People on the move 09/08/03

Hopkins joins Diamond Wireless

Amanda Hopkins has accepted the district manager position with local cellular company Diamond Wireless after spending over four years at JCS Tel-Link as a sales representative and paging manager.

Hopkins moved to Cape Girardeau in 1998 from Hot Springs, Ark., after spending 19 years in the jewelry business in San Diego, Calif. During her time in jewelry, Hopkins received several sales awards for top performance, including membership in the $2,000,000 Club, an honor only bestowed to the top jewelry salespeople in the nation.

Since moving into the region, Hopkins has served as a volunteer on the decorating and auction committees for the American Cancer Society's annual gala and has held a membership in the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce since 2000.

Nichols joins Rust Communications

Steve Nichols has been hired by the Southeast Missourian as its production supervisor at the printing plant at 500 William St. The Southeast Missourian installed a new 16-unit Dauphin 430 press in January and expanded the production facility with an attached building.

Nichols will oversee the web printing operations and post press production, such as the mail room, according to publisher Wally Lage. The new web press provides printing for the Southeast Missourian's many area customers as well as local weekly newspapers and circulars for retailers. The mail room inserts advertising circulars or special sections like USA Weekend into the newspaper.

Nichols has been involved in newspaper production for 18 years and worked for five newspapers in his home state of Florida. Nichols began his career at the Daily Commercial in Leesburg, Fla., as a journeyman pressman. He later was a journeyman pressman at the Sarasota Herald Tribune before taking a shift supervisor job at the Ocala Star Banner. He was then a journeyman pressman at the Lakeland Ledger in Lakeland, Fla.

Most recently, he was night press supervisor for the Daily Sun in Lady Lake, Fla. Nichols is a native of Ocala, Fla.

Riggin gets police chiefs' media award

The Missouri Police Chiefs' Association recently announced that the MPCA 2003 Mary Phelan Media Award recipient is Faune Riggin of KZIM Radio in Cape Girardeau.

The award is given to a media professional who "stands out in their conduct and service to the public in reporting information that is both accurate and fair." Cape Girardeau police chief Steve Strong nominated Riggin, who will be presented with the award in Jefferson City on Sept. 23.

Local professional elected to state board

Dianna Stevens-Vick of Tamms, Ill., a manager and agent for Ullin Mutual County Fire Insurance Cos., was elected Aug. 25 to the board of directors of the Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Cos. during the association's 122nd annual convention in Peoria, Ill.

Stevens-Vick will serve a three-year term as a director of the statewide association. One of the three new directors elected statewide to the nine-member board, she will represent the association's Southern Region.

Stevens-Vick has been with Ullin Mutual for 20 years.

Shelton earns financial consultant designation

State Farm Insurance Cos. has announced that agent Brian Shelton has earned the chartered financial consultant professional designation from American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Shelton is the son of John and Ann Shelton of Cape Girardeau.

Shelton also earned the Gold Medallist Distinguished Educational Achievement Award, placing him among the top 1 percent of the college's candidate base.

Two accountants attend seminar

CPAs Cheryl A. Morris and Michael A. Radake, of Schott & Van de Ven Certified Public Accountants, recently attended an accounting and auditing current developments seminar.

The course provided an overview of new developments in the area of accounting and auditing as well as changes in compilation and review standards. New Financial Accounting Standards Board standards for special-purpose entities and guarantees were included in the class.

Heaton joins Sidetracks Restaurant in Jackson

Don Harris, the owner of Sidetracks Restaurant/Bar in Jackson, has announced that Bill Heaton has joined his management/consultant staff. Heaton is experienced in the food service industry, and Harris said that people will remember him from the Route 25 Banquet Hall and Full House Catering.

Harris said several changes have been made since Heaton came on board, including new menu items, new sauces and other promotions.

-- From staff reports