Newsmakers

Community
Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks announced several new board members. Tom Rankin of Rankin Co. will serve as president-elect for 2005. Rankin, who has served on the BCFO board for three years, will take over leadership in 2006. New board members are Dorothy Gardner, vice president of finance at Springfield Business Journal; Dr. Walter Gaska, president of St. John’s Clinic; Dr. Meera Scarrow, Ob-Gyn with St. John’s; and Katie Vance, owner of McAlister’s Deli.
The Rotary Club of Springfield North announced its officers for the 2005-2006 year. They are: Joe Stokes, president; Scott Tumlin, president-elect; Marvin Johnson, secretary; Gary Wells, treasurer; Jim Dow, director of community service; Polly Dross, director of club service; Lowell Miller, director of vocational service; Dan Igou, director of international service; David Brown, sergeant-at-arms; and Allen Kunkel, past president.
Tri-Lakes Family YMCA promoted Jen Hewitt from senior program director to branch executive director. Hewitt began with the YMCA in Wichita, Kan., in 1995 as a sports program coordinator. As executive director, Hewitt is responsible for Tri-Lakes branch’s operations and growth.

Economy
Sallie Hemenway, an 11-year veteran of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, led a Community Development Block Grant Boot Camp in Washington, D.C. The program is designed to provide staff from different state agencies basic information on program requirements, including federal laws and regulations that govern the program. Hemenway has served as DED’s director of community development since 2002.

Education
Evangel students Laura Bledsoe and Stephanie Walters were elected to the governing board of the Student-Missouri State Teachers Association for the 2004-2005 school year. Bledsoe, majoring in early childhood and elementary education and minoring in music, is president. Walters, an elementary education major and Bible minor, is secretary.
Joseph Hulgus, assistant professor of counseling for Southwest Missouri State University, received a consulting agreement for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers/After-School Program – Research and Program Evaluation Consultation. The award, in the amount of $7,778, will be used to study the CLICK program, which provides after-school tutoring, recreation and enrichment to at-risk kids. Hulgus is the program evaluator.
Springfield Public Schools gave its January Starcatcher award to summer school and records secretary Dorothy McElveen. McElveen has worked in the district for 30 years. She began as a part-time bus driver and elementary clerical assistant and later worked as a secretary for the student services department. She began working in the summer school and records office in 1990. The award is presented monthly to an employee who demonstrates a commitment to the mission, belief and vision of the district.

Health
Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar added Dr. Patricia L. Bell to its staff. Bell, a specialist in otolaryngology – the treatment of the ears, nose and throat – is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and the American Medical Association.