MARCH 20-26, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 33 NEWS care, schools and public safety, she said. The survey showed a need for the co-op to move forward, officials say. A strategic planning meeting in July 2022 resulted in a green light from the cooperative’s board of directors. “What came out of COVID and the ARPA funds is that we had to have that connectivity in this area to thrive,” she said. “That was a big push for this.” About 20% of the state – 1.26 million people – is without access to high-speed internet, according to University of Missouri Extension research. But even those who have internet access may not have quality or reliable service. More than one million of those without reliable internet live in rural areas. In progress Contractors are currently assessing the cooperative’s infrastructure before the project will move into the next phase, officials say. “There’s a lot of work that has to be done with the existing infrastructure to prepare for the fiber deployment,” Jackson said, noting some of it involves getting clearances from other companies that may use existing power poles for phone, cable or other services. White River Connect continues to seek other grant options, he said, adding the co-op will partner with banks to ensure it has adequate funding for the multiyear undertaking. “Any capital needs for this project would be independent in the way we’re modeling everything and the financial needs to make it feasible and sustainable,” he said. “There’s not going to be a need to raise rates on our existing membership for this project.” Additionally, community support also was received from Ozark, Stone and Taney counties, which collectively committed $9.3 million of county ARPA funding toward the broadband buildout. Since announcing the project, Jackson said the co-op gets calls every day from residents interested to learn more. “They’re asking when are we going to get to them. They can’t wait,” he said, noting monthly subscription cost projections are still being analyzed. “Excitement is an understatement,” he added. “We’ve been working months and months and months on this project, and we cannot wait to get started and get this service out there.” • White River: Communities also contributed ARPA funds Continued from page 7 EXECUTIVE MARKETPLACE STAY UPDATED Subscribe at sbj.net/e-news Residential Real Estate STUNNING HOME IN HIGHLAND SPRINGS $1,249,900 417-861-0008 417-855-2333 This one owner custom home has been refreshed w/ new paint & enhanced landscaping. The home is loc in the only gated community w/ 24 hr security. The beautiful property offers a golf course and lake view. Greet your guests from the generous foyer w/ white marble flooring enhanced by a skylight, crown moldings & opens to the GR w/ a gas FP, generous FDR & a study w/ walls of bookcases. 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MLS #60237752 It takes more than LUCK to sell your home! 417-447-4968 | 417-300-1513 | ethelcurbow.com 1.26M Missouri residents without highspeed internet access by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net Two local business owners have pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act. Dennis Cleveland, 73, of Kirbyville, and Robert Dyche, 67, of Springfield, pleaded guilty on March 9 and March 13, respectively, according to news release from the office of Teresa Moore, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Both business owners pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act. Additionally, Cleveland pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a Clean Air Act monitoring device. Cleveland, the owner of Affordable Towing, admitted that since 2011 he directed employees to physically disable emissions control components on multiple heavy-duty diesel tow trucks, according to the release. He conspired with Dyche, the owner and operator of Full Flash Tuning, to alter the vehicles, federal officials say. Cleveland, whose company performed roadside, recovery, hauling and mobile repair for commercial and private automobiles throughout southwest Missouri, is subject to a sentence of up to seven years in federal prison without parole under federal statutes. Dyche would receive up to five years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. • by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net A 6-year-old Bolivar-based barbecue eatery is expanding south to Springfield with plans to open next month. Jake Lockhart, one of the owners of Curly Que Barbecue LLC, said he’s working toward an early April opening for the venture’s second location. The restaurant at 1450 E. Sunshine St. will be in the original home of Hot Cluckers LLC, a Nashville-style chicken restaurant that moved out of the 2,000-square-foot space after opening a south-side location in 2020, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. Lockhart said he co-owns Curly Que with his parents, David and Cindi Lockhart, noting his friend Jacob Mills serves as general manager. The Bolivar eatery launched as a brick-andmortar restaurant in 2017 at 507 E. Maupin St. after starting as a catering business in 2012, according to company owners. The family signed a five-year lease for an undisclosed rate with CLB Apex Holdings LLC, Lockhart said, adding startup costs are estimated to be roughly $75,000. Springfield has long been a target for the restaurant, Lockhart said. “It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” he said. “Even before we opened up the Bolivar location, we looked at locations in Springfield. It’s a great market and it’s a great community. We’re just looking to expand and grow.” While noting his parents are starting to step back from day-to-day involvement in the company, Lockhart said he’ll be shuttling between both restaurants. He added Mills will help run the Springfield location, which will employ a staff of 15. Like the Bolivar Curly Que, the Springfield menu will include barbecue sandwiches, burgers, chicken wings and appetizers, such as loaded fries and smoked spinach artichoke dip. However, Lockhart said some new offerings will debut in Springfield. “There will be things served in Springfield that will not be in Bolivar,” he said of plans to serve fried chicken, burnt ends, handmade sausages and barbecued tri-tip. “Eventually, we’ll probably be moving a bunch of this stuff to Bolivar, but for right now it’s just going to be in Springfield.” According to past reporting, after Hot Cluckers moved in 2020, the Sunshine Street space continued to be used as a test kitchen for the restaurant owner Michael Felts’ various ventures. That ceased last year when the company was evicted from the location after property owner CLB Apex Holdings filed a lawsuit in September against it in Greene County Circuit Court. A circuit court judgment was issued against Hot Cluckers that same month, which stated CLB Apex Holdings could immediately assume possession of the property, according to past reporting. Court documents, which point to a money judgment of $4,663, indicate Hot Cluckers LLC “failed to appear or otherwise defend.” • Local biz owners plead guilty to violating Clean Air Act Bolivar BBQ venture plans Springfield expansion
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