Thrive dinner recognizes area success
Even though Friday night was to celebrate success, the challenge to do more was the theme at Thrive Allen County’s annual banquet. HUMBOLDT scored the night’s biggest award, “The Donna,” for its Neosho River Parks Project, spearheaded by the Neosho River Park Committee and the Humboldt Healthy Ecosystems/Healthy Communities committee. THE “UNSUNG HERO” award went Dennis Gardner, mayor of Mildred, who was credited for his work of connecting his city of 29 residents with the county’s emergency alert system and having a storm siren installed for the first time. HUMBOLDT’S Community Pantry was awarded the night’s Health and Wellness award. The pantry is run by Humboldt’s Ministerial Association whose outreach includes the eastern side of the county and works in coordination with Chanute’s Walmart that supplies it with surplus food.
Theresa Clounch, former Iolan and now associate dean of students at Baker University in Baldwin, urged the audience to “listen to the music of Allen County,” to find new ways “to educate people about a way for a better life and out of poverty.”
Clounch was the keynote speaker for Thrive’s fifth annual banquet, which filled St. John’s Parish Center to capacity.
Thrive cannot rest on its laurels of spearheading countywide health initiatives such as extending the rail trail to Humboldt, advancing the Charley Melvin to reach 1,000 runners and walkers or making Thrive the go-to point for county resources, Clounch said.
To spread Thrive’s reach, each person needs to work to help “bring different generations together to accomplish the goals of Thrive.”
“I encourage you to do something different, something that draws a different group of people to help those in need. To do so, you need to listen to their music.”
Clounch is the daughter of Naomi and Gene Clounch. She graduated from Iola High School in 1983, attended Allen Community College and then received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Emporia State University and her doctorate in education from the University of Kansas.
The River Park has an amphitheater where outdoor educational classes can be held, an outdoor Wi-Fi connection, nature trails, and a “medicine wheel” prayer circle recognized earlier this fall by a tribe of Osage Indians.
“Humboldt’s river park project isn’t just one project — it’s a series of projects that have evolved and grown stronger as more people and talents have joined in,” said Alan Weber in his presentation of the prestigious award. “These projects represent everything Thrive believes in: health, wellness, recreation and education. There’s also collaboration, there’s a belief that by working together, we can make our county a better place for all of us.”
“The Donna,” is named after Iolan Donna Talkington, who gave a lifetime of service to civic causes.
In other awards, Max Snodgrass, 83, was given a Lifetime Service Award for his many contributions through his work with Iola Industries, as a photographer cataloging the many physical changes in Iola, and as a founding partner of Snodgrass, Dunlap, a local accounting firm.
Snodgrass’ contributions have “spanned decades, and impacted the economic, social and civic life of Allen County,” said presenter Karen Gilpin.
Still recovering from the effects of a massive stroke, Snodgrass was wheeled up to the platform to receive his award with his wife, Bernadine, and family at his side. The night’s award coincided with his birthday.
Chris Bauer, president of the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce, and Allen and Juanita Lankton, volunteers with Iola’s Community Food Pantry, were the other nominees for the award. All received stipends of $150, awarded by Allen County’s five banking institutions, Citizens Bank, N.A., Community National Bank and Trust, Emprise Bank, Great Southern Bank and Piqua State Bank.
The Excellence in Education award was presented to Iola’s Walmart for its donation of food, tools, equipment and money to schools throughout Allen County. Jeff Livingston, Walmart manager, and a key group of associates, have donated more than $40,000 to area schools besides directing the schools to $125,000 worth of grants through the store’s “Volunteering Always Pays,” program.
Mike Barnes, custodian at Jefferson, and Marv Smith, retired chemistry teacher at Iola High School were also nominated for the award. Barnes has built playground forts for area elementary schools. “Marvelous Marv” was noted for his efforts as not only a nurturing and supportive science teacher and coach, but also for his ability to teach students “how to think,” said Don Burns, who presented the award.
Other nominees were Allen County’s Farmers Market and Moran citizens who work with USD 256 patrons to spearhead fund raising projects to aid local citizens.
Moran residents won Thrive’s Recreation Award for their efforts in remaking the school district’s football field. Volunteers hauled 130 truckloads of dirt to create a crown on the field to provide better drainage. Volunteers spent countless hours “spreading, tilling, working and seeding the soil,” said presenter Tosca Harris. “As a result, the field is in better shape than it has been for decades and home and visiting players have a safer surface for football and related sports.”
Iola’s Dog Park Committee was also in the running for the recreation award as was Janet Shadden, a third-grade teacher with Marmaton Valley who has organized swimming lessons for area students at Humboldt’s municipal pool.
Judy Kramer was named Thrive’s Volunteer of the Year. Damaris Kunkler, program director for Thrive, praised Kramer for her “positive attitude, attention to detail, organizational skills, patience, and a sense of humor.”
Todd East provided background music during the social hour and meal. Party Girls catered the meal.
