lm20.3 reinstall cannot get apps to 'add to panel'

[sadhu]

I have two panels; the bottom one contains a menu, the window list, and 'system tray'. The side panel contains a menu (on the bottom) and the panel launchers in the middle or center. I dragged it there from the bottom, where it appeared originally,

I open the menu, right-click an application, select 'Add to panel' --- and a new 'panel launchers' instance opens in the bottom panel, inside or adjacent to the system tray. And this new launchers group DOES NOT contain the app. I selected.

If I repeat the process, I end up with two panel launchers next to the system tray, and neither contains the desired app.

I've never seen this behavior before. What's going on and how to I add launchers to the panel launcher applet ?


Thanks
-Sadhu