The University of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County elected five people from 11 on this year’s ballot.
The winners are Toni Stoner, Melody Dolle-Ducote, BriAnne Riggins, Natalie Butler and David Leonard. They will each serve two-year terms, said Jennifer Williams, extension engagement specialist.
Council members are volunteers responsible for maintaining the center at 614 Lindsay Ave. and for planning programs with the faculty and staff in Butler County.
According to Extension Council Chair Lanny Corcimiglia, 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.
Stoner is a licensed practical nurse at the John J. Pershing VA. She is a member of the Poplar Bluff Eastern Star, previous president of the Poplar Bluff Altrusa Club, previous vice president of the Shrinettes organization and current president of the VA Employee Association.
Dolle-Ducote is the residence opportunity and self sufficiency coordinator for the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority. She is also secretary for the Poplar Bluff Non-Profit Alliance, and a member of Westside Church. Dolle-Ducote volunteers with Hearts for Rescue and Westside Church. She has continued memberships in the following Tarkio College Alumni groups: Tau Kappa Epsilon Rho Iota Chapter and Kappa Gamma Chi. Dolle-Ducote’s interests include photography, animal rescue and children. She has three children, Meredith of Sarasota, Florida, Nicholas of Dallas, Texas and William of Cape Girardeau.
She said she “loves working with their community partners to help housing residents achieve their goals.”
Riggins is a registered dietitian. She works with the John J. Pershing Food Pantry and attends Fellowship General Baptist Church. She currently is the treasurer for the extension council.
Butler is a 2007 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. After graduation she traveled with her husband, Kenneth, as he spent time in the army as a military police officer. Although she got to spend some time in amazing places like Hawaii, she returned home to Poplar Bluff in 2018. Butler and her husband of 15 years have two children together, Gabriel, 13, and Elena, 10, and five pets, including three dogs, Miesha, Piper and Rock, one lizard, Spike, and one cat, Meow meow.
Butler and her family love to spend time outdoors in local parks and trails. When she isn’t at work or hiking the trails, she can be found her at her children’s soccer games, where she has previously assisted in coaching their teams.
Butler has worked at FosterAdopt Connect for three and a half years. She started serving foster and adoptive families through the Sammy’s Window program and has transitioned this year to a new role helping aged out foster youth through the Community Connections Youth Project. Butler said this a huge passion for her as she is an adoptee. She works with the most at-risk youth, assisting them in housing, employment, mental health and more.
Leonard is a district technician for Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District. He coaches youngsters’ baseball. Leonard is assisting MU Extension with Ag Connect. He does information education with local schools about soil erosion. Leonard is a SCMCAA Policy Council Board Member representing the Neelyville Center.