Award goes to Leslie County volunteer fire departments
December 2, 2011 by clackey
Leslie County’s volunteer fire departments earned the region’s PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award. Back row, left to right: Bonnell Bentley, Magistrate; Russell Brock, Magistrate; Brown Sizemore, Magistrate; and Angie Muncy, Solid Waste/PRIDE Coordinator. Front row, left to right: Mark Davis, PRIDE; Judge-Executive Jimmy Sizemore; John Newell, Fire Chief, Thousandsticks VFD; Leona Kilburn, representing Wooton VFD; Lawrence Duff, Fire Chief, Stinnett VFD; Michael Joseph, Fire Chief, Cutshin VFD; Ralph Caudill, Fire Chief, Hyden VFD. Not pictured: Coon Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
For their long-standing commitment to leading local cleanups, Leslie County’s six volunteer fire departments have earned southern and eastern Kentucky’s PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award.
The award was presented to the Leslie County Fire Chiefs Association, which represents the six fire departments.
The fire chiefs are Johnny Kilburn of Wooton VFD, Michael Joseph of Cutshin VFD, Ronnie Melton of Coon Creek VFD, John Newell of Thousandsticks VFD, Lawrence Duff of Stinnett VFD, and Ralph Caudill of Hyden VFD.
“We appreciate you for volunteering to pick up litter with PRIDE and for inspiring others to get out there with you,” said PRIDE’s Mark Davis, who presented certificates to each fire department. “It really shows when neighbors take pride in their community and enjoy spending time together on special projects, like a cleanup.”
“The volunteer fire departments have been a very active part of every spring and fall cleanup since I came on board with PRIDE in October 1997,” said Angie Muncy, who is the county’s Solid Waste Coordinator and PRIDE Co-Coordinator. She nominated the Fire Chiefs Association for the PRIDE award.
“As volunteer fire fighters, they already give so much to the community,” Muncy said. “I am very fortunate to have them give their time twice a year or whenever I need them. They represent PRIDE well.”
Muncy said each fire department organizes the PRIDE cleanup events in the areas they serve. The fire fighters volunteer to pick up litter during the events, and they invite community members to help.
The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative, which promotes environmental education and cleanup efforts in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. With corporate sponsorship from TECO Coal, WYMT-TV airs commercials about each PRIDE Volunteer of the Month.
“Volunteers are the backbone of PRIDE,” said Congressman Hal Rogers, who co-founded PRIDE. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our volunteers. More than 360,000 volunteers have helped with PRIDE cleanup and education projects. We want to thank TECO Coal for helping PRIDE give these generous people the recognition they deserve.”
“Please tell us about PRIDE volunteers who impressed you because we want to thank them,” Davis said. “You can call our office, toll free, at 888-577-4339 or go online to submit a nomination for the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award.”
###
