BUSINESS PERSONNEL

Betty Weber of Cape Girardeau has joined Jayson Jeweler's Ltd. and Ervin's Metalsmiths Inc., 115 Themis.

Weber, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, has experience in sales. She previously owned a gift shop.

Weber taught school a number of years as a high school business teacher.

She served on the Young Life board of directors and was a citywide coordinator for the American Heart Association.

Linda D. Puchbauer has been promoted to business banker at NationsBank in Jackson.

Puchbauer, who has been with the bank since 1978, is responsible for business lending, business development and deposit relationships in the Jackson area.

Puchbauer, a graduate of Jackson High School, has completed several courses in the American Institute of Banking. She is a member of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce.

NationsBank Corp. is a bank holding company that provides financial products and services nationally and internationally. NationsBank has total assets fo more than $242 billion.

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Jane Harte of AAA Travel has received an award from Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Director Bruce Loy for most bookings during a recent special promotion.

The airport sponsored the promotion.

Fred Tanner of Bernie was selected "Rice Farmer of the Year" in Missouri during the USA Rice Outlook Conference held recently at Tunica, Miss.

Seven U.S. rice producers were honored for outstanding achievement in rice farming. The annual awards program was sponsored by Rice Farming magazine, USA Rice Federation and Zeneca Ag Products.

State winners -- Missouri: Tanner. He was unable to attend the conference but his son, Zachary Tanner, accepted the award. Other winners were: Pat Mullen of Des Arc, Ark.; John Denison of Iowa, La., and Errol Lounsberry of Gueydan, La., tied; Charles Berry of Tunica; Charley Matthews Jr. of Marysville Calif.; and, Paul E. Haidusek of Devers, Texas.

Carolyn Kyle of Cape Girardeau, director of nursing at Chateau Girardeau, has been certified by the American Nurses Association in gerontological nursing.

Kyle, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, has been employed with Chateau since 1984 and has served as director of nursing there since April 1995.

Former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, D-Illinois, has been named one of five recipients of Illinois' highest award -- the Order of Lincoln Medallion.

Simon, a former newspaper editor whose government services includes terms as U.S. representative, state representative, Illinois lieutenant governor, and U.S. senator, now directs the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

The Lincoln Academy was established 32 years ago to honor Illinois' most distinguished citizens who have brought honor to the state through their achievements.

Mary Kay Cosmetics consultants were honored recently for outstanding quarter sales by Jana Jateff, senior sales director.

Donna Hutsell and Laurie White, both of Cape Girardeau, were "Sapphire" stars; Karen Diebold of Benton and Nancy Stotz of Kelso and Jateff all qualified for "Diamond" star status.

Diane Thorne of Jackson and Natalie Kinder of Chaffee were winners of fur coats during the annual "Holiday Fur Coat" contest conducted by the Wilma Dooley Mary Kay Cosmetics Chapter.