Names in the news

__AMOS NAMED NEW MEMBER LEADER__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Patricia Amos of Sikeston, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was new member leader in the Missouri East region in October. She has been with the company since October.

__EMPLOYEES HONORED AT CENTURY 21__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Melba Jean McCoy was top lister for September at Century 21 American Realty, and Craig Lansford was top producer. In October, McCoy was top lister and Natali Ketcherside was top producer.

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Victoria Mautino of Jackson was employee of the month for November at Mondi Jackson Inc. Mautino, a QA lab technician, has been with the company since Sept. 24, 2012. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Kevin Moyers, 20 years of service; Willie Drew and Leeman Medlin, 15 years; and Greg Morton, 10 years.

__P.B. REALTY PRESENTS HONORS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was top producer for September at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc. He tied with Gary Featherston for top lister that month.

__IT'S YOUR HAIR ADDS TWO STYLISTS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Stylists Donna Pruett and Larissa Williams joined It's Your Hair in Poplar Bluff.

__BROOKS JOINS BANK OF MISSOURI__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ron Brooks joined The Bank of Missouri as a consultant. He is the principal of R.D. Brooks Consulting LLC and is well known in the banking industry in and around Butler County and Southeast Missouri.

__SULLIVAN JOINS HAIR FRENZY__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Mechelle Sullivan joined the staff of stylists at Hair Frenzy. She has been a cosmetologist for eight years.

__IVEY INDUCTED TO ELECTRONICS HALL OF FAME__

Local businessman Loyd Ivey was inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame, an honor that recognizes consumer electronics pioneers. The induction of Ivey is by the Consumer Electronics Association. He was chosen for his creation of 8-inch, two-way bookshelf speakers encased in spill- and burn-resistant walnut laminate.

__WHALEN ATTENDS ELITE RETREAT__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Robert J. Whalen, a financial services professional in Poplar Bluff, attended the Elite Retreat conference hosted by broker/dealer HD Vest Investment Services. The HD Vest Elite Retreat is a networking and learning event for premium advisers focused on peer-to-peer idea sharing. Whalen has been an adviser with HD Vest since 1991.

__OZARK RIVERWAYS HONORS EMPLOYEES__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ozark National Scenic Riverways recently recognized several employees for their years of federal service: Dennis Weiland, 30 years of service; Lisa Figge, five years; Faye Walmsley, 30 years; and superintendent Bill Black, 40 years.

__BURGER JOINS COMMERCE BANK__

Nicholas Burger joined Commerce Bank as vice president and relationship manager in Cape Girardeau. He is responsible for business development and relationship management related to Commerce's full line of banking, borrowing and treasury management solutions for commercial clients. He has five years of commercial and agricultural banking experience.

__HEMMANN JOINS PERRYVILLE PARKS AND REC__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Casey Hemmann was hired as maintenance I for the Perryville Parks and Recreation Department, the Republic Monitor reported. He has been employed as a part-time maintenance staff member for more than a year and has now assumed the new full-time position of maintenance I. He has a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation.

__ENGLISH PROFESSOR AWARDED PRIZE FOR FICTION__

A Southeast Missouri State University English professor has been honored for a collection of short stories he authored. Dr. James Brubaker, assistant professor of English, has been awarded The Pressgang Prize for his "Black Magic Death Sphere: (Science) Fictions." The Pressgang Prize is sponsored by Pressgang, a press affiliated with the Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at Butler University. As the 2014 winner, Brubaker earned a $1,500 prize and was welcomed to participate in a reading of his collection of short stories at Butler University. Pressgang Press will publish the collection.

__JACKSON CHAMBER ELECTS NEW OFFICERS__

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce elected new officers to its board of directors. Wade Bartels of the Jackson School District, Jeff Slinkard of Baer and Edington accountants, Kyle Thompson of the Bank of Missouri and Dennis Vinson of Signature Packaging will serve on the 2015 board, according to a news release.

__PORTAGEVILLE FARMER APPOINTED SOYBEAN BOARD DIRECTOR__

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Lewis Rone, a soybean farmer from Portageville, was selected as a director to the United Soybean Board. He as appointed by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and will represent his fellow soybean farmers by investing soy checkoff funds in marketing, promotion and research projects that aim to increase the profitability of all U.S. soybean farmers. Rone grows soybeans, corn and cotton on his farm in Southeast Missouri. He is a third-generation farmer and has been active in the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, serving as a director since 2008. He was sworn in to his new role and began his work at USB's annual meeting Dec. 11 in St. Louis.

__FRAZIER RECEIVES GOVERNOR'S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE__

HOWARDVILLE, Mo. -- Vannessa Frazier of Howardville received the first annual Governor's Natural Resources Award of Excellence during the Governor's Conference on Natural Resources, held Nov. 12 to 13 in Springfield, Missouri. The awards were presented to state organizations, businesses and individuals who have excelled at demonstrating leadership, innovation and a comprehensive mental ethic to manage natural resources. Frazier received the Governor's Natural Resources Champion Award after volunteering in the Missouri Bootheel for more than 35 years. She is executive director of Howardville Community Betterment, as well as a Red Cross instructor and community mental health counselor. She serves on the board of directors for the Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition and is the coordinator of the Association of Stream Teams in Southeast Missouri.