BALLWIN - A former Sikeston resident was appointed to the Missouri Training and Employment Council by Gov. Matt Blunt.
Neal E. Boyd, 31 of Ballwin, will serve on the Council. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on Aug. 28, 2008.
An associate with Aflac, Boyd holds a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Southeast Missouri State University, bachelor's degree in music from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master's degree in management from the University of Phoenix.
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Department of Economics and Finance in the Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University will host a conference April 20 on economic issues of importance.
Research conducted this academic year by faculty in Southeast's Department of Economics and Finance will be presented. Topics to be discussed will include the cost of high school completion in the region, why completion rates are higher in Southeast Missouri; and the return on an investment in education in rural versus urban Missouri. Also to be covered will be a public choice analysis of ethanol; an examination of the housing market; and a measurement of the quality of life in rural Missouri. The conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Glenn Auditorium of Dempster Hall. The conference is free and open to the public.
CAPE GIRARDEAU - Doctors Gregg S. Hallman and J. Russell Felker of Cape Girardeau Urology Associates Inc., have recently received certification to teach robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgical techniques for the treatment of prostate cancer. They were selected as proctors for Intuitive Surgical, the company that manufactures the da Vinci Surgical System. With this certification, Hallman and Felker will have the opportunity to travel throughout the country to help surgeons learn enhanced robotic surgical techniques.
SIKESTON - Katherine Smith, R.N.D.O.N. has been chosen Sikeston Health Care's March employee of the month.
Smith attended St. Mary's College in O'Fallon, receiving her degree in 1985. An employee of Systems Services since 2003, she has worked for several of the Systems Services long term care nursing facilities, transferring to Sikeston Health Care in November 2005. Smith's philosophy is the elderly have given their lifetime and much to society and she feels it is a privilege to give back to them the care and attention they richly deserve. She thanks God for being a part of her career choice.