Awards and Achievements

Broadcasting

KTTS 94.7 FM is named one of five finalists for The Academy of Country Music's Station of the Year. The station is owned by Journal Broadcast Group. The winner will be announced May 21 on CBS.

Business brokers

Scott Axon, CBI, became a member of Sunbelt's Million Dollar Sales Club for selling more than $1 million in local business last year. He is a business broker with Sunbelt Business Advisors of the Ozarks.

Community

United Way of the Ozarks recently recognized American National Property and Casualty Company's 2002-2003 fundraising campaign with the Corporate Humanitarian Award.

Five southwest Missouri volunteers received the 2002-2003 Lieutenant Governor's Service Award. Honored were Joyce Bremer, Purdy; Jeni Jaso, Springfield; Kenneth Knauer, Springfield; Michael Quin, Springfield; and Maria Todd, Blue Eye.

The Springfield Police Department received a $3,000 donation from Burk Erectors Inc. for purchasing a new canine and its equipment for the Narcotics Task Force.

Construction

Larry Snyder & Co. celebrated its 25th anniversary. Founded in Joplin, the construction and general contracting company also has offices in Springfield and Branson.

Education

Two Springfield students were nominated by Sen. Christopher S. Bond to the U.S. service academies. Elizabeth Brockman, a senior at Glendale High School, and Jason Highley, a senior at Kickapoo High School, were nominated to the Air Force Academy. The nominations make the students candidates for acceptance into the program, and academy officials will select students to attend this summer.

Michael Carlie, professor of sociology and anthropology at Southwest Missouri State University, has written an online book, "Into the Abyss: A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs." The book provides insight into why gangs are formed and how to prevent gang activity.

Carol Anne Costabile-Heming, associate professor of modern and classical languages at SMSU, was selected to participate in a German language education leadership program, which deals with concerns about declining enrollment in the study of the German language.