Faces and Places

Laurie Drinkard, a physical therapist assistant and certified lymphedema therapist at Neu Physical Therapy in Lawrence, attended a Lymphedema conference “Shaping the Delivery of Lymphedema Care,” in Canada. The conference focused on assessment of clinically complex lymphedema cases, integrating tools used in the diagnosis, differentiating from a variety of other peripheral edemas, relations to malignancies, pain management and palliative treatment.

The First Kansas Bank is honoring William Lebert on his retirement. A reception will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 1 at the American Legion, 204 N. Main, in Hoisington. A brief program will be given at 6 p.m. Lebert is a former executive of Lawrence National Bank.

Debra Black of University National Bank has been named new president of the Lawrence Junior Achievement board of directors. Black succeeds Karen Schuyler of Astaris.

Other officers are Brenda McFadden, vice president-finance; Roger Scott, vice president-program; and Dee Bisel, secretary.

New board members are Todd Harris of Peoples Bank, Deborah Thompson of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Jerry Magnuson of Express Personnel and Victoria Purvis of Sauer Danfoss.

Junior Achievement is an international nonprofit organization that offers business education programs to young people in various age groups.

In Lawrence, J.A. programs are taught by volunteers to about 3,500 youths in 17 schools.

Brandy Holmes, Heather Cafferty and Hal Van Slyck have joined Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., Topeka. Holmes is a tenant/landlord counselor. Cafferty accepted the position of housing division manager. Van Slyck is the statewide homebuyer program manager. HCCI is a statewide, nonprofit agency that provides counseling and education on credit, debt repayment, budgeting, landlord-tenant and homeownership issues. It has offices in Lawrence and Topeka.

Scott McMichael has joined the firm of Aul & Hatfield Appraisals as an associate real estate appraiser. Since joining the company, McMichael has been involved in the appraisal of residential, commercial and income properties.

Bruce Roberts has been named chief information technology officer for the executive branch of Kansas Government. Roberts also serves as director of the Division of Information Systems and Communications in the Department of Administration. Both positions previously had been held by Don Heiman, who retired in February.

Roberts has been with the Department of Administration, in DISC, for 17 years, serving as deputy director, financial officer, fiscal analyst and planning consultant. In January, the Center for Digital Government ranked Kansas No. 1 in the nation for state government information technology. Roberts also helped guide the state’s Y2K conversion.

He began his state service in 1978 in the Division of Post Audit as a performance auditor. Roberts received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas University.

Steve Curry and Brian Pickel recently received their certification as medical equipment delivery technicians from the American Association of Homecare. They are employed with Criticare Home Health Services, Lawrence.

Janet Horner, Lawrence, has been promoted to senior administrative assistant at Lawrence-based Prosoco. She serves as point-person for the company’s executive leadership. Her duties include supervising other administrative personnel, planning meetings, coordinating projects and working with Prosoco’s general counsel.

Horner previously worked as a legal assistant and in accounts receivable in Lawrence businesses. She is a 1997 graduate of Kansas University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Cinda Garrison, owner of Prairie Patches, completed the floral design class and received a diploma from the Kansas School of Floral Design. She also attended a seminar “TRENDspotting” and a roundtable “Impressing with Imprintables” at the New York Stationery show.

Honors and awards

Sue Buckley has been named the first Network Woman of the Year by the Kansas Executive Express Network. Buckley is an account executive for KMC Telecom, Topeka, where she has been the top salesperson for the past two years.

She began her career as director of student programs at Emporia State University. She was director of student organizations, programs and leadership at the University of Northern Colorado. In 1988, she became the manager of student programs at Kansas University, where she worked for 12 years.

Diane Niehoff, Baldwin, received the Community Service award from the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Niehoff, a participant in the 2002 Kansas Sampler Festival, was picked for her efforts to help preserve and sustain rural culture in the area. The festival was May 4-5 in Independence.

Three area women received awards in the Kansas Press Women’s annual Communications Contest. The awards were announced May 3 at the organization’s spring conference in Topeka.

Carol Francis, Lawrence, owner of Creative Communications, received first- and second-place awards in the speeches category.

Nora Cleland, Baldwin, a free-lancer for Farm Talk magazine, received first place in continuing coverage or unfolding news; second place in feature story, publication for general or specialized circulation; third place in special articles in agriculture/agribusiness; and an honorable mention in news reporting, publication for general or specialized circulation.

Lou Ann Thomas, Oskaloosa, received first-place awards in feature story for publication of general or specialized circulation, humorous personal columns and personal column for radio or television; second place in essays; and third place for feature story for nondaily newspaper.

Coming events

The Farm Service Agency is soliciting public comments on the Conservation Reserve Program and Emergency Conservation Program during a meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 21 at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

The comments will be considered in preparation of the draft programmatic environmental impact statement for CRP and ECP.

“The purpose of the environmental impact statement is to provide USDA decision-makers and the public with an analysis of the environmental benefits and potential effects of the CRP and ECP, Bill Fuller, state executive director for the Kansas Farm Service Agency, said. “It can help USDA officials review and improve current policies and achievements.”

Written, electronic or oral comments may be submitted by the close of business on May 30. Direct comments and requests for draft PEIS information packages to: CRP PEIS, P.O. Box 6830, Falls Church, Va. 22046-6830, by e-mail to CRP@mangi.com or by phone at (877) 271-3842.

For more information, contact Don Steck at (202) 690-0224.