People on the move 3/31/08

Cox wins category in corn growers contest

Scott City farmer Matthew Cox was honored as a state winner in the 2007 National Corn Yield Contest sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. Cox placed first in the AA no till/strip till non-irrigatated class with a yield of 257.68 bushels per acre. Cox was one of 529 state winners nationwide. His yield beat the 218.6 bushels per acre average for all entrants in the contest and the national average of 151.1 bushels per acre.

Pharmaceutical rep of the year goes to Elias

Christina Elias of Takeda Pharmaceuticals was recently honored as the 2007 pharmaceutical representative of the year by Cape Family Practice. The award is given to the individual who best serves the patients and staff of Cape Family Practice throughout the year.

Stembel completes course for certification

Cherie Stembel, vice president of Albrecht-Hodges Inc. in Cape Girardeau, received the designation of certified insurance counselor for successfully completing an education course sponsored by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors. Stembel has been an insurance agent for Albrecht-Hodges Inc. for 26 years.

Veterans home honors employees at dinner

The Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau announced three employee awards last week. Allen Simmons, employed in the housekeeping department of the 150-bed facility, was named employee of the year during the home's recent employee recognition dinner. Simmons, who has worked at the home since June 2005, "knows how to approach difficult problems with a positive attitude." The other employee awards are for Angie Sitzes, a certified medication technician who was named employee of the month for Missouri state government, and Kim Snell, an administrative assistant who was given the quarterly leadership award. Sitzes was recognized for an excellent work record, initiative and compassion for the residents. She spent two nights, off the clock, with a dying resident at the home to give a respite to his family and make sure he would not be alone. Snell, who began working at the home in 2001 as a housekeeper, was honored for attention to detail and dedication, including her work revising the home's emergency preparedness manual.

— From staff reports