The newest branch of the national brokerage firm Wells Fargo Advisors recently opened in Pittsburg.

Mini Stop in Girard is dedicating the month of June to the “Giv’em Five” Program for the Girard fireworks display July 3 at Wutke Ball Park.

Brian Sutton, Commerce Bank president, recently announced the election of Pittsburg community and business leader, Jonathan Davis, to the bank’s local Advisory Board of Directors.

Golden LivingCenter of Pittsburg, 1005 E. Centennial, will host a cooking demonstration from 8:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Through a program called “Dining to Donate,” Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar at 2802 N. Broadway donated 15 percent of its sales on July 4 to the Disabled Veterans of America.

Medicalodges, Inc., a Kansas Long-Term Care Company, has entered into arrangements to refinance its Employees Stock Ownership Program and other mortgage notes.

Plans have been made for Wesley House and The Salvation Army to continue their Back-To-School program this year.

Dave Touchton with Touchton Alarms said he is pleased with the initial response since officially announcing the company’s expansion into the greater Joplin, Mo., market.

Tammy Finch of East Peoria remembers discussing health-care costs with one of her employees, an 18-year-old who is also a volunteer firefighter. "What if fire departments were for-profit," she asked him. "What if people couldn't afford fire protection?" Small business owners like Finch and her husband are trapped in a triple-layered maze when it comes to affordable, accessible, quality health care.

Behm & Hagemann Inc. truly is a growing business. The company has been selling its trademark "Lifetyme" grass seed in plain, cotton bags for over 60 years. "We're in the right business for these economic times. Sales are up," said owner Diane Joynt, who purchased the company three years ago. Despite a business downturn, grass seed sales in 2009 are up 17 percent over last year, she said.