From Staff Reports
Eight people have been elected to two-year terms on the University of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County, said program director Sarah Denkler.
New extension members are Jane Arnold, Jerrica Fox and Matthew Sparks. Elected for a second term are Jack Altman, Marissa Willcut Day, Laura French Dowd, Betty Schalk and Pam Sullivan.
They were selected from a field of 14 candidates, Denkler said.
A retired registered nurse, Arnold is active at Sacred Heart Church and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars 6477. She volunteers her time as a member of the Family and Community Education, the Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners and the Poplar Bluff Garden Club. Arnold is a former 4-H leader and member. Her hobbies include gardening and canning.
Fox is executive director of Downtown Poplar Bluff.Fox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and banking from Arkansas State University.She is director and treasurer of Altrusa International of Poplar Bluff, a member of St. Anne's Society and a member and parish council representative at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.She considers herself to be a lifelong resident of Poplar Bluff.
Sparks is an avid supporter of Butler County and its cities and towns.Sparks is a third generation business owner in Butler County. His grandparents owned and operated a grocery store at Hilliard, Mo., for 60 years. His father owned and operated Poplar Bluff Small Engines for 30 years. Sparks has been in housing rentals for 18 years, before re-opening his father's business. He has been a Kiwanas member for seven years, where he has served as board member and president.
Altman is the current president of the Butler County Fair Board. Altman is a member of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team and the SEMO Kennel Club. He is married and has two grandchildren. His hobbies include woodcarving.
Day, who lives on County Road 462, is an office manager for the Pike Creek Sewer District office. Day graduated from Neelyville High School and attended classes at Three Rivers College. She attends the Living Word Baptist Church and plays on the church volleyball team. She and her husband, Chris, have two daughters and a son. She enjoys attending her children's activities at Neelyville School and at Xtreme Gymnastics. Day tries to help in the community whenever possible.
A retired school counselor for Poplar Bluff R-1 Schools, Dowd is past president of the Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners and is current chair of the beautification project at the corner of Westwood Boulevard and PP Highway. She is a member of the American Rose Society. She volunteers at the Butler County Fair, Ag Expo and youth gardening activities in schools.
Schalk, of County Road 534, is a past officer of the extension council. Vice president of the Butler County Fair Board, Schalk serves as superintendent of the home economics and youth departments. Schalk is a member of the Rombauer General Baptist Church and Children's Church director. She is the club leader for the Rombauer Rascals 4-H Club.
Schalk is the past state president of the Missouri Association for Family and Community Education (Extension Homemakers) and serves at the national level. She is a member of the Show-Me Star and the F.U.N. FCE Club. She and her husband, Tom, are members of the Bluff City Twirlers, where she serves as president. She volunteers at the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group meetings and is a Master Gardener.
Sullivan is an agent for Lisa Reynolds Insurance. She graduated from Neelyville High School and has an Associate of Arts degree from Three Rivers College. She was a committee chairperson for the 30th Annual Women Aware event and currently is a boardmember with Women Aware. Married to Shane Sullivan for 12 years, they have a 9-year-old son, Jayden.
Council members are volunteers responsible for maintaining the University of Missouri Extension Center at 614 Lindsay Ave. and for planning programs with the faculty and staff in Butler County.
According to extension council Chair Brandon Woolard, regional specialists and paraprofessionals for the University of Missouri system provide educational programs to Butler County citizens in several areas. Programs are available on site in the fields of horticulture, 4-H youth development, human development and nutrition programs for youth. Also available from the regional faculty are agronomy and business development.