Sonic expands into its 28th state

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Mar 22, 2001

Sonic Corp. is expanding its chain of 2,200 drive-in restaurants into its 28th state.

The Oklahoma City-based franchisor of America's largest chain of drive-in fast-food restaurants has opened a unit in Boise, Idaho, the first outlet in Idaho for the 48-year-old chain.

Sonic plans to open about 25 drive-ins in Idaho over the next five to six years. Sonic also plans to expand into Wyoming within the next year.

The move into Idaho coincides with Sonic's natural expansion into Western markets over the last few years, according to Ken Keymer, president and chief operating officer-Sonic Corp.

Last year, Sonic, along with numerous franchisees, opened 174 new drive-ins. Sonic anticipates opening 200 drive-ins this year.

"We are actively seeking new franchisees in Oregon and California and feel Sonic's expansion into the West will be very successful," Keymer said.

Approved in Japan

ZymeTx's ZstatFlu rapid-point-of-care flu diagnostic test has been approved for distribution and sale in Japan, Norman Proulx, CEO of the Oklahoma City-based company, said Wednesday.

ZymeTx, a viral disease detection, treatment and management company, signed an agreement last year with Japan-based Nichirei Corp. to distribute the 20-minute influenza diagnostic test throughout Japan.

"The Japanese market represents a significant opportunity for our ZstatFlu product," Proulx, said. "Japan represents the largest diagnostic market outside the United States, and its high-density population makes the country particularly susceptible to influenza and other viral diseases."

Nichirei is now launching the ZstatFlu diagnostic test to doctors and hospitals throughout Japan.

ZstatFlu is well positioned in the field of influenza rapid testing for the Japanese market," said Kazuo Otsuka, Nichirei's deputy general manager, Biosciences Business Division. "We believe the health care community will be very receptive to a rapid flu diagnostic test that has already proven its reliability and effectiveness in the United States."

Introduced in the United States in 1998, the ZstatFlu flu diagnostic test detects both influenza types A and B with 99 percent specificity, based on actual clinical trials, and has detected variant strains, such as the Hong Kong flu.

Running for Congress

The former principal chief of the Cherokee Nation has formed an exploratory committee to look at a possible run for the 1st Congressional District seat in Oklahoma.

"I've found a lot of support here, so I'm very seriously going to take a look at it," former Chief Ross Swimmer said.

The 57-year-old Republican filed incorporation papers for his "Swimmer for Congress Exploratory Committee." He said he filed the forms so he can keep personal money and campaign funds separate while he studies a race for Congress.

An announcement on his decision will be made in the next 30 days, he said.

Swimmer and seven others, including Oklahoma first lady Cathy Keating, have openly shown interest in the seat since U.S. Rep. Steve Largent, R-Okla., said he will run for governor in 2002.

If Largent resigns to concentrate on his campaign, a special election would be held to fill his unexpired term.

Swimmer said friends have been encouraging him to run for Congress since the beginning of the year. He said he began to look seriously at the race after Largent announced he was running for governor.

"The next congressman can make a real difference in how Tulsa grows," Swimmer said. "There is tremendous opportunity here, and we need to capitalize on it."

Swimmer served as the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1975 to 1985 before former President Ronald Reagan appointed him as head of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In 1989, he returned to Oklahoma and joined a Tulsa-Oklahoma City- Washington, D.C., law firm. He said he has remained active in Congress as a member of the Cherokee Group, which lobbies lawmakers.

Flying with Great Plains

Great Plains Airline Holding Co. announced Wednesday it has closed on the purchase of Ozark Air Lines of Columbia, Mo., and ferried its first customer.

The move comes as Great Plains, a Tulsa-based start-up, plans to begin flights later in the year from Tulsa and Oklahoma City to New York and Washington.

Ozark Air Lines, now a Great Plains subsidiary, currently offers daily flights from Columbia to Dallas-Fort Worth.

The University of Tulsa men's basketball team was the first official customer for Great Plains, which flew the team to Starkville, Miss., Wednesday for an NIT Tournament game against Mississippi State.

"This is the first step in our plans to bring Oklahoma the direct jet service that is so essential to economical development throughout our state," company president Jim Swartz said.

Training for Hartford

Francis Tuttle will train 130 new employees for The Hartford insurance company under the Oklahoma CareerTech system's Training for Industry Program, known as TIP.

Kay Martin, Francis Tuttle superintendent/CEO, said the training will be funded from the program's operational budget through the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.