35.13 IngerRd 42.63 .17 2020 14.75 CPI 17.50 .45 2834 19.64 Intel 19.65 -27 59.75 38.01 CSX 59.03 -53 9227 7135 IBM 8237 -51 3950 27.66 Cabot 36.72 -21 40.08 26.97 IntPap 35.57 2720 16.53 Caseys 23.80 .70 4209 32.92 JPMoigCh 41.32 .10 75.50 4131 Caterpi 7430 .61 58.90 4278 Kohls 5201 -54 65.98 49.50 Chevron 57.74 124 2038 15.15 Kroaer 20.75 -51 49.76 4291 Cibgip 47.32 .31 45.85 33.00 LeeEnt 33.38 -50 4526 39.36 CocaQ 4269 -54 57.97 41.59 LincNat 55.77 .02 27.35 10.77 Comrng 27.51 .56 69.70 50.72 LowesCos 6730 34 39.74 25.15 Crane 39.61 51 3.77 2.35 Lucent 2.91 -55 60.03 38.77 DamC 56.01 .15 36.75 27.36 McDnlds 3556 29 79.00 5659 Deere 78.39 -20 40.09 3239 MercBteh 39.13 51 29.00 2289 Disney 28.68 -57 36.65 25.50 Men 35.28 .12 2250 16.47 DoterG 17.54 79.16 5200 MenflLyn 77.75 3827 29.54 DonHeyRR 3255 -58 2838 23.82 Microsoft 2727 -59 5431 40.18 DowChm 4335 22 6215 47.66 MorgStan 59.94 30 11253.24 8261.92 1931.72 2299.56 1039.24 1305.33 2067.08 441.21 13150.36 43.47 25.23 22.26 2.31 3.63 0.68 19.68 Dow Jones Industrials NYSE Composite Amex Index NASD Composite NMS Composite Value Line Arithmetic Value Line Geometric Wilshire 5000 Wed's sales 88,310 Wed's open int 1,051,625, down -317 OATS 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel May 06 179 179 175 175 -3 Jul 06 175 173 178 174 168 165'A 1754il -24k 173 -1 165VS -2VS 170 -4 170 -4 170 -4 178 173' 1674k 170 170 170 Sep 06 Dec 06 Mar 07 Jul 07 Silver 10.240 10.300 7.390 Jun06 66.60 66.85 65.90 66.67 3Q Jul 06 66.20 66.45 65.70 66.20 .05 Aug 06 64.70 65.05 64.30 65.02 .30 FJFW I Oct 06 55.55 56.20 55.30 56.17 .62 mmmjSiUMeiliLmmmi Dec 06 53.52 54.32 53.40 53.77 .25 170 170 170 170 170 170 Sep 07 2.283 Wed's sales 11,320, up 40 Wed's open int ZORBA'S GREEK Delights opened for the season on Wednesday. The mobile business is located at 985 W.

Pershing Road, in the French Quarter shopping center. Specialties include gyros, bakla-va, shake-ups and steak fries. On Biz, published Fridays in the Herald Review, highlights business developments. Contact Amy Hoak at ahoak or 421-7972 or Tony Reid at or 421-7977. Scott Perry and Theresa Churchill contributed to this column.

Key barometers in the Treasury market wad's sales Wed's open Int 143,066, down -1047 PORK BELLIES Spot commodity prices: Prev. Close Day 40,000 cents per lb. 84.50 North Sea Brant WesffexaeL 62.17 63.11 65.43 62.18 Yield Prev. Federal Funds 4.50 4.5625 3-month bi 4.49 4.50 1-year bin 4.77 4.77 10-year rate 4.64 4.73 4.69 4.75 SOYBEANS 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel May 06 5831 586 575' 576V -8 JulOS' 595 598 587 588V -7 Aug 06 599 600 592 594 -8 Sep 06 603 603 595 596 -71 Nov 06 6084k 612 603Ui 604 -6Vt Jan 07 616 617 609 610 -6 Mar 07 620 620 614 614 -61 Wed's sales 56,537 Wed's open int 361 ,083, up 2717 Mar 06 May 06 Jul 06 Aug OS Feb 07 Mar 07 85.50 85.40 86.30 83.00 86.75 8750 83.40 63.25 84.52 83.00 86.75 67.00 84.85 85.25 86.00 83.00 86.75 87.00 84.45 86.30-1.20 83.00-250 86.75 8750 Ataskfrwstt Coast 6133 59.92 cnYfwrTg ahw low. dd-ioss in teat 12 moa.

n-New Issue in past 52 weefcs- pf 601 2,010, down -76 Wed's sales Wed open int preferred. Sp or stock dividend of 25 percent or more in pa 52 weeks. it-New 52-weefc high..