REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM GRADUATES 18

Eighteen workers graduated from the Southeast Missouri Regional Training program Wednesday night.

The training group was founded more than two years ago and consists of 12 manufacturing and industrial employers who work together with Southeast Missouri State University, Mineral Area Community College of Park Hills and the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School.

The industries, which represent more than 5,000 employees, have bonded together to provide additional training for their workers. The industries include Biokyowa, Dana Corp., Golden Cat, Foamex, Gregory Construction, K&K Electronics, Lone Star Industries, M&W, Procter and Gamble, Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity, Lee Rowan Co., Bloomsdale Excavating and S&W Cabinets.

Associate members include the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, The Cape Girardeau Area Recruitment Association and Ameren UE.

Currently, 177 workers are taking classes, said Bev Hickam of the training program.

"This is in addition to the 18 graduating workers," she said.

The Wednesday graduates represent five of the sponsoring companies. On hand to offer congratulations Wednesday were: Paul Wiedlin, M&W Packaging, seven graduates; Larry Dillon, Dana, four graduates; Cathy Brown, P&G, one graduate; Steve Leus, Lone Star Industries, four graduates; and Steve Marcus, Carpenter's Council, two graduates.

Many of the workers train in the group's facilities in Town Plaza. It contains a number of industrial machines for training.

The program is one of the largest technical training programs in the state.