THREE HONORED FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

It's nice to work in the background to make a community better, but it never hurts to earn some recognition.

Such was the case with three local residents who were honored last week: Debra Mitchell-Braxton, Charlie Neese and Gene Rhodes.

Mitchell-Braxton received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award for her tireless work on behalf of African-American youth. She works as assistant director of the Campus Assistance Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

She was lauded for the time and support she gives to many National Association for the Advancement of Colored People programs. She is also on the board of the Cape Girardeau Civic Center and is a volunteer reader at Clippard Elementary School. She also has spearheaded the annual Martin Luther King Day celebration in Cape Girardeau,

Neese, a meteorologist at KFVS-TV, was honored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees with the Distinguished Service Award. He was recognized for his work on several charitable causes including the Area Wide United Way, Salvation Army Tree of Lights and the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.

He is also a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and an American Red Cross volunteer.

Longtime businessman and former mayor of Cape Girardeau, F.E. "Gene" Rhodes, was honored by the Scott City Chamber of Commerce for his longtime contributions to economic development. His Rhodes Oil Co. was also recognized as Industry of the Year.

Rhodes was cited for his many acts in promoting business and industry in the Scott City area over the years.

Thanks to contributions by Mitchell-Braxton, Rhodes and Neese, the region is a better place to work and live.