School Coach Moore Saluted by Chamber as ‘Citizen of Year’

Richard Moore was named Lake City ‘Citizen of the Year’ for 2017 at a gala event honoring local volunteers on Tuesday evening, April 25.
Moore, well known as a versatile coach at Lake City Community School who frequently chokes with emotion in recalling school athletes’ accomplishments, and a Trustee for the Town of Lake City, received a standing ovation after announcement of his selection as Citizen of the Year at the “Celebrate Lake City!” event hosted by Lake City/Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce and DIRT.
Two Lake City businesses — Packer’s Grill restaurant and the propane company Local Warming — shared honors as 2017 Businesses of the Year, and the Chamber of Commerce award for Organization of the Year went to Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Technicians. Also honored was Alice Attaway, who served as a member of the Chamber’s board of directors from 2014 to 2016, as Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year. In presenting the award, Murphy noted Attaway’s “dedication, time commitment and service are outstanding and have proven vital to the Chamber of Commerce.”
The four eagerly anticipated Chamber of Commerce awards were among a plethora of awards from other Lake City organizations — and repeated well deserved commendations — which were presented by Master of Ceremonies Michael Murphy during the concise annual awards ceremony.
Dinner was catered by High Country Market and included a cash bar. The buffet-style meal was served up by National Honor Society students.
In his opening remarks, Lake City Mayor Bruce Vierheller stated that the DIRT and Chamber of Commerce event is scheduled during National Volunteer Week. In the Lake City community, according to Vierheller, an estimated 18,000 volunteer hours are donated on an annual basis.
Mayor Vierheller urged those in attendance to “keep volunteering… it is you, the volunteers, who make Lake City truly happen.”
“And volunteering,” he added, “makes you feel good in your heart.”
Lake City businessman and former Lake City Trustee Michael Murphy served as Master of Ceremonies for the Celebrate event in both 2016 and again this year. In prepared statements for an impressive array of 23 separate organizations and nonprofit entities, Murphy repeatedly recited the importance of the volunteer ethic in Lake City.
Among the awards presented on Tuesday evening, Hinsdale County honored Edna Mason for her past work as Upper Lake Fork Noxious Weed Officer and gave its Hinsdale County “Volunteer of the Year” award to Veterans’ Service Officer Erin Cavit.
Cavit, it was noted, was named Veterans’ Service Officer a little over a year ago and contributes her salary to improve services for local veterans. She has assisted with development of Veterans’ Park in front of Hinsdale County Courthouse and, in her position as service officer, “works tirelessly to receive training and reach out and help veterans in any way possible through her office… her efforts have paid off with increased numbers of veterans now being served in numerous ways.”
Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office presented awards to Deputy Alan Rae for his Alpine Ranger patrols, and to Noah Krouse for his work with Hinsdale County Search & Rescue (SAR).
In addition to his work as Alpine Ranger, and Court Security Officer, Deputy Rae routinely donates 300 to 400 hours a year assisting the sheriff’s office, time which he says “helps him get out of chores that his wife, Debbie, has planned for him.”
“Alan’s willingness to lend a hand with a myriad of law enforcement tasks is a huge benefit to Sheriff Bruce and saves Hinsdale County a good bit of overtime funds that would have to be paid to full-time deputies.”
As a contin-uation of a long line of SAR volunteers responding to calls at often inconvenient hours, Noah Krouse was named Hinsdale Search & Rescue “Volunteer of the Year.” Ever-ready to respond to calls taking him away from work and homelife, Krouse and other SAR volunteers recently took part in hoist training through High Altitude Aviation Training Site.
According to Lake City Community School, its multitude of programs “simply could not function without volunteers.” The school listed its board of education, school volunteers, and PTSA hot lunch volunteers, awarding its 2016-17 “Volunteer of the Year” to Janel Warren, a Lake City local and mother “who has stepped into a role with life-long positive influence on students.”
Warren was honored by the school district for her contributions as basketball coach and mentor, contributing “untold hours at practice and games, endless miles of winter driving with high school kids multiple times weekly to Creede over two of the most serious mountain passes in the state, and further journeys to schools all over the San Luis Valley.”
Warren’s ongoing dedication to the welfare of students in the school district also extends to elementary students as she worked with high school students to coach a series of elementary basketball games this spring.
Hinsdale County Historical Society and Downtown Improvement & Revitalization Team again presented two Investing in History Awards, one to Lake City Arts for its renovation of the Historic Hough Block with its Mary Stigall Theater and Anthony Gallery — “reinvigorating life in Lake City while maintaining the ambiance of this important historic structure” — and the second award to Pioneer Jubilee Women’s Club.
The venerable, 57-year old women’s club was saluted by DIRT and the Historical Society for completion of a state-of-the-art catering kitchen in Anthony Gallery which was funded through sale of the club’s former Silver Street building. “Completion of the catering kitchen dramatically improves food preparation and serving capabilities for public events and will benefit the town’s residents and visitors for generations to come.”
DIRT’s Silver Shovel Award went to founding board member John Roose who has contributed to the organization’s board of directors since DIRT was founded in 2003. In the interim, Roose has served at various times as Economic Restructuring Chair, as well as President.
John Bonner was honored as Lake Fork Health District’s Volunteer of the Year for 2016-17 based on the many hours which he volunteers at the clinic. Always willing to “step in and help out,” Bonner maintains “excellent rapport with patients and staff.” Bonner and other volunteers will be memorialized on engraved plaques to be displayed in the lobby of Lake City Medical Center.
Pioneer Jubilee Women’s Club’s annual Lifetime Achievement designation was awarded to Mary Stigall, long-time member of the women’s club who held a variety of board positions, including serving as Fiesta Chairperson.
Stigall’s award will be presented to her at Gunnison Valley Health Care Center at a later date.
Lake City Stinger Band extended gratitude to Mike Pearce, its director for the past nine years, and George Hoffman as “Mr. Fix-It” for the band and chair of the facilities & property committee, and Dan Plies for graciously providing the band’s rehearsal space in Gateway Center free of charge for 16 years.
The band also presented an award to Burton Smith as “Float Engineer” providing truck and flatbed to transport the band in numerous July 4 parades.
Other Lake City area organizations providing updates on their activities and citing the importance of volunteerism were Wee Care, Friends of the Bears, Hinsdale Emergency Medical Technicians, H-Care, Hinsdale County Regional Library District, Lake City Area Fire Prrotection District, Lake City Arts, Lake City Continental Divide Snowmobile Club, Lake Fork Community Foundation, Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, Lake City Community Choir, and Silver Thread Public Health District.