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Wall of fame: Portraits of the past Male and Female Winston First Citizens Award recipients line the wall of the multipurpose room at Winston Middle School during the Winston First Citizens’ Awards Banquet on Monday.
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ENLARGE
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<b>Top row. Left to right:</b> Stevens, Male First Citizen. Currie, Female First Citizen. Smith, Student First Citizen. Geyer, Student First Citizen.
<b>Bottom row. Left to right:</b> C. Kerns, Civic Award. K. Hill, Humanitarian Award. D. Hill, Humanitarian Award. V. Kerns, Civic Award. |
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<b>Left photo: Stevens:</b> Winston Mayor Rex Stevens reacts after discovering he’s been named the 2006 Male First Citizen of the Year Monday.
<b>Right photo: Currie:</b> Valynn Currie accepts her award as the 2006 Female First Citizen during the Winston First Citizens’ Banquet on Monday. |
WINSTON — Brother and sister Rex Stevens and Valynn Currie have each taken on numerous roles in their community in hopes of making it a better place.
On Monday, Winston’s residents honored them for their efforts.
Stevens and Currie received the 2006 Male and Female First Citizens Awards at the Winston-Dillard Area Chamber of Commerce’s 28th annual First Citizens’ Awards Banquet.
“I enjoy serving,” Currie said. “I enjoy getting out there and doing things, making special things happen.”
Stevens, 53, said he thinks Winston is a wonderful place to live. He and his sister are Douglas High School graduates.
Stevens, who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, has been mayor of Winston since 2000. He has helped bring about the new water pumping station, the paving of Lookingglass Road, a new fire station, the Celtic celebration and bluegrass festival, said Ken Harrison, last year’s Male First Citizen.
Harrison presented Stevens his award in front of nearly 100 people at Winston Middle School Monday night. Stevens is the father of four children and is married to Gail Stevens.
On Monday, Winston’s residents honored them for their efforts.
Stevens and Currie received the 2006 Male and Female First Citizens Awards at the Winston-Dillard Area Chamber of Commerce’s 28th annual First Citizens’ Awards Banquet.
“I enjoy serving,” Currie said. “I enjoy getting out there and doing things, making special things happen.”
Stevens, 53, said he thinks Winston is a wonderful place to live. He and his sister are Douglas High School graduates.
Stevens, who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, has been mayor of Winston since 2000. He has helped bring about the new water pumping station, the paving of Lookingglass Road, a new fire station, the Celtic celebration and bluegrass festival, said Ken Harrison, last year’s Male First Citizen.
Harrison presented Stevens his award in front of nearly 100 people at Winston Middle School Monday night. Stevens is the father of four children and is married to Gail Stevens.
Sharon Harrison, last year’s Female First Citizen, presented Currie with her award.
Currie has done a lot for the community, but tries to “fly beneath the radar,” Harrison said.
“It is time for her to receive some overdue recognition,” she noted.
Currie, 50, serves on boards for the Riverside Center, Douglas Cultural Trust, Wildlife Safari and the Family Development Center. Currie, who is a real estate broker, has three children and is a widow.
Norm Gershon, president of Umpqua Training & Employment, spoke at Monday’s celebration. Gershon said he believes Winston’s leaders are leading the city in the right direction with their plans to improve the downtown, build a new community center and capitalize on the tourism created by Wildlife Safari.
“Winston is poised to grow smart and to prosper,” Gershon said.
Douglas High School seniors Elizabeth Smith and Brad Geyer received the Student First Citizens Awards and a $1,000 scholarship each.
Smith has a 4.0 grade point average and would like to study epidemiology or wildlife biology in college, but hasn’t chosen a university yet. Geyer has a 3.76 grade point average and has plans to attend Seattle Pacific University and pursue a career as a pharmacist. They both are active in numerous clubs at their high schools.
Currie has done a lot for the community, but tries to “fly beneath the radar,” Harrison said.
“It is time for her to receive some overdue recognition,” she noted.
Currie, 50, serves on boards for the Riverside Center, Douglas Cultural Trust, Wildlife Safari and the Family Development Center. Currie, who is a real estate broker, has three children and is a widow.
Norm Gershon, president of Umpqua Training & Employment, spoke at Monday’s celebration. Gershon said he believes Winston’s leaders are leading the city in the right direction with their plans to improve the downtown, build a new community center and capitalize on the tourism created by Wildlife Safari.
“Winston is poised to grow smart and to prosper,” Gershon said.
Douglas High School seniors Elizabeth Smith and Brad Geyer received the Student First Citizens Awards and a $1,000 scholarship each.
Smith has a 4.0 grade point average and would like to study epidemiology or wildlife biology in college, but hasn’t chosen a university yet. Geyer has a 3.76 grade point average and has plans to attend Seattle Pacific University and pursue a career as a pharmacist. They both are active in numerous clubs at their high schools.
Winston residents David and Kathy Hill, who are members of the Winston Area Beautification Committee, received the Humanitarian Award for making the city look nicer.
The Hills, who moved to Winston from Grants Pass about five to six years ago, have worked to refurbish Civic Wayside Park located behind City Hall by adding mulch around the trees and gravel for pedestrian walkways. They also make an effort to spray weeds along Highway 42, which runs through town.
Chuck and Virginia Kerns, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, were presented the Civic Award for welcoming new residents to the city. The Kernses have led a project to give all the new residents cookies or a loaf of bread along with coupons, pens, magnets or key chains from local businesses and organizations.
Joanne Hayes, who presented the Kernses the award, said she has had the pleasure of delivering some of the goodies.
“People are just thrilled,” Hayes said. “It just does your heart so good.”
• You can reach reporter Danielle Gillespie at 957-4202 or by e-mail at dgillespie@newsreview.info.
The Hills, who moved to Winston from Grants Pass about five to six years ago, have worked to refurbish Civic Wayside Park located behind City Hall by adding mulch around the trees and gravel for pedestrian walkways. They also make an effort to spray weeds along Highway 42, which runs through town.
Chuck and Virginia Kerns, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, were presented the Civic Award for welcoming new residents to the city. The Kernses have led a project to give all the new residents cookies or a loaf of bread along with coupons, pens, magnets or key chains from local businesses and organizations.
Joanne Hayes, who presented the Kernses the award, said she has had the pleasure of delivering some of the goodies.
“People are just thrilled,” Hayes said. “It just does your heart so good.”
• You can reach reporter Danielle Gillespie at 957-4202 or by e-mail at dgillespie@newsreview.info.
