Names in the news

__DARBY IS ROOKIE OF THE MONTH__

Kelly Darby of Jackson, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was Rookie of the Month in the Missouri East Region for January. The honor is given to a full-time representative who has been with the company fewer than three years and is leading the region in production.

__VOLKERDING GETS LIFE LEADER AWARD__

Ken Volkerding of Jackson, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region for January.

__NORDENIA HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Mackal Kimble, conversion operator of Jackson, was employee of the month for February at Nordenia USA. Nordenia also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Fred Vetter, 20 years of service; Timothy Mouser and Larry Huter, 15 years; and Douglas LaFentres, Chad McCormick and John McLain, five years.

Ken Volkerding

__FARMERS HONORED AT SIKESTON BANQUET__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Several individuals were honored at the annual Farmer's Recognition Banquet on Jan. 26 in conjunction with the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting, reported the Sikeston Standard Democrat. Those recognized were brothers Logan and Ross Lemmons, Sikeston Jaycees' Outstanding Young Farmers; Amy Beth Dowdy, Farm Woman of the Year; Martin Priggel, Ag Service Award; and the Milus and Wanda Wallace family, Farm Family of the Year.

__ARCHIE, MULLIN RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Jeff Archie of Sikeston's street division was employee of the first quarter in the Department of Public Works. Brent Mullin, public safety officer, was employee of the first quarter in the Department of Public Safety.

__LITTLES HAS TOP YEAR__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Brock Littles was top lister and top producer of 2011 at Coldwell Banker Ruth Holloway Realty. He was also top lister and top producer for January.

__COMFORT MASTER NAMES NEW MANAGER__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- John Kassinger of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Doniphan, Mo., is the new general manager at Comfort Master, 1645 Route B. He has 25 years of experience in the heating and cooling business and was self-employed before joining Comfort Master. He owned Doniphan Heating & Air for 10 years.

__COMMERCE BROKERAGE ADDS MATTHEWS__

Charlotte Matthews joined Commerce Brokerage Services Inc. as a financial adviser. She previously worked with Edward Jones in a similar capacity. Before joining Edward Jones, Matthews was with Commerce Bank for three years as an account executive in the merchant services area.

__MCDONALD APPOINTED AGENT/PRODUCER__

Farmers Insurance Group announced that Kyle McDonald has been appointed as a full-line agent/producer with a new office location in Scott City. McDonald purchased the agency from Barbara Curnell Herndon, who had the insurance operation since 2002. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker for Lorimont Place Ltd., who handled the lease transaction, said McDonald would move his agency to 2114 Main St. in the Scott City Plaza Center. He will specialize in commercial and personal property insurance, as well as auto, health and life insurance.

__CAPE PILOT IS INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR__

Beverly J. Cleair of Cape Girardeau was named St. Louis Area Flight Instructor of the Year at the 2012 Midwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show held in St. Louis in January. Cleair, a certified flight instructor in Cape Girardeau, is co-owner and chief flight instructor for Skybound Aviation.

__MOSSY OAK NAMES LEADERS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Darrin Whited was top lister for January at Mossy Oak Properties, and Sandy Rickman was top producer.

Robert Houchins

__HOUCHINS ACHIEVES MANAGEMENT HONOR__

Robert I. Houchins, a Modern Woodmen of America managing partner in Jackson, earned membership in the organization's 2011 Managing Partner Round Table Inner Circle. The Inner Circle includes the top managing partners in Modern Woodmen's Managing Partner Round Table. The Round Table recognizes outstanding leadership and is based on high achievement in life insurance sales.

__MARTIN JOINS WRIGHT GROUP__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kristen Martin, joined the staff of designers at the Wright Group, a brand development and advertising agency. Before joining the Wright Group, she completed two internships, one with RSVP Marketing of Farmington, Mo., and the second with Cheree Berry Paper in St. Louis. Her focus will be on graphic design and web development.

__NEWSPAPER STAFF PLACE IN CONTEST__

Several Southeast Missourian staff members were among the list of winners in the 2012 Missouri Associated Press Media Editors newspaper contest for Division III. M.D. Kittle, Carrie Bartholomew and Shay Alderman placed first in Community Affairs/Public Interest for "County salaries"; Kittle placed first in Feature Writing for "A soldier named Lucky"; Scott Moyers placed second in Feature Writing for "Penalty of Death: The crimes of Russell Bucklew and their aftermath"; Moyers and Kittle placed second in Spot News for "Breached"; Laura Simon placed second in Feature Photos for "All-Southeast Missourian Girls Track Team: Nicole Hemmann"; Kristin Eberts placed second in sports photos for "Bogged down: Jackson's Law Duncan and DeSmet's Sean Badlock"; and Simon placed third in Spot News Photos for "Clearing out."

__BREMER NAMED BANK MANAGER__

Jonathan Bremer was named assistant vice president and manager of the Capaha Bank branch at 380 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. He previously served as a commercial credit analyst at Capaha Bank for six years.

__KROGER HAS NEW MANAGER__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Adam Myers is the new manager of Kroger in Poplar Bluff, effective Jan. 15, reported the Daily American Republic. Myers, a native of Ruleville, Miss., has been a manager in various locations for 16 years. He has worked with Kroger for 11 years, most recently in Memphis, Tenn.

__FIRST COMMUNITY INSURANCE ADDS TWO__

First Community Insurance Group added Jack Pettet to its Cape Girardeau office. He will serve as senior insurance services representative, offering all lines of personal and commercial insurance products. He is the former operator of Arena Golf. Pettet's office is inside First Community Bank at 17 S. Mount Auburn Road. Additionally, Adam Hutson will serve as an insurance representative at First Community Insurance Group in Poplar Bluff, Mo. His office is at 2911 N. Westwood Blvd.

__CONNELL NAMED MANAGEMENT TRAINEE__

Jack Connell joined First Community Bank as management trainee to the Cape Girardeau location. He will serve the bank in various operational positions as part of his managerial training program.

__SPENCER LEADS RE/MAX__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Julie Spencer was top lister and top producer for January at RE/MAX Real Estate Group Inc.

CARRON JOINS SYNERGY SALON

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Chuck Carron joined the staff at Synergy Salon and Spa, 106 W. Columbia St. in Farmington. He was previously creator and founder of Charles Thomas Salon and Studio 118 in Farmington.

__MADISON CHAMBER PRESENTS AWARDS__

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- McDonald's of Fredericktown received the 2011 Business of the Year honor at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet Feb. 3, the Democrat News reported. Other awards went to Harold Thomas, Lifetime Achievement Award; Barb Hargis, Outstanding Service Award; John and Jamie Hargis, Democrat News Distinguished Award; Madison Medical Center, Dockins Broadcast Group Elite Service Award; and Barrett Jensen, Regional Radio 110 Percent Award.

__WILLIAMS JOINS HOLT AGRIBUSINESS__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Holt Agribusiness named Larry Williams as agribusiness sales representative for Sikeston. He previously served as vice president for a sprayer manufacturer and has held management and development positions in retail fertilizer companies. In his new position, Williams is responsible for promoting Holt's line of agricultural tractors, combines and implements.

Paul Walker

__AWARDS PRESENTED AT ANNUAL ADDY BANQUET__

Paul Walker received Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals' Silver Medal Award on Feb. 24 during the group's annual ADDY Awards banquet in Cape Girardeau. Walker has been in the advertising business for 45 years, with the past 25 at the Southeast Missourian. Numerous gold, silver and bronze ADDY awards were presented to area advertising companies for their work on individual projects. Gold winners will be judged in the American Advertising Federation's District 9 competition in March in Cape Girardeau; winning district entries will compete on the national level.

Projects receiving gold Addy awards and the top honor, Best in Show, include: Print Media -- Rust & Martin brochure by Creative Instinct; Interactive Media -- STIHL BR 200 web commercial by Red Letter Communications; and Television -- Saint Francis Medical Center "Pink Up" TV commercial by The Roberts Group. Gold medals went to Saint Francis new physician reception invitation by The Roberts Group; Southeast Cancer Center window by Red Letter; We Are Relentless website by Relentless Inc.; Rust & Martin Flash website by Creative Instinct; mixed-media pieces for Praise the Lard Barbecue Cook-off by Silkworm Inc.; mixed-media pieces for Southeast Cancer Center launch by Red Letter; and the ManExam public service announcement by Red Letter for the ManExam Coalition for Testicular Cancer. A complete list of winners is available at www.semissourian.com/story/1819680.html.

__FOUR NAMED TO COTTON COUNCIL POSTS__

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Four Missouri cotton industry members were elected to leadership positions in the National Cotton Council for 2012, including Steve Droke, a Hornersville producer who was re-elected as Missouri/Illinois chairman of the NCC's American Cotton Producers. Re-elected as the unit officers were A.C. Riley James, a ginner with A.C. Riley Cotton Co. in New Madrid, chairman; Jeffrey J. Hux, a Sikeston producer, vice chairman; and Stephen Harris, Farmers Union Gin Co. in Senath, secretary. They were named to their posts during the 2012 NCC annual meeting Feb. 10 to 12 in Fort Worth, Texas.

__BEARDSLEE IS EMERGENCY DIRECTOR__

BENTON, Mo. -- Tom Beardslee is the new emergency management director for Scott County, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. He previously worked for the county as a chief deputy at the sheriff's department and as the county's 911 director.

__MORGAN NAMED PARTNER AT LAW FIRM__

KENNETT, Mo. -- Shannon Wright Morgan of Hornersville, Mo., was named a partner at Pelts, McMullan & Edgington in Kennett. The law firm will now be called Pelts, McMullan, Edgington & Morgan LLP.

__WATKINS NAMED BRANCH MANAGER__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- David Watkins of Doniphan, Mo., joined Regions Bank as branch manager for the Poplar Bluff banking center. He has more than 10 years of experience in the financial industry. His office is at 2001 N. Westwood Blvd.

Mary Beth Bauwens

__BAUWENS NAMED CENTER DIRECTOR__

Sally Werner

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Mary Beth Bauwens of Perryville, Mo., joined Mineral Area College as director of the Perryville Higher Education Center. She previously worked for Perry County School District No. 32, where she held several positions over 18 years, including building technology specialist, gifted facilitator, summer school director and supplemental educational services director. She has also worked as a teacher. Bauwens replaces Sally Werner, who retired Feb. 29 after almost 13 years with Mineral Area College.

__ROSS, TALBUT RETIRING FROM SHOW ME CENTER__

David Ross, the first and only director of the Show Me Center announced his retirement, effective May 31, according to a news release. Assistant director Greg Talbut will also retire, effective April 24. The university confirmed Feb. 16 that Ross and Talbut are no longer serving in their positions and are using accumulated paid leave time. Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts at the River Campus, will serve as interim director while a national search is conducted.

__PARKER NAMED CAREER AGENT__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Keith Parker of Poplar Bluff was appointed a career agent in Butler County for Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Services. He began his career with the company in 2008 in Scott County; he moved to the Butler County Farm Bureau office on Kanell Boulevard on Jan. 1.

__WATKINS NAMED TO WHO'S WHO__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Van Watkins was named to the Presidential Who's Who Among Business and Professional Achievers. He has 25 years of experience installing windows and doors, and worked as a contract installer form Lowe's Home Improvement in Sikeston, Mo., for the past several years. He now plans to work on his own.

__FINANCIAL ADVISER HONORED__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Michael L. Parker, independent financial adviser at LPL Financial in Sikeston, was recognized as a top financial adviser and named to the LPL Financial Freedom Club. This distinction is based on an annual production ranking of all registered advisers supported by LPL Financial and is awarded to less than 25 percent of the firm's more than 12,000 advisers nationwide.

__BOLLINGER IS AGENT OF THE MONTH__

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- David Bollinger of Greenville, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was District Agent of the Month for January.

__KING, HUTCHISON ARE TOPS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kim King was top lister for January at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc., and Rhenda Hutchison was top producer.

__TURNER JOINS LISA'S HOUSE OF HAIR__

Frannie Turner is a new stylist at Lisa's House of Hair & Sun at 2031 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.

__TOP PRODUCER AWARD PRESENTED__

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Gregg Halverson of Black Gold Farms, a 20,000-acre potato operation based in Grand Forks, N.D., with operations in Scott County, received the Top Producer of the Year Award at the 2012 Top Producer Seminar. The award honors agricultural producers from whom other producers can learn business concepts.

__GAINES TO RETIRE FROM DNR__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Gary Gaines, a lifelong resident of the Dexter area, will retire March 1 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. He has served 19 years as regional director of the department's Southeast Regional Office. He first joined the department in 1987 as water pollution control unit chief and was promoted to regional director in 1992.

__SOTO GETS GRADUATE, GRI DESIGNATION__

David E. Soto Sr. received the Graduate, Realtor Institute Designation by the Missouri Association of Realtors. He received this honor after completing 90 hours of specific education outlined by the National Association of Realtors.

__OLD TOWN CAPE PRESENTS AWARDS__

Jim Riley, founder and CEO of Red Letter Communications, received the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award at Old Town Cape's annual dinner Feb. 23. Riley, a partner in Dream Big LLC, worked to bring the $125 million Isle of Capri casino development to downtown Cape Girardeau and has worked on several other community projects over the years. Claire Bruce, a member of Old Town Cape's economic restructuring committee, was Volunteer of the Year. She has worked on a downtown market analysis and market messaging projects, and was an instructor for the "Operation Main Street: Business Success Series" training program. Bruce also works with downtown businesses through her market research company Merchapolitan. State Beauty Supply, owned by Emilie, John and Lindy Lysell, received the Business Excellence Award. The award recognizes a business that demonstrates community involvement and support of downtown. Broadway Prescription Shop and Shivelbine's Music were given Excellence in Preservation awards for their work to rehabilitate their businesses' historic commercial signage.

__SMYTHE RETURNS TO RUN TWO TV STATIONS__

Mike Smythe, former vice president and general manager of KFVS12, returned to the area to run KBSI FOX 23 in Cape Girardeau and WDKA in Paducah, Ky. Those stations haven't had a general manager based in Cape Girardeau instead of St. Louis for more than eight years, Smythe said, but their parent company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, is putting more emphasis on local involvement. Smythe retired in November from KFVS, owned by Raycom Media, and moved closer to family in Toledo, Ohio. He moved back to Cape Girardeau and started as general manager at KBSI and WDKA on Feb. 27.