Bob Brison, vice president of marketing, and Bob Robins, fund representative of the Missouri Securities Investment Program in Cape Girardeau, have participated in a conference for local investment officials, "Investing Public Funds in the 21st Century," held in Jefferson City. It was sponsored by the Office of State Treasurer Bob Holden, Missouri Municipal League and Government Finance Officers Association of Missouri.

Brison and Robins attended sessions discussing uses of the Internet for public officials, the latest electronic commerce and cash management issues, and other panels and presentations that dealt with the latest topics in the investment community. The conference was offered to teach new techniques and innovations in the way public funds can be invested.

Pharmacists Dave Charlier and Ben Tally Jr. were honored at the national annual meeting of Medicap Pharmacies Inc., by being named to the President's Club. This award is granted to the Top 20 percent of Medicap Pharmacy franchisees nationwide who have displayed outstanding sales performance over the past year.

Chaulier of Cape Girardeau is employed at the Medicap Pharmacy in Scott City.

Tally of Cape Girardeau is employed at the Medicap Pharmacy in Cape Girardeau.

Medicap Pharmacies Inc. operates 165 pharmacies, open or under development, in 34 states. Most Medicap Pharmacies feature a drive-thru window, patient counseling and free delivery. Prescription medications account for 95 percent of company sales with the remaining 5 percent of sales coming from front-end over-the-counter products. It is expected that sales revenues for the country's 18th ranked drug chain will top $140 million this year.

David L. Hahs, CLU, CHFC and Christopher K. Wallace, both of Cape Girardeau, were honored at Northwestern Mutual Life dinner recently at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. Ronald Hahs, district agent.

David Hahs was recognized as the Agency Sales Leader for the company year ending May 31. He sold 193 life policies with $226,000 annual premium. He has been with the local agency since 1972 and a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Wallace received the "Bull O' The Woods" award for the highest percentage increase in sales for the first six months. He produced 367 percent of his quota. He has been a Northwestern agent for 1 1/2 years.

Northwestern Mutual has more individual life insurance in force than any other company. The local agency was founded in 1948 by M. Luther Hahs.

Since Michael Boyd arrived at University of Missouri Delta Research Center in Portageville in May, he's been wearing two hats.

In one guise, the graduate of Louisiana State University is an extension entomologist, scouting fields and taking calls for pests like the bollworm, southwestern corn borer, yellowstriped armyworm, thrips, spider mites, aphids, boll weevils and budworms.

He sets traps, takes counts and disseminates the information to producers, along with advice on how best to identify and manage the infestations in their fields. Recommended management techniques range from application of insecticides to the use of beneficial insects such a ladybird beetles and lacewings.

Boyd's other role at Delta Center involved research. "I have responsibility for several different crops," he said. "I'm doing research on rice, cotton and some corn. Most of our research is on cotton right now."

He studies early season cotton pests like thrips, midseason ones like plant bugs and late season invaders such as bollworms. Much of his current research centers on the evaluation of different insecticides to combat these pests.

Michael H. Cooper has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Physicians Regional Network, L.C., headquartered in Cape Girardeau.

PRN is a physician-owned and operated messenger model independent practice association representing more than two dozen medical practices and nearly 80 physicians serving Cape Girardeau and the surrounding region. The mission of PRN is to provide high-quality health care at a competitive price while protecting the integrity of the physician/patient relationship.

Cooper has a strong background in health care practice consulting, capital formation and integrated health system development. An attorney and accountant by training, he served from 1991 until last year as executive vice president and general counsel of OccuSystems Inc., in Dallas. In that position he was responsible for all legal matters affecting OccuSystems, developed OccuSystems' managed care strategies and was involved in capital development for the company. He also served as OccuSystems' chief operating officer and was responsible for contract negotiations and network expansion.

Cooper earned an undergraduate degree in political science at Baylor University and his law degree at Baylor University School of Law in Waco, Texas. He also received a mater's degree from Boston University School of Law, and is licensed as a certified public accountant.

He and his wife, Monte, have three children.