NEW EMPLOYEES

Sam Blackwell has joined the Southeast Missourian news staff as a staff writer.

Blackwell, a native of Cape Girardeau, has several of years newspaper experience at newspapers in northern and southern California and upstate New York. He also worked at the Southeast Missourian early in his career as a sports writer.

He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Southeast Missouri State University and Cape Central High School.

---

Dennis Brown has joined Heartland Telephone Co., as a telephone technician.

Brown worked with AT&T for 35 years.

"We now have three technicians," said Bob Tucker, owner of the firm in Jackson. "We're an authorized service agent for AT&T, for large and small businesses in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois."

Brown and his wife, Judy, reside in Cape Girardeau.

---

JACKSON Virgil Whitener Jr., Jackson Route 4, has joined Gene Wills Insurance Services, 612 West Main in Jackson.

Whitener was previously employed by Capital Bank at Jackson for nine years and at Jackson Exchange Bank and Trust Co. for 14 years.

Whitener and his wife, LaVerne, who is employed at Jones Drug Store, are parents of two sons, David and DeWayne Whitener.

---

Cindy LaCroix has been named territory manager for Health Services Corporation of America.

Tom Jamieson, HSCA president, announced LaCroix's appointment last week.

LaCroix will be responsible for membership retention and expansion in Louisiana and portions of Mississippi.

She has 13 years of experience in Louisiana health care. For the past five years she has served as purchasing director for Baton Rouge Medical Center.

HSCA, with headquarters in Cape Girardeau, serves health care facilities in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

LaCroix and her daughter, Kelli, live in Baton Rouge.

---

Jerry Fitzgerald and Bill Givens have joined Van Matre Buick, 511 S. Kingshighway, as salesmen.

Givens, a native of Cape Girardeau, has been involved in auto sales for more than two years.

Fitzgerald, also a native of Cape Girardeau, recently returned to the area from Florida.

He previously owned a business Sofas Etc. in Cape Girardeau.

---

Deb Pyatt has been promoted to second assistant manager of the Glik's men's and women's sportswear store in West Park Mall.

Glik Stores, headquartered at Granite City, Ill., is a family owned business that operates 35 apparel stores in Missouri and Illinois.