BUSINESS PERSONNEL

Oliver J. Miller was recently honored during a retirement ceremony at Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri-Cape Girardeau. Shown, from left, Thomas H. Jacobsen, chairman and CEO of Mercantile Bancorporation Inc., St. Louis; Miller, Miller's wife, Mary, and John W. McClure, group president for community banking.

From left, Chris House, of St. Jude's Hospital, accepted check from Renee Reinagel, Kim Tallye and Kelley Callow.

The Southeast Missourian team of Connie Litzelfelner, left, and Cheryl Geisheimer, right, are shown with their entry in the K's Merchandise media pumpkin-carving contest.

Ollie Miller, who retired as president of Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri-Cape Girardeau effective Nov. 1, was honored during a reception at the bank recently.

On hand for the reception were Thomas H. Jacobsen, chairman and CEO of Mercantile Bancorporation Inc., St. Louis, and John W. McClure, group president for community banking.

Craig Wells, formerly executive vice president and senior lender of Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri, is new president.

Miller, who has more than 38 years of banking experience, retired after 24 years with Mercantile. He started his banking career at Southern Commercial Bank in St. Louis. Ten years later, in 1969, he helped organize a bank at Creve Coeur. He joined Mercantile in 1972, as president and CEO of its St. Charles bank.

He became senior vice president and regional executive for Mercantile Bank Inc., in 1983, and in 1990, became chairman, president and CEO of the Cape Girardeau bank.

Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau had $68 million in assets when Miller became its president. In June, before it was consolidated into Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri, it had more than $200 million in assets.

While living in Cape Girardeau, Miller served on the board of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation and the Area Wide United Way.

Miller and his wife, Mary, will live at Lake of the Ozarks. His retirement plans include traveling and visiting with family and friends.

Donna Koutek has joined ERA Cape Realty, 1409-A N. Mount Auburn Road, as a sales associate.

David S. Glastetter, member broker of the Cape Girardeau real-estate company, announced Koutek's appointment.

Koutek was previously associated with Columbia Volunteer General Hospital in Martin, Tenn., and had spent 15 years in the medical field.

Four Southeast Missouri rice farmers have been named to USA Rice Federation committees.

Sonny Martin of Bernie and Gary Mayberry of Dexter were named to the standing Finance, Administration & Membership Committee; Scott Wheeler of Essex is a member of the Federation's International Committee; and Fred Tanner Jr. and Mayberry are members of the Domestic Market Development Committee.

Basil Barnes has joined Van Matre Buick, 511 S. Kingshighway, as salesman.

Barnes of Cape Giradeau has several years experience in retail sales. He was former owner of Mr. B's Restaurant.

Ann Swanson, manager of Gulliver's Travels, has returned from a one-day seminar at Pittsburgh, sponsored by Walt Disney World tour operator Kingdom Tours.

Presentations were made by four international companies. Swanson previewed information about Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary events, ongoing through December 1997. She also attended presentations by Jet Set Tours (Asia), Cosmos and Globus Gateway Tours and the Bahamas Tourism Office.

Special Effects Styling Salon owner Kim Talley, stylist Kelley Callow and receptionist Renee Reinagle recently visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where they presented a $2,606 check to the hospital.

The funds were raised by Special Effects representatives from the salon's "Cutting Up for Kids" hair styling benefit.

John Saunders, state director of agriculture, will speak at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce Farmers Recognition Banquet Nov. 21, at the Ramada Inn.

Farm families from Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi and Stoddard counties will be recognized. The "Agri-Business Person of the Year" and "Outstanding Young Farmer" will also be honored.

Tickets are available at the Sikeston chamber office.

Mark Haertling has joined Cape Girardeau Motors, 1754 Independence, as a salesman.

Haertling of Cape Girardeau has more than four years of experience in auto sales in St. Louis and the Cape Girardeau area.

Carolyn Kempf of Elite Travel Inc., 354 S. Silver Springs Road, recently attended a FunJet Vacations familiarization tour.

She toured hotel properties and visited historical ruins of Tulum by the island of Cancun and visited the island of Cozumel.

Kempf, who has more than 20 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, specializes in honeymoon planning, cruises and corporate travel.

Myra Ellis has been promoted to director of operations for Heartland's Experienced Live-in Professionals (HELP) Inc., a 24-hour in-home provider for senior citizens and the disabled in the Cape Girardeau area.

Ellis, an experienced abuse counselor, has worked in women's centers helping them cope with substance and domestic abuse problems. She has also worked in the medical and health-related fields, with experience with both hospitals and nursing homes.

The Southeast Missourian Newspaper team of Connie Litzelfelner and Cheryl Gelsheimer, finished second in the news media pumpkin-carving contest held during grand opening ceremonies at K's Merchandise store in Cape Girardeau.

A Sikeston team -- Rhonda McClain and Kathie Archer of the Sikeston-Democrat -- won the contest. Finishing third was the KGMO Radio team of Jeremie Hughes and Kris Tanner.

K's Merchandise donated cash prizes to the top three teams' favorite charity. The Sikeston first-place price, $500, went to the Sikeston Christmas Campaign; The Missourian winners' funds, $250, went to the FISH organization; and KGMO's third-place cash, $100, went to the United Way.