Awards and Achievements

Government

Springfield City Manager Tom Finnie received the credentialed manager designation from the International City/County Management Association through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program. Eligible individuals must have significant experience as senior management executives in local government, have a degree in public administration or a related field, and they must have demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity, lifelong learning and professional development.

Health Care

Six individuals were elected to the Skaggs Community Health Center's board of trustees. Those individuals and their professional affiliations are: Nita Jane Ayres, Branson West, president and chief executive officer of Yocum Silver Mine Inc. and broker with Silver Mine Realty; Larry C. Featherston, Forsyth, senior vice president and senior lending officer of Peoples Bank of the Ozarks in Kimberling City; Thomas Lewis, Kimberling City, operator of Kimberling Heights Motel Resort and cabinetmaker with Fairchild's Custom Cabinets in Lampe; Alan |quot|Chip|quot| Mason, Branson, director of corporate affairs for Silver Dollar City; Dennis G. Newkirk, Branson, certified financial planner and president of Newkirk |amp| Co. LLC; and Becky Roberts, Forsyth, Taney County treasurer. With more than 100 members, the board of trustees is the governing body of Skaggs Community Health Center.

Law

The Missouri Bar recently elected its 2002-03 board of governors. Three area attorneys were re-elected to new two-year terms on the board: Richard J. Collins, Joplin; C. Ronald Baird, Springfield; and Don M. Henry, West Plains. Jeffrey T. Davis, Springfield, and Aaron W. Farber, Neosho, were elected to additional terms on the bar's Young Lawyers Section Council.

Literacy

The Springfield Council of the Inter-national Reading Association awarded David Harrison his second Literary Award in recognition of his efforts to increase literacy in the community. Harrison was instrumental in the formation of Reading Roundup, a community-based book drive to help the local school district get its libraries' offerings up-to-date.

Lodging

The Best Western Music Capital Inn in Branson received the Best Western Chairman's Award, the hotel chain's highest honor for outstanding quality standards. To qualify, Best Western hotels must have perfect scores on a 1,000-point scale for cleanliness and maintenance inspections. The Best Western Music Capital Inn is owned by Myer Hotels.

Philanthropy

In recognition of the outgoing members of the Missouri General Assembly, the Springfield-Branson Regional Salute to Missouri Legislators coalition presented a $500 tribute gift to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri.

Printing

MWM Dexter Inc. of Aurora received a certificate of merit in the calendars category at the 2002 Premier Print Awards, a worldwide competition presented by the Printing Industries of America Inc. The company submitted a custom full-color calendar for Einstein Brothers Bagels of Golden, Colo.