Volunteers from Eight Counties to be Honored at MRPC's Annual Dinner

ST. JAMES—Sixteen local leaders—including four youths— from around the Meramec Region will be honored for their community service efforts Nov. 9 during Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s 2006 Annual Dinner, to be held at the Stone Hill Winery Pavilion in Hermann. Eight volunteers will be honored for their outstanding contributions to their communities; three elected officials will be recognized for their efforts while four youth will be honored for their volunteer efforts and community involvmenet.

Those volunteers to be recognized for community contributions and volunteer efforts include:

• Tonya Price of Belle, nominated by Glenn Dressendofer, Maries County commissioner;

• Nancy Moenster of Salem, nominated by Gary Brown, mayor of Salem;

• Kittie Robertson of Rolla, nominated by John Butz, Rolla city administrator;

• John. L. Baxter of Bland, nominated by Bruce Sassmann, mayor of Bland;

• Toni Nichols of Crocker, nominated by James Morgan, mayor of Crocker;

• Donald Olds of Rolla, nominated by Charles “Bud” Dean, Phelps County commissioner;

• Marv Luten of St. Robert, nominated by Theresa Cook, St. Robert city alderperson; and

• Pam Schroeder of Washington County, nominated by Robert Reed, Washington County presiding commissioner;

Those elected officials to be recognized for their local government and community contributions include:

• Mayor Norbert Englert of Hermann, nominated by Jay Gourley, Hermann economic development director;

• Osage County Clerk Wanda Bunch, nominated by Russell Scheulen, presiding commissioner of Osage County; and

• St. Robert City Alderperson Todd Williams, nominated by Therese Cook, St. Robert city alderperson;

Youth to be recognized for their volunteer efforts and community involvement include:

• Chip Lange of Cuba, nominated by Lester Murdock, Cuba alderman:

• Mandy Scheulen of Loose Creek, nominated by Jerry Wolfe, Osage County commissioner;

• Laura Arrington of St. Robert, nominated by Therese Cook, St. Robert city alderperson; and

• Zach Happel of Salem, nominated by Jim Biggs, Dent County presiding commissioner.

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 37 years of service with this Annual Dinner, which is hosted by the city of Hermann and several Hermann-area businesses.

The public is invited to attend the annual dinner in Hermann. The evening will begin with a reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring exhibits, finger food and a cash bar. Dinner 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. Cost of the event is $18.50 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 Robert “Bob” Reed of Washington County, Vice Chairman Laura Antolak of Phelps County, Secretary Russell Scheulen of Osage County and Treasurer Gary Brown of Salem. 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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***Note to editors: Information on each award recipient follows should you wish to localize the article.***