A corporal in the Missouri State Highway Patrol with long-standing ties to Northwest Missouri has been promoted.

Corporal Gara N. Howard has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and designated zone commander of Zone 3. Zone 3 serves Gentry and Harrison Counties.

Prior to her promotion, she was the assistant zone supervisor of Zone 5, in St. Joseph. Sergeant Howard is a 16- year veteran of the Patrol. She grew up in Savannah and graduated from Missouri Western State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.