Hazel Bristow, nursing supervisor at Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau, has been named the center's "Employee of the Year."

Bristow was recognized by her co-workers as someone who cheerfully addresses problems and still finds time to help others.

She received the award from Martha Cassel, Cottonwood administrator, during the annual Employee Relations Day event. Bristow has been on the center's staff 10 years and has earned her registered nurse's license while working there.

Cottonwood, on campus of Southeast Missouri State University, is a Department of Mental Health program that provides residential psychiatric services to youth with emotional and behavioral problems.

Thomas M. Meyer of Thomas L. Meyer Realty Co. recently attended a dinner in Chicago to honor of Japan's Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

Obuchi visited Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago, where he discussed economic changes in Japan. He indicated there is a positive turnaround and that Japan is becoming stable again.

Obuchi's Chicago visit was sponsored by the Japan American Society of Chicago, Mid-West U.S.-Japan Association and the National Associatio of Japan America.

Meyer, chairman of the Missouri Association of Realtors Economic Development Council, also visited with Tom Foley, U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Sharon Williams, of Beltone Hearing Centers, 68 Doctors' Park in Cape Girardeau, has been elected to the board of directors of the Missouri Hearing Society (MHS).

Williams was elected to board during the group's recent convention at St. Louis.

The convention provided continuing educaiton classes on new technology in the market, advance fitting techniques and meeting patients needs.

Williams previously served on the board and had served as treasurer and secretary of the group.

Bob Ulrich of Shawneetown has been certified as a "Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Technician," the highest level of accreditation available in the field of concrete finishing, by Concrete Construction, a national concrete magazine.

Ulrich has more than 20 years of experience, including restorative, decorative and stamped projects, as well as work on large commercial and highway projects.

He is a member of Cement Masons Local 908 of Cape Girardeau and is employed in sales with SEMO Reading Mix, operating from its Jackson plant.

Correctional officer David Wild has been named "Correctional Officer of the Year" at the Tamms Correctional Center in Illinois.

Wild, who started his career with the Illinois Department of Corrections in 1984 at the Jacksonville Correctional Center, was honored at the Tamms facility during the state's recent "Correctional Officer Week." He transferred to Tamms last June.

Wild is a housing unit pod officer on the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift.

He received letters of commendation from Department of Corrections Director Donald N. Snyder Jr., and Tamms Correctional Center warden George Wellborn. Wild's name and photo will be displayed in the lobby or the Tamms Center for one year.

Wild will receive a plaque during a special recognition program in December.

Dr. Kent Griffith, a family physician with Regional Primary Care in Cape Girardeau, has completed continuing medical educaiton requirements to retain active membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFT), the national association of family doctors.

AAFP physicians must recertify by taking recertification exams every six years. Griffith has been an active member since 1983.

Dr. William P. Thorpe recently presented a paper, "Seven Years Experience with Laser Assisted Capsular Shift in Patients with Shoulder Instability," at the International Society for Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology and the Internationa Musculoskeletal Laser Society in Sydney Australia.

Thorpe, who was selected as one of four surgeons to represent America at the conference, also assisted in the teaching of several thousand surgeons from underprivileged countries in surgical and laser techniques.

Thorpe is a member of the Orthopaedic Association of Southeast Missouri, P.C., and serves as professor of medicine and team physician for Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University.

Kenny Rodgers of Morley, an independent trucking contractor for Roberts Express, has been recognized as a "Safety Contractor of the Year," by Roberts Express.

Rodgers has been affiliated with Robert Express, which has more than 1,300 contractors. Rodgers is one of 19 owner-operators honored, for safety, no moving violations or preventable accidents and on-time service.

Roberts Express, a transportation carrier, is a subsidiary of FDX Corp., a $16 billion holding company that provides comprehensive transportation and supply chain management solutions in the United States and Canada.