Names in the news

ATCHISON RECEIVES HONOR

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Darrell Atchison of Williamsville, Mo., financial representative with Modern Woodmen of America, was named Rookie of the Year in the Missouri East region for 2009. The honor is given to a full-time representative who has been with the company less than three years and is leading the region in production. Atchison joined Modern Woodmen's Rainwater region, located in Farmington, Mo., in May 2008.

BANK NAMES EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- First Midwest Bank of Poplar Bluff recently presented several awards of distinction, including Employee of the Year. This award is presented to full-time employees in both the Poplar Bluff and Puxico, Mo., locations. Carrie Thurner was chosen by her peers and management for Poplar Bluff and Tammy Chaffin was chosen for Puxico. Thurner has been with the bank since October 2005 and is currently an operational assistant; Chaffin began in 2007 and is a teller/proof operator. Additionally, five employees were recognized for their years of service. They include Mary Schindler and Carri Emery, 10 years; Shelley Bruce, 15 years; Evelyn Long, 30 years; and Ruth Scoggins, 45 years.

DISTRICT ELIMINATES PRINCIPAL POSITION

KENNETT, Mo. -- The Southland Board of Education made a unanimous decision to eliminate one of the district's two principal positions, combining the duties into a single K-12 principal position. The change goes into effect at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. According to Superintendent Raymond Lasley, the decision came during the executive session portion of the board's Feb. 11 meeting and was made in anticipation of federal and state budget cuts. Of the two current principals, elementary principal Alicia Shaw and high school principal Tim Wilkerson, the decision was made to offer the position to Wilkerson. Lasley said Shaw will be moved back to a classroom teaching position.

WILLS JOINS COMMUNITY BANK

Kathy Wills joined First Community Bank as a financial services representative. She has 12 years of banking and sales experience.

NORDENIA RECOGNIZES EMPLOYEES

NORDENIA USA Inc. named Ronald Lincoln, lamination operator of Gordonville, employee of the month for February. He has been with the company since 2007. NORDENIA also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: James Johnston, Ronald Webb, Rod Davis and Joseph Choka, 10 years of service; and Minerva Walker, five years.

TYSON PRESENTS SERVICE AWARDS

DEXTER, Mo. -- Tyson Foods Inc. presented quarterly service awards during a recent luncheon. Employees honored include Shanita Jones, 10 years of service; Parzee Baker, 15 years; Rhonda Arnold, five years; Susan Hooks, five years; Cathy Smart, 15 years; Michael Fox, 10 years; and Dora Morgan, 20 years.

BATCHELOR JOINS INSURANCE AGENCY

DEXTER, Mo. -- Mike Batchelor is a new agent at Morse-Harwell-Jiles Insurance Agency. He has over 20 years of insurance experience.

P.B. NAMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff School District Board of Education named Chris Hon as the district's new superintendent. He is currently assistant superintendent of personnel and will assume his new position when superintendent Ernie Lawson retires June 30.

ROSS RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) Board of Directors announced David Ross, director of the Show Me Center at Southeast Missouri State University, as the recipient of the Charles A. McElravy Award. He will be honored at the IAAM Annual Conference and Trade Show July 26 in Houston. The McElravy Award, initiated in 1963, is granted at the discretion of the board of directors for extraordinary contributions to the association and the profession of public assembly facility management.

DOWDY RECEIVES CROP AWARD

DEXTER, Mo. -- Amy Beth Dowdy of rural Dexter received the National Association of Independent Crop Consultants Award. The distinction was presented in January during the group's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Dowdy, a rice consultant, formed her own company, ABD Crop Consulting, in 1990.

P.B. REALTY NAMES TOP AGENTS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was Top Lister and Rhenda Hutchison was Top Producer for December at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc.

THURMAN JOINS TOUCH OF CLASS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Angie Thurman is a licensed cosmetologist at Touch of Class Salon & Spa. She provides haircuts, color, perms, pedicures, manicures, facials and waxing.

CHAMBER ELECTS BOARD MEMBERS

DESLOGE, Mo. -- The Desloge Chamber of Commerce elected eight new members to its board of directors Feb. 2. Frank Basden, Darrell Biri, Jeff Evans, Travis Foshee, Rich Layne, Chelley Odle, Krista Sedgwick and Jim Thompson will join chamber president Betty Coale and Leann Kelley on the board of directors. Sedgwick, Odle, Foshee, Layne and Evans will serve two-year terms while Biri, Basden and Thompson will fulfill one-year terms. Officers for the new year will be elected Feb. 22.

WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY HIRES WRIGHT

IESI Corp., a specialist in waste disposal and recycling services, hired Rebecca Wright as account executive for its Cape Girardeau office. Wright is responsible for commercial sales in the area. She has more than 15 years of experience in professional sales and account management.

SKYVIEW VETERINARIAN ATTENDS CONVENTION

Dr. Karen Bangert of Skyview Animal Clinic in Cape Girardeau attended the 118th annual Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Convention in St. Charles, Mo. Bangert attended a continuing education program, which included more than 20 speakers on topics designed to enhance veterinarians' knowledge in the field.

DEXTER CHAMBER PRESENTS AWARDS

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner Feb. 6, presenting five awards honoring groups and individuals for excellence and accomplishments. Those recognized include Dexter Lions Club, Organization of the Year; Ann-Marie's A Unique Boutique, Small Business of the Year; Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, Business of the Year; Duley Machine LLC, Industry of the Year; and Karen Pippins, Educator of the Year.

CALVERT SWORN IN AS MAYOR

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- LeeRoy Calvert was sworn in as mayor of Bonne Terre Feb. 8. He replaces Fritz Gower, who resigned Jan. 12. Calvert, who was alderman for Ward 1 and mayor pro tem, will take over as mayor until the April 2011 election. In 2011, candidates can file to finish Gower's unexpired term, which ends in 2012. Councilman Ed Hottle was appointed mayor pro tem, and LeRoy Mauller was appointed to fill in as alderman for Ward 1.

KIMBROW GETS CHAMBER HONOR

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Dr. Larry Kimbrow, a retired military officer and college administrator, received a plaque for completing an "outstanding" job as chairman for the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Steve Halter presented the award at the chamber's quarterly luncheon Feb. 8. Matt Funke, chief financial officer of Southern Bank, was introduced as chairman of the board during the Feb. 20 chamber banquet. Kimbrow plans to register as a retired chamber member and remain involved with the Poplar Bluff organization.

'WOMEN WITH HEART' HONORED

On Feb. 9, the SEMO Chapter of the Women's Council of REALTORS held a banquet to honor women who have devoted their time, compassion and love to others in the community. Those honored were Tara Elfrink from Realty Executives, Deb Martin from Realty Executives and Carmen Simpher from The Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Each woman received a gift basket courtesy of Patricia Ann's.

JACKSON MAN RECEIVES CONSERVATION HONORS

Missouri's Conservation Commission recognized Thomas L. Dickerson of Jackson as Missouri's 2009 Bowhunter Education Volunteer Instructor of the Year. It is the first time the award has been made since the adoption of the Missouri Department of Conservation's Bowhunter Education program. "Tom is one of only two Master Bowhunter Instructors in his region and a primary trainer for bowhunter education instructors seeking advanced training, creating bowhunter scenarios, including blood trails and distance estimation for existing instructors," said DeeDee Dockins, MDC outdoor skills specialist and hunter education coordinator for Missouri's southeast region.

SEMO PORT NAMES APPOINTEES

Two new appointments and one reappointment were made to Semo Port's Board of Commissioners. The Scott County Commission appointed Rice "Pete" Burns, an attorney of Sikeston, Mo., to a four-year term and Martin Priggel, an Oran, Mo., farmer and former county commissioner, to a two-year term as member at large. The Cape Girardeau County Commission reappointed Irvin Garms to another four-year term. Garms, who is retired from the construction industry and lives in Cape Girardeau, has served on the port's board since 1991.

JUDGE COMPLETES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

BENTON, Mo. -- David Dolan, presiding judge of the 33rd Judicial Circuit in Scott and Mississippi counties, received the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource (ASTAR) award from Missouri Supreme Court Judge Zel Fischer. The ASTAR program is a two-year regimen of 120 classroom hours to train judges in scientific and technological topics, including neuroscience evidence, advanced genetic technologies, computer forensics, cyber crime, DNA science and advanced science technologies. Upon his completion of the program, the ASTAR board of directors named Dolan an ASTAR fellow. On Feb. 4, Fischer honored Dolan with the ASTAR award during a ceremony at the Scott County Court House in Benton. Dolan is the first and only ASTAR-certified judge in the region.

ELEMENT 74 PROMOTES EMPLOYEE

Andrew DeField was promoted to senior application developer for Element 74 in Jackson. He has been with the company since April 2007 and was named 2009 employee of the year.

INSURANCE COMPANY HIRES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Drew Sherman joined W.E. Walker-Lakenan as an account executive and insurance producer. While attending Missouri State University in Springfield, Sherman worked for American National Property and Casualty for two years.

MODERN WOODMEN RECOGNIZES THREE REPS

Modern Woodmen of America Fraternal Financial announced financial representatives in Missouri's East Region who had recent accomplishments. Ken Volkerding of Jackson was named agent of the year in the east agency for 2009. Robert Phillips of Cape Girardeau attended Modern Woodmen of America's Essentials of Leadership and Management Program in Rock Island, Ill. Randy S. Brugger of Cape Girardeau attained his Fraternal Insurance Counsellor designation.

MODERN WOODMEN HONORS LEDBETTER

ESSEX, Mo. -- Ron Ledbetter, financial representative with Modern Woodmen of America Fraternal Financial, was Representative of the Month in the Missouri East Region for the month of January. He has been with the company since February 1992.

GIFFORD RECEIVES ARTS EDUCATION AWARD

Dr. Robert Gifford, longtime music educator of Cape Girardeau, was recognized by the Missouri Arts Council for his commitment to fine arts education. He received a 2010 Missouri Arts Award for Arts Education during a Feb. 10 ceremony at the capitol building in Jefferson City, Mo. Throughout his career, Gifford has worked to create quality arts education opportunities for students in all grade levels. He currently serves on the boards of the Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education and is a member of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's board of directors.

FARRIS FEATURED IN THEATER MAGAZINE

Judith Farris, voice and musical theater instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, was featured in the January issue of American Theatre magazine. The article, "Voice Check: 10 tips for Healthy Singing," shared advice from 11 experts on how to protect and maintain a healthy singing voice.

JONES NAMED ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

KENNETT, Mo. -- Brandon Jones, assistant principal at Kennett High School, was selected to fill the district's assistant superintendent position, effective July 1. The announcement was made during the Kennett Board of Education's Feb. 16 meeting.

NETTLES EARNS SERVICE PIN

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Rob Nettles, Fredericktown police sergeant, received his 20-year service pin Feb. 12 from Captain Jason Gordon. Officers wear one star for every five years of service.

JONES PROMOTED TO STAFF SERGEANT

Cody Jones of Dexter, Mo., was promoted from the rank of sergeant to staff sergeant in the Missouri National Guard. He has been with the Guard since July 2007 and served five years before that in active duty. He is currently a full-time Guard employee, serving as the 1140th Engineer Battalion's Forward Support Company's training noncommissioned officer. Jones was promoted during a ceremony at the Missouri National Guard armory in Cape Girardeau.

WELTER APPOINTED TO FLIGHT SCHOOL

After appearing before the Federal Recognition Board in Jefferson City, Mo., Jonathan Welter was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer Flight Candidate. Welter is currently a flight instructor and charter pilot with Cape Air Charter at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Upon completion of Warrant Officer Candidate School and Warrant Officer Flight Training at Fort Rucker, Ala., Welter will join C Company 1-106th Assault Helicopter Battalion, piloting UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters.

OLD TOWN CAPE PRESENTS AWARDS

For the first time in its history, Old Town Cape organizers honored one person, Dr. Steven Hoffman, with two of the organization's highest awards at Feb. 18 dinner. Normally given independent of one another, the Volunteer of the Year and Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award recognize those who have given significant amounts of time to Old Town Cape and provided vision and leadership for the downtown area. A board member since Old Town Cape was formed in July 1999, Hoffman's involvement includes helping formulate the DREAM Initiative and Downtown Strategic Plan. Additionally, Jayne Scherrman received the Judith Ann Crow Residential Historic Preservation award for rehabilitating her home at 129 S. Lorimier St. Mike Hess received the John Boardman Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation award. The owner of Breakaways Bar and Billiards, Hess restored the property at 15 N. Main St. last year. Chad Hartle of RCH Development received the Old Town Cape Preservation of Heritage Award for restoring the old Schultz School into 45 senior apartments.

CITY PROMOTES ROTH

On Feb. 2, Amy Roth was promoted to recreation supervisor for the City of Cape Girardeau's Parks and Recreation Department. Her new duties include facility manager for the Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center and additional supervisory responsibilities with the Recreation Division and the Aquatics Division.

STROM JOINS TRADE SECRET

Shelby Strom is a new full-time stylist at Trade Secret salon, located in Cape Girardeau's West Park Mall.

MEYER MARKS 50 YEARS IN REAL ESTATE

Rupert C. Meyer of Exit Realty-Thomas Meyer Associates recently celebrated his 50th anniversary in real estate. Past honors include Missouri salesman of the year in 1964 and Cape Girardeau County Realtor of the Year in 1973. He has served as president of the Multiple Listing Service board of directors, secretary-treasurer of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors, state associate director of Missouri Association of Realtors and vice president of the Lions Club.

TRI-STATE HOLDS ANNUAL ADDY AWARDS

Business leaders gathered to appreciate the art of advertising Feb. 19 at the Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals' annual Addy Awards banquet in Cape Girardeau. Members of the advertising industry in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky were presented with 53 awards recognizing their work in various forms including print media, television, radio and online. Mike Tenholder, general manager of Concord Printing Services, received the night's highest honor, the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award. The Addy Awards program also recognized the Tri-State Advertising group's 2010 "Advertising with a Cause" campaign benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri.

Three Best of Show winners were recognized for their achievements in advertising during the past year. Southeast Missouri Hospital was honored for its "What it Means" television advertising campaign. The Wright Group of Perryville, Mo., was recognized for its brochure for Delta Companies Inc. Red Letter Communications was awarded for its flash banner on the STIHL USA website. Aix Gold Medal Addy Awards were presented to Saint Francis Medical Center and Element 74, both of which received awards in two categories each, and Red Letter Communications and Southeast Missouri Hospital. Gold Medal winners will be judged in the American Advertising Federation's state competition in St. Louis this spring. From there, winning entries will compete on the national level in Orlando, Fla., in June.

LEADINGTON TAPS POGUE AS NEW CHIEF

LEADINGTON, Mo. -- After 17 years of service to the Leadington Police Department, Rick Pogue was promoted to chief of police.

SENATH-HORNERSVILLE NAMES NEW PRINCIPAL

SENATH, Mo. -- Rich Thomas of Meadow Heights School District at Patton, Mo., was selected as the new Senath-Hornersville High School principal for the 2010-2011 school year. He will replace current principal Kim Campbell, who will resign at the end of the school year and has accepted position as superintendent of Southland Public Schools.

THURMAN ATTENDS NYC SEMINAR

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Lee Thurman, CPA, CVA, recently attended the annual business valuation update in New York City. The seminar was sponsored by the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants. Thurman is managing partner of Thurman, Shinn and Co. of Farmington, Mo.

CPA FIRM ATTENDS TAX INSTITUTE

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Members of the CPA firm of Thurman, Shinn and Co. attended the Fall Tax Institute sponsored by the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. Attendees included Lee Thurman, CPA, CVA; Greg Shinn, CPA; Katie Rhodes, CPA; Sherri Stroup, CPA; Amy Stacy, MBA candidate; and Greg Stover, CPA. The two-day seminar covered tax law changes that occurred over the last calendar year.

ZLOKOVICH ATTENDS HONOR SOCIETIES MEETING

Martha S. Zlokovich, Ph.D., former Southeast Missouri State University psychology professor and current executive director of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, attended the annual council meeting of the Association of College Honor Societies, held in Boston from Feb. 18-21. Zlokovich and 60 others focused on how to promote programming to accomplish their missions, increase revenue, share management responsibilities and create partnerships for member societies.

HENDLEY APPOINTED COUNTY CLERK

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon appointed James E. Hendley of Bloomfield, Mo., as the new clerk for Stoddard County. The position became vacant upon the retirement of County Clerk Don White. Hendley is a longtime rancher in Stoddard County and owns Bootheel Angus Farms.