BUSINESS PERSONNEL

John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, has been elected to the Missouri Small Business Development Centers statewide advisory board.

Mehner joins 21 other small business representatives, bankers and politicians on the board, which provides advice and counsel to the state's development centers, including the one at Southeast Missouri State University.

The Missouri SBDC, funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, last year assisted 3,700 business with issues relating to financial structure, marketing, management and technology.

Mehner was vice president in Advance Business Systems, a family-owned communications and office equipment business, before becoming chamber president in 1993. He previously worked as a police officer in St. Louis County from 1980 to 1985 before returning to Cape Girardeau.

He serves on the United Way board, the Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation board and the Chamber of Commerce executive board.

Sharon Ezell has joined Jay's Salon at 42 N. Main in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Ezell has more than five years experience in all phases of cosmetology, specializing in hair color. She previously worked at Hairworks at Jackson.

Ezell is a graduate of Stage One Hair School in Cape Girardeau.

Leon Dickerson of Jackson was elected vice president of the Missouri Division of Travelers Protection Association (TPA) during the group's annual convention, held recently at St. Joseph. Margret Dickerson, currently Cape Girardeau Post M president, was elected to fill the unexpired term vacated by Leon Dickerson on the state board. Mrs. Dickerson is the first woman selected to serve on the TPA State Board.

Others attending the convention from Cape Girardeau Post M were Clyde Wallace, Jerry Henley and Juanita Henley.

The TPA is a fraternal benefit society with more than 1,000 members in Cape Girardeau. The group provides equipment for school safety patrols and participates in other safety projects and causes within the community.

Rose L. Hawk of Cape Girardeau, one of seven contestants who participated in the "Fun & Fortune" Missouri Lottery game show recently, won $500 in the show.

The big winner was Hazel Garriott of Fulton, who won the $50,000 grand prize.

Candidates for the show are selected each week from players of the "Fun & Fortune" scratchers game.