Names in the news

__HYSLOP NAMED GENERAL MANAGER__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Noreen Hyslop, managing editor of the Dexter Daily Statesman, was named general manager, the newspaper reported. The job will coincide with her current editorial duties. The paper had been without a general manager since the resignation of Bobby Greer, who moved from the area in July. Hyslop began her career with the Daily Statesman in 2007 as special projects editor, following a 27-year career with Dexter Schools. She moved into the managing editor position in 2008.

__KFVS HAS NEW GENERAL MANAGER__

Raycom Media announced multiple staffing changes to its stations Jan. 5. Dave Thomason was announced as the successor to Tim Ingram, who has served as the vice president and general manager of KFVS12 and WQWQ, Raycom Media's CBS and CW affiliates in Cape Girardeau, since 2011. Ingram will be moving to New Orleans, where he has accepted the position of vice president and general manager of WVUE in New Orleans. WVUE is owned by Louisiana Media Co. and is managed by Raycom Media. Thomason has been the general sales manager of KFVS12 and WQWQ since 2011. He previously was the director of sales for KOLR (CBS) and KSFX (FOX) in Springfield, Missouri, and has had a career in broadcast sales for more than 20 years.

__AGING MATTERS HAS NEW DIRECTOR__

Aging Matters, formerly known as the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, named Lana Johnson as executive director and Rhonda Bramlett as nutrition project director, according to a column by Ruth Dockins for The Best Years, a Rust Communications special publication.

__SANDGREN-KEMPF COMPLETES EDUCATIONAL TRIPS__

Carolyn Sandgren-Kempf, president of Elite Travel Inc. in Cape Girardeau, completed a three-day, four-night inspection and tour of New York City, where she inspected local hotels to ensure they meet the standards for recommendations by Elite Travel. She also was further educated on the city's transportation system and the multiple airports that serve the metro area. Additionally, she was provided the opportunity to review tourist activities such as Broadway productions, the Empire State Building, various movie filming locations and the Chrysler Building. Sandgren-Kempf also completed a three-day, four-night inspection and tour of Branson, Missouri. She inspected hotels and was provided the opportunity to review tourist activities such the Dixie Stampede and Silver Dollar City.

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Robert "Steve" Pitt of Jackson was employee of the month for January at Mondi Jackson Inc. Pitt, a material handler, has been with the company since Feb. 6, 2012. Mondi Jackson also held its annual employee of the year drawing. Tammy Merritt won the drawing and was named employee of the year. Additionally, Mondi recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Brent Crites, 25 years of service; and Sherman Betts, 15 years.

__BURNS NAMED PORT AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN__

Rice "Pete" Burns Jr. will replace current chairman John M. Thompson on the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority board as Thompson retires from the position, according to a news release from the port. Thompson, of Jackson, is president of the Bank of Missouri. Burns, of Sikeston, Missouri, is an attorney and partner in the law firm of Burns, Taylor, Heckemeyer & Green. He began serving on the board in 2010. Members are appointed by the Cape Girardeau and Scott county commissions.

__METRO TITLE HIRES TWO NEW EMPLOYEES__

Metro Title in Cape Girardeau hired Joy Baldwin as vice president and general manager and Julie Duenne as closing agent. Baldwin returns to the company after many years working in real estate and mortgage lending. Duenne has worked in the banking business for more than 20 years and has worked as an originator.

__SKAGGS, MATHES JOIN ACCOUNTING FIRM__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- CPAs Anita Skaggs and Robert Mathes are new partners in the accounting firm of Crouch, Farley & Heuring PC. Skaggs has been with the firm since her graduation from Southwest Missouri State University in 1996. She works out of the Farmington office and lives in Park Hills. Mathes has been with the firm since his graduation in 2003 from the University of Missouri--St. Louis, where he obtained his master's and bachelor's degrees. He works out of the Farmington office and lives in Farmington. Crouch, Farley & Heuring is a CPA firm with offices in Farmington, Bonne Terre, Cape Girardeau, Festus and Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.

__WARD NAMED DIRECTOR OF SMTS__

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Denny Ward was named executive director of SMTS Inc. He replaces Bill Osborne, who retired at the end of December. Ward, who came to work for the company in 2006 as controller and was promoted to assistant executive director in 2010, assumed his new responsibilities Jan. 1. He has more than 25 years of grant writing experience and a background in human resources and local government experience. Southeast Missouri Transportation Service Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation that provides rural public transportation in 20 counties of Missouri, and nonemergency medical transportation in an additional five counties.

__CITY OF SIKESTON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Darren Lowe was named employee of the first quarter for the Perryville Department of Public Works. He works in the city's street division. John Nelson, public safety officer, was employee of the first quarter for the Department of Public Safety.

__SPENCER NAMED PUXICO POSTMASTER__

PUXICO, Mo. -- Angel Kennon-Spencer of Doniphan, Missouri, is the postmaster in Puxico, effective Dec. 27. She previously worked as a rural carrier for the Doniphan Post Office, then as secretary in the manager post office operations office and, most recently, postmaster in Fairdealing, Missouri.

__GUAY JOINS RUST COMMUNICATIONS__

Rust Communications named David Guay as vice president of production. He assumed the position in February. He was corporate production director for a media company based in Bentonville, Arkansas, with responsibilities over commercial printing plants in three states affiliated with newspaper groups owned by Community Publishers Inc., of which Rust Communications is part owner. Guay has an extensive background in newspaper production and commercial printing, having held corporate and plant manager positions for several newspaper companies. His responsibilities in the vice president position, according to Southeast Missourian publisher and Rust Communications co-president Jon K. Rust, who also is publisher of the Southeast Missourian, will include working with 19 daily and more than 30 weekly newspapers to elevate print quality, optimize purchasing, assess and manage strategy around commercial web customers, evaluate equipment investments and enhance production operational efficiency.

__GRAMLING JOINS FORD AND SONS__

LaDon Gramling joined Ford and Sons Funeral Home as a prearrangement specialist for funeral planning. Her role is to provide advance planning services to "help families plan ahead for final wishes," she said in a news release. The funeral home also offers payment plans in advance of funerals.

__MILLER PROMOTED AT MIDWEST LITIGATION__

Gene Miller was promoted to manager of media and IT services for St. Louis-based Midwest Litigation Services. In the new role, Miller will oversee information technology requirements and manage production of all media deliverables including video and document services for the company, which provides reporting, videography and trial support, according to a news release. Miller joined the company in 2004 and until the promotion was a video supervisor. Midwest Litigation Services has a regional office in Cape Girardeau.

__MOSSY OAK HONORS EMPLOYEES__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Sandy Taylor was top producer for December at Mossy Oak Properties, and Amy McLean was top lister.

__GIBBS NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Amy Gibbs was employee of the year for 2014 at Commerce Bank. She has been a teller with Commerce Bank for nine years at the North 67 Branch. She was recently transferred to the West Pine Facility.

__COLDWELL HONORS EMPLOYEES__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Terri Whitten was top lister for November at Coldwell Banker Ruth Holloway Realty. Additionally, Vicki Henderson was top producer for December and Lucy Wheeler was top lister for December.

__KNODELL LEADS P.B. REALTY__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was top lister and top producer for November at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc.

__JACKSON NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL DRIVING AWARD__

HAYTI, Mo. -- Gerald Jackson was nominated for the National Association of Small Trucking Companies Driver of the Year program. He has driven for Tomlin Trucking & Brokerage of Hayti for more than four years and has been a professional driver for 14 years.

__CLARK JOINS LA CROIX PET HOSPITAL__

Dr. Jamie Clark joined LaCroix Pet Hospital in Cape Girardeau in December. She graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012 and worked for a mixed animal practice in Kansas City, Missouri, for one year. She then relocated to Southeast Missouri and worked as an emergency veterinarian before joining LaCroix Pet Hospital.

__P.B. CHAMBER PRESENTS HONORS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce presented Joey McLane, president and CEO of First Midwest Bank of Poplar Bluff, with the chamber's Citizen of the Year Award, the Daily American Republic reported. The chamber also named for the first time a Volunteer of the Year, recognizing retired city police officer and current city councilman Ed DeGaris. Awards were presented at the chamber's annual banquet on Jan. 24.

__GAUSE NAMED CHAIR OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, COUNSELING__

Dr. C.P. Gause was named chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University. He began his new duties Jan. 1, replacing Dr. Ruth Ann Roberts, who served as interim chair before retiring. Gause joins Southeast from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, where he was associate professor of higher education in the Department of Teacher Education and Higher Education and director of doctoral graduate studies in educational studies-higher education.

__EFTINK HIRED AS OAK RIDGE SUPERINTENDENT__

Adrian Eftink was hired as superintendent for the Oak Ridge School District. He has been the district's elementary principal for the past 12 years. He will replace Gerald Landewee when he retires at the end of June.

__FICKERT NAMED COMMERCIAL TEAM LEAD__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Miranda Fickert of Poplar Bluff was named regional commercial team lead for U.S. Bank in Southeast Missouri. She works at the U.S. Bank office on Main Street in Poplar Bluff. She has worked at U.S. Bank for 10 years and has served as a credit analyst, commercial relationship manager and market president.

__SCOTT CITY NAMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT__

Beginning July 1, Brian Lee, high school principal at Diamond School District in Diamond, Missouri, will take over as superintendent of the Scott City School District. Lee will replace superintendent Diann Ulmer, who plans to retire at the end of this school year. In 2008, Lee graduated from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, with an educational specialist degree. He earned his master's degree in educational administration in 2005 from William Woods and his bachelor of science in education in 1992, with a major in social studies and physical education. He has worked in education for 22 years, including 13 as a coach and teacher of social studies, physical education and special education.

__JOHNSON HIRED AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT FOR SCENIC RIVERWAYS__

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Former Riverways chief ranger Larry Johnson was selected to serve as acting superintendent at Ozark National Scenic Riverways after Bill Black retired Jan. 3. Johnson returned to the Riverways on Jan. 16 and will serve as the acting superintendent for up to 120 days while a new permanent superintendent is sought. Johnson is a 32-year veteran of the National Park Service and has served as superintendent of Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota since July 2010.

__S&W CABINETS EMPLOYEES ATTEND INDUSTRY SHOW__

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Kim Duggins, Cory Roper, Brittany Keller and Richard Fletcher, employees of the manufacturing division at S&W Cabinets, attended the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show from Jan. 20 to 22 in Las Vegas. The convention featured new products, trends and technologies to design, build and remodel homes. More than 125,000 residential design and construction professionals were represented at the show.

__AREA CORN FARMERS WIN TOP-YIELD HONORS__

Matthew Cox of Scott City, Jerry Cox of Delta and Nick Lanpher of Cape Girardeau earned titles in the National Corn Growers Association annual statewide contest for their 2014 crop yields. Matthew Cox took first place in the no-till/strip-till nonirrigated division with 348 bushels an acre and third place in the AA no-till/strip-till nonirrigated division with 313 bushels an acre. Jerry Cox won first place in the AA no-till/strip-till nonirrigated division with 349 bushels an acre and first in the irrigated division with 344 bushels an acre. Lanpher finished second place in the AA no-till/no-strip nonirrigated division with 314 bushels an acre. Jerry Cox also finished second in the AA nonirrigated division with 340 bushels an acre. The farmers planted Pioneer brand seeds, according to a news release.

__GROVES NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF KBSI__

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. named Edwin Groves as general manager of KBSI (FOX) in the markets of Paducah, Kentucky; Cape Girardeau; Harrisburg, Illinois; and Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He also will be responsible for the oversight of WDKA (MNT), which is programmed by Sinclair under a local marketing agreement. Groves has more than 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry, including various management and sales positions, according to a news release from Sinclair. He most recently held the position of general sales manager at WAAY (ABC) in Huntsville, Alabama, from 2009 to 2014.

__NIERMANN JOINS HENDRICKSON BUSINESS ADVISORS__

Alison Niermann joined Hendrickson Business Advisors in Cape Girardeau as director of business development. She is a native of Chesterfield, Missouri, and has expertise in employee recruitment, training and business development, according to a news release. She moved to Cape Girardeau in March 2013. In her new role at Hendrickson Business Advisors, she will work with business owners and managers to help them accomplish their goals through consulting and training services.

__REAVES RECEIVES NEW MEMBER LEADER AWARD__

MALDEN, Mo. - Jerry Reaves of Malden, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region for December. He has been with the company since October 2004.

__EMBRY JOINS UNITED WAY__

Kristi Embry joined The United Way of Southeast Missouri as director of education initiatives. She replaces recent retirees Jo Peukert and Janice Jones, coordinators of the organization's LIFE and Success By 6 initiatives. Embry will now provide coordination of both initiatives while also furthering United Way's overall impact in its education focus area, according to a news release. Embry has a Ph.D. in English and has more than 15 years of experience in communicating with educators. She previously taught English at the college level for more than a decade.

__MCCOY LEADS CENTURY 21__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Melba Jean McCoy was top lister and top producer for December at Century 21 American Realty.

__MINERAL AREA COLLEGE FILLS THREE POSITIONS__

PARK HILLS, Mo. - Dan Jaycox of Farmington, Missouri, is the new Learning Center director at Mineral Area College. He previously was an assistant professor of English and learning management systems director at the college. Additionally, Jeff McCreary of Crystal City, Missouri, joined the college as director of public safety. He last worked as chief of police at the Crystal City Police Department and has a total of 28 years in law enforcement. John Wright of Farmington also joined Mineral Area College as its mathematics lab coordinator. He formerly worked as district executive for the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and research assistant in the Laboratory of Elizabeth Sztul at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

__FARMERS HONORED AT SIKESTON CHAMBER LUNCHEON__

SIKESTON, Mo. - Several individuals were honored recently at the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Farmers Recognition Luncheon. Awards went to Hulshof Farms in Scott County, Farm Family of the Year; Vanessa McGarity, Farm Female of the Year; Don King, Agri-Business Service Award; and Vest Baker, Jaycee Outstanding Young Farmer.

__WOOD NAMED TO DEXTER SCHOOLS' TOP SPOT__

DEXTER, Mo. - The Board of Education of the Dexter R-XI School District voted to employ Mitchell D. Wood as superintendent of schools, effective July 1, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. Wood has been serving as superintendent of the Oran R-3 District since 2004. Before becoming superintendent at Oran, he was a teacher, coach and activities director from 1992 to 1999 and served as principal at the junior high and high school level in the same district from 1999 to 2004 for a total of 23 years in the Oran district. He previously taught and coached at Hayti, Missouri, from 1989 to 1992.

__JACKSON HIRES NEW SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT__

The Jackson School District will have a new superintendent July 1. John Link was hired to replace superintendent Ron Anderson, who is retiring at the end of June, the school board announced Feb. 6. Link has been superintendent in the Fair Grove School District, about 10 miles northeast of Springfield, Missouri, since 2006 and previously worked as superintendent and high school principal in the Hartville, Missouri, School District, according to a news release from the board. Link has a doctorate in educational administration from Lindenwood University and a specialist degree in education from Missouri State University, the release stated.

__BOOTHEEL COUNSELING HONORS EMPLOYEES__

SIKESTON, Mo. - Brittney Kitchen of East Prairie, Missouri, was chosen by her coworkers as employee of the month for December at Bootheel Counseling Services and Family Medical Clinic. She has been with the agency for more than a year as a community support worker. Additionally, Carrie Huggins was employee of the month for January. She works as an office manager in the Stoddard County branch and has been with the agency for more than five years.

__AMOS RECEIVES MODERN WOODMEN AWARDS__

SIKESTON, Mo. - Patrica Amos of Sikeston, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was Life Leader and New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region for January. She has been with the company since October.

__WARD HONORED FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICE__

SIKESTON, Mo. - Ron Ward was honored for 10 years of outstanding service at Steward Steel Inc.

__SIX FROM MISSOURI NAMED TO COTTON COUNCIL POSTS__

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Six Missouri cotton industry members were elected to leadership positions in the National Cotton Council for 2015, including David Blakemore, a Campbell ginner, who was elected NCC director, according to a news release from the council. Former NCC chairman Charles H. Parker, a Senath, producer, was re-elected as an adviser to the NCC board. Steve Droke, a Hornersville, producer, was re-elected as the Missouri/Illinois chairman of the NCC's American Cotton Producers. Re-elected as the NCC's Missouri/Illinois unit officers were A.C. Riley James, a ginner from New Madrid, chairman; William Hunter, a producer and marketing cooperative representative from Bell City, vice chairman; and Stephen Harris, a ginner from Senath, secretary. The cotton industry leaders were named to their posts during the recent NCC annual meeting in Memphis.