AWARDS/TRAINING

STORE AWARDS GIFT CERTIFICATE: Tammy Ressel, left, of Scott City, was winner of a $250 gift certificate during the grand opening of Unique Brides in downtown Cape Girardeau recently. Other winners during the grand opening were: Crystal Watkins of Oran, $100 certificate; Penny Lee Lincoln, Leopold, 8-by-10 bridal or engagement portrait from Neumeyer Photography; and Trina Dirnberger, Oran, $100 certificate or seven-day cruise, or $50 certificate on three- or four-day cruise from Perry Travel.

Paul H. Berens, a partner with the Cape Girardeau law firm of Finch, Bradshaw, Strom and Steele, will be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, which honors and recognizes bankruptcy professionals who have distinguished themselves both in their practice and in their contribution to the insolvency process.

Eligibility requires a minimum of 16 years of practice. Berens is one of three nominations from the 8th Circuit, a judicial division of the nation comprised of N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas and Missouri.

The induction ceremony will be held May 6 in Washington, D.C., at the Supreme Court.

Berens, who will be addressing seminars of lawyers in bankruptcy for the Missouri Bar and the University of Missouri College of Law during the next two months, will also be a feature speaker in Las Vegas, addressing a national convention of John Deere legal administrators and their regional attorneys.

Berens, his wife, Carol, and sons, Josh, Tyler and Christian reside in Cape Girardeau.

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Ray Buhs of Cape Girardeau was recently presented with an honorary life membership by the National Stone Association (NSA) headquartered at Washington, D.C., and the Missouri Limestone Producers Association of Jefferson City at the NSA's annual convention in Orlando, Fla.

The award is presented to individuals in recognition of lifetime dedication to the advancement of the crushed-stone industry.

Buhs, a past president of Missouri Limestone Producers Association, was chairman of the legislative committee 12 years. He served on the board of directors 14 years. He also served on the legislative and safety committee of the NSA.

Buhs recently retired as vice president of Southeast Missouri Stone Co. of Cape Girardeau. Before joining Southeast Missouri Stone, he was with Federal Materials Co. of Cape Girardeau.

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Leon Whitler of Cape Girardeau has been recognized by Cameron Insurance Cos. for his outstanding performance in 1992.

Whitler was one of 106 agents to receive the award from the firm, which is headquartered at Cameron.

Whitler retired from the firm in January after more than 35 years as an agent. He served as a board of directors member for the firm from 1961 to 1982.

The Cameron company offers a full line of insurance, including homeowners, auto, commercial and life.

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JACKSON William Elliott of Jackson recently completed a Life Association Marketing and Research Association course on insurance management issues sponsored by Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL).

The seminar, conducted at AAL's headquarters in Appleton, Wis., consisted of topics on leadership styles, handling personnel problems and team building.

Elliott is an associate of the Jack Hollingsworth Agency of AAL, Independence.

AAL, a fraternal benefit society, provides financial services including insurance, disability income and retirement products to its members.

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Jeffrey A. Thomas and Laura Faye Thomas, agents with Bankers Life and Casualty Co., were honored recently.

Jeffrey Thomas, an agent for the past year and a half, was honored by the firm as "New Agent of the Year" in his district, based on volume of sales in life, health and annuity sales. He and his wife, Teri, reside in Cape Girardeau.

Laura Thomas was honored as "Agent of the Year' for Southeast Missouri. She also received recognition as a member of the President Honor Circle and National Sales Achievement Award.

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TAMMS, Ill. Virgil Hargan and Terry Younkin, both of Metropolis, and Tim Caldwell of Tamms have been named to the Country Companies All-American team from the Pulaski-Alexander-Massac Agency.

All-American status is achieved through outstanding sales and service achievement during the year in life and health insurance, and is the highest honor a Country Companies agency manager can receive.

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Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Kasten of Rental Land Inc., 1922 Independence, recently attended the American Rental Association's 37th annual National Convention and Rental Equipment Show in Las Vegas.

Representatives from more than 2,000 rental stores in the U.S., Canada, and 13 other countries attended the convention. More than 700 exhibitors displayed all types of equipment used by rental operations. Several workshops and seminars were presented.

The American Rental Association, headquartered in Moline, Ill., is in its fourth decade of operation.