Business notebook (Oct. 29)

Blanton selected to faculty of Trial Law Institute

SIKESTON -- Joseph C. Blanton, Jr., of Blanton, Nickell, Collins, Douglas & Hanschen, LLC in Sikeston, was selected to the faculty of the Trial Law Institute and spoke at the Litigation Counsel of America's (LCA) 2017 Fall Conference & Celebration of Fellows. Blanton's presentation was entitled "Professor Railton Was Right: Using the Lessons from Charlottesville." The conference was held Oct. 18–20 at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Bal Harbour, Fla. The conference is designed for Fellows of the LCA to enhance their trial skills, address practical issues and topics challenging litigators in today's changing legal environment. Blanton is a Senior Fellow of the LCA.

The Sikeston attorney graduated from the University of Virginia in 1982 and the University of Texas Law School in 1985. From 1985 to 1987 he served as law clerk for the Hon. Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr., (retired) U.S. District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, Illinois and Texas, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri and for the District of Columbia, as well as before the US Supreme Court and the Seventh, Eighth and DC Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals. He is a member of the Federal Practice Committee in the Eastern District Court of Missouri, Missouri State IOLTA Board and the Missouri Supreme Court Historical Society.

The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon evaluations of excellence, effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, and superior ethical reputation. The LCA seeks a high level of diversity in its composition and includes Women's and Diversity Initiatives. Established as a trial and appellate lawyer honorary society reflecting the American bar in the twenty-first century, the LCA represents the best in law among its membership.

For more information regarding the LCA or the 2017 Fall Conference & Celebration of Fellows, please contact Jessica Sullivan at 212.724.4128 or Jessica.Sullivan@litcounsel.org.

Howard joins Commerce as VP, relationship manager

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Timothy Woodard, president, Southeast Missouri region of Commerce Bank, recently announced Gary Howard, Jr. has joined Commerce as vice president and relationship manager. In his new position, Howard is responsible for business development and relationship management related to Commerce's full line of banking, borrowing and treasury management solutions for commercial clients.

"We are pleased to welcome Gary to our expanding commercial team in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area. With his expertise in commercial lending and treasury services, Gary will be an exceptional asset for the bank and its customers," said Woodard. "Gary is a true reflection of our commitment to hiring experienced professionals who are active in the communities we call home."

Howard has over 20 years of commercial banking experience and most recently worked at an area bank where he was the market president. He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Active in the community, Howard is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Cape, serves on the board of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Counseling Center Foundation and is a member of the Old Town Cape Economic Vitality Committee and the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau.

Missouri Delta Home Health named as a top agency

SIKESTON, Mo. – Missouri Delta Home Health today announced that it has been named a top agency of the 2017 HomeCare Elite®, a recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. For 12 years, HomeCare Elite has annually identified the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified agencies and highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall.

Missouri Delta Home Health, a local provider of home health services in Sikeston, is part of LHC Group, a national provider of post-acute care services with over 14,000 employees operating more than 400 locations in 27 states.

"We commend our team members at Missouri Delta Home Health for their hard work and dedication in achieving this honor," said Keith G. Myers, LHC Group chairman and CEO. "Quality patient care is the top priority at all LHC Group locations and providers. We are proud to have 217 locations – more than 70 percent of our home health agencies – earn HomeCare Elite recognition."

The ranking is developed by ABILITY® Network, a leading information technology company helping providers and payers simplify the administrative and clinical complexities of healthcare; and sponsored by DecisionHealth, publisher of Home Health Line and the Complete Home Health ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual.

HomeCare Elite agencies are determined by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, best practices implementation, patient experience (HHCAHPS), quality improvement and consistency, and financial health. In order to be considered, an agency must be Medicare-certified and have data for at least three outcomes in Home Health Compare. Out of 9,064 agencies considered, 2,268 are recognized on the 2017 HomeCare Elite winners list overall.

"The team at Missouri Delta Home Health has demonstrated an impressive ability to deliver great patient care," said Christine Lang, senior director for ABILITY Network. "This is due to the skill and dedication of their clinical professionals, as well as the proficiency and efforts of their quality team tracking, measuring and interpreting the data that supports the delivery of care. Together, they have earned this recognition as one of the top home care agencies in the country."

Zaxby's coming

to Sikeston

SIKESTON -- Zaxby's, a fast-casual chain known for its prepared-at-order chicken, will be coming soon to Sikeston.

The new restaurant will be located between Dairy Queen and Imo's/Rhodes on Main Street.

The hope is to start building the new business in the next few weeks and opening in early spring.