Awards & Recognition

Southeast Missouri

David and Elizabeth Michel of Down to Earth Satellite Systems in Cape Girardeau, recently attended DISH Network's Teams Summit 2001, held at Point South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, Ariz. The fourth annual conference provided educational seminars and workshops, featuring demonstrations on new technologies. The Michels also had an opportunity to hear Billy Crystal discuss his movie, "61," now playing on HBO.

Country Mart, which expanded its Marble Hill location in 1999, has been honored as the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Country Mart employs more than 100 people, said store manager Rodney Crites, who accepted the award. Leroy Minson of Bollinger County Builders Supply received the Business Service Award. Outstanding community service awards were presented to Eva Dunn and Joe Russell.

Bobby Barks has been elected president of the Missouri Professional Auctioneers Association (MPAA). Barks, owner of Rainbow Auction of Jackson, and his wife, Claudea, attended the (MPAA) Spring Convention, held recently in Lake Ozark, Mo. Barks also holds an Illinois auctioneer's license and is a member of the Illinois State Auctioneers Association. The company conducts a weekly auction in a barn near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 61.

Tammy Elias of Elias Ace Hardware in Cape Girardeau, recently attended the Ace Hardware Corp. spring convention held at New Orleans. Elias was among the more than 18,000 guests at the convention which featured business seminars, displays of the latest in home improvement products and new concepts in merchandising. While there, she met longtime Ace Hardware spokesman and former National Football League coach John Madden. Ace Hardware, founded in 1924, has more than 5,100 stores in 50 states and 68 countries.

Patricia Manion has been named to The Western and Southern Life Insurance Co.'s Medallion Club. Manion is a sales representative in Western-Southern Life's Farmington office.

Mary Martin of Allergy Partners in Cape Girardeau, has received a diploma from the National Asthma & Respiratory Training Centre designating Martin as a certified asthma educator. To receive certification, Martin had to complete a six-month study course in asthma care, and pass a two-day test, which was given at Duke University in Raleigh-Durhan, N.C.

Amy Polhamus of Ryan's Family Steak House in Cape Girardeau has received the President's Club Award for the year 2000. Polhamus, an Ohio native, joined Ryan's in 1994 and has managed the local restaurant since it opened about five years ago. She became an operating partner in 1998. Ryan's Steak Houses Inc., operates 308 restaurants in 22 states.

Southeast Missouri Hospital recognized 237 employees for a total of 2,870 years of service at the hospital's 31th Employee Awards Banquet, held recently at the University Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Commended for 40 years of service was Mabel Rubel, a unit secretary on 4-East. Recognized for 35 years of service were Lucelle Ourth, environmental services, and Carol Swan, accounting. Honored for 30 years of service with Southeast were Merlin Mouser, food and nutrition, and Marilyn Schott, RN, patient auditor. Twenty-five year pins went to 14 employees.

Ross Farms Trucking Inc. of Kennett has been presented a Silver award by Great West Casualty Co., as part of the 2000 National Fleet Safety Awards Program. The Fleet Safety Award Program drew more than 475 entries from across the country. Carriers were recognized for achieving a low preventable accident per million miles of operation. Each carrier's results were compared to results of similar carriers.

Donna Domian, investment representative at the Cape Girardeau office of Edward Jones, has been named to the President's Club of the American Funds Group. Domian, who has been with Edwards Jones 17 years, was honored for superior service to investors in the Cape Girardeau area, and for continued financial expertise and dedication to principles of sound mutual fund and variable annuity investing.

Sabrina Tate, recreation coordinator II/golf division for the Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course, recently became a member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). In recent years, Tate has attended PGA/USGA supervising and delegating, golf management and golf rules workshop conferences. Tate offers golf rules and etiquette classes for golfers. She also offers private lessons on the golf swing. Tate has worked for t@Subhead - briefs:he City of Cape Girardeau six years.

Dr. Tom Critchlow of Cape Girardeau was featured speaker recently at the National Physician Seminar on Cosmetic Services held at Kansas City, Mo. Critchlow lectured on cosmetic vein treatments, photo facial skin rejuvenation, collagen and botox injections. Also speaking at the seminar were Dr. Eliot Battle, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Jemshed A. Khan, clinical professor of ophthalmology at Kansas University School of Medicine. Critchlow is a general and vascular surgeon in practice at Cape Girardeau. He is the medical director of the Elan Esthetic Centre.

Dr. Richard L. Kies, a Cape Girardeau ophthalmologist of Kies Eye Center, has been certified by Alcon Summit Autonomous to train other surgeons on the refractive surgery known as Lasik, using an SVS Apex-Plus/Infinity LS excimer laser. Kies was required to complete extensive training in refractive procedures and undergo testing to gain certification. He has been performing refractive surgery since 1992.