Oct. 9, 2008
For immediate release

For more information ,contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge, (573)265-2993

14 Volunteers to be Honored
At MRPC's Annual Dinner Nov. 12 in St. Robert

ST. JAMES—Fourteen local leaders—including two youths—who have served the Meramec Region will be honored for their community service efforts Nov. 12 during Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s 2008 Annual Dinner, to be held at the St. Robert Community Center at St. Robert. Those volunteers to be recognized for community contributions and volunteer efforts include:

• John Lucas of Caledonia, nominated by Kraig Bone, MRPC commissioner for emergency management;

• Sharon W. Wulff of Maries County, nominated by Ray Schwartze, Maries County presiding commissioner;

• Roger Olney of Waynesville, nominated by Waynesville Mayor Cliff Hammock;

• Stan Podorski of Dent County, nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles;

• Debra Adkins of St. Robert, nominated by St. Robert Mayor Pro-Tem Theresa Cook; and

• Robert and Mary Jane Tessaro of St. James, nominated by St. James Mayor Dennis Wilson.

One award will be given to an Outstanding Volunteer on an MRPC-Related Committee, and that award will go to Jerry Wolfe of Osage County, nominated by Osage County Presiding Commissioner Russell Scheulen.

Three agency representative will be recognized for their work with local government. They are:

• Therese Roberson, retired Vienna city clerk, nominated by Vienna Mayor Les Darr Jr.;

• Cathy Coffman, retired from USDA Rural Development, nominated by Potosi Mayor T. R. Dudley; and

• Kent VanLanduyt, retired from the Missouri Department of Transportation, nominated by Phelps County Presiding Commissioner Randy Verkamp.

Two youth will be recognized for their volunteer efforts and community involvement. They are:

• Kathryn Hunt of Dent County, nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles; and

• Samantha Kelly of St. Robert, nominated by St. Robert Mayor Pro-Tem Theresa Cook.

The Eugene E. Northern award, the highest honor given by MRPC for volunteerism and community service, will also be named at the dinner.

MRPC will be celebrating 39 years of service with this Annual Dinner, which is hosted by the city of St. Robert.

The public is invited to attend the annual dinner in St. Robert. The evening will begin with a reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring hors doeuvres and drinks. Dinner, prepared by the Waynesville Technical School’s Culinary Arts Class, will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The program and awards presentation will follow the dinner and is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Joe Driskill, executive director of the Leonard Wood Institute, will be the guest speaker. Cost of the event is $22.50 per person. Reservations can be made by calling MRPC at (573) 265-2993.

MRPC is a voluntary council of local governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Officers are Chairman Laura Antolak of Phelps County, Vice President Russell Scheulen of Osage County, Secretary Gary Brown of Salem and Treasurer James Morgan of Crocker. A professional staff, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, transportation planning, housing assistance, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans, strategic planning and other services to member communities upon request.

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