Winnemucca News

Winnemucca News

American Red Cross Real Heroes Banquet honors community heroes - 07-26-2010

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WINNEMUCCA — For the ninth year, the American Red Cross – Winnemucca Service Center hosted the Real Heroes Banquet in which they honored ordinary people with extraordinary courage.

The following were the nominees:

EDUCATION HERO

Sponsored by: Barrick-Turquoise Ridge

The nominees were: Krissi Tucker and Roger Wallock.

Tucker is the Battle Mountain president of the PTA. Her nominator noted when budget cuts forced the district to cut art programs, Tucker stepped in and used her own time and resources for art programs. She also organized the Watch Dog Program, which recruits dads, uncles, grandfathers and others to volunteer at least one day a year helping teachers, patrolling school grounds, and completing some maintenance work. Her nominator noted, “Much of what she does is done on a volunteer basis and is done because she genuinely cares for the youth in her community.”

Wallock teaches English and is the golf coach at Battle Mountain High School. His nominator praised Wallock for the way he encourages the students to be better communicators and instills in them a love for writing. As the golf coach, he not only refines their strokes but also teaches etiquette and sportsmanship, which are skills they can use in their everyday lives. Wallock is much respected by his students and is invited every year by the student body to speak at graduation.

Both are Education Heroes, but it was Tucker who took home the award.

(shown) Battle Mountain residents Roger Wallock and Krissi Tucker were honored for their dedication to education.


Adult Community Hero

Sponsored by: Winnemucca Farms

The nominees were: Justo Lopez, Jannie Morris, Sam Guilbert, Matthew Helton, and Alicia Price.

Lopez was nominated for actions he took to save his daughter’s life following a car accident. Alma was told she would be fine and was sent home, but once there she began to have severe head pains and eventually lost consciousness. Lopez used the CPR he was required to learn at work – Marigold Mine – to revive his daughter. Alma was then rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed as having an aneurism. Doctors credit Lopez with saving Alma’s life.

Morris was nominated for the time and energy she puts into working at Winnemucca’s soup kitchen. Her nominator noted that Morris not only serves meals, cleans, and organizes the other volunteers -- but also builds friendships with the people who come in. “She is directly responsible for feeding those in the community who are hungry and in need of help.”

Guilbert works for Humboldt Human Development Services where she helps her clients reach their short-and long-term goals. She listens to her clients and helps them find employment, housing, and improves their quality of life. In addition to all that, Guilbert teaches CPR/First Aid classes in the community – helping to make it a safer place.

Helton was nominated twice for the courage and compassion he showed when responding to the scene of an auto accident in May. Helton was working at the Chevron off of US 95 when he saw a car veer off the road and flip over near the parking lot. He immediately called 911. The woman involved in the car accident had been impaled by a fence post during the accident. Helton stayed with her and kept her alert and calm until help arrived. He covered her in blankets, comforted her, and assisted her in making calls to her family. He repeatedly assured her help was on the way and stayed with her throughout the ordeal.

Price was nominated because she has a heart of gold and does so much for her community. Among her many community service activities, she coordinates the annual community Easter Egg Hunt, organizes and coaches Little League, helps with the Safe/Sober senior event, is a member of a local coalition that works to keep kids safe and healthy, is involved in a charitable sorority, and provides free train rides for kids at the Fourth of July celebration. In addition, she organizes an annual golf tournament to raise money for a memorial scholarship in her son’s honor. Her nominator noted, “She has come to the aid or touched the lives of almost everyone in the town of Battle Mountain at one time or another. She is truly an inspiration.”

Matthew Helton took home the honor for Adult Community Hero for his actions following the car accident. He told the audience, “I just did what I thought was right.”

Price would later be honored with the Spirit of Volunteerism award.


(shown) Matthew Helton was honored for the care and compassion he gave to an accident victim.

Unsung Hero

Sponsored by: Cyanco

The nominees were: Kayla Mauldin, Jason and Sherry Coyle, and nominated together were the Wild Bunch Motorcycle Club, Koyote Kruisers, and Great Basin Offroaders

Mauldin was nominated because she is a true community servant, notes her nominator. She is chairman of the Lander County Committee Against Domestic Violence, and the coordinator of the Frontier Community Coalition. She organizes and trains volunteers to respond to domestic violence crisis calls and often fills in as a volunteer, taking calls as well. Mauldin has been instrumental in establishing the Longhorn Youth Team, the only high school coalition in the state. She is a retired juvenile probation officer who has not let retirement slow her down. She uses the respect the kids in the community have for her to encourage them to engage in positive behaviors and activities.

The Coyles were nominated as a team because that is exactly how they work to make a difference in the community of Lovelock. While Sherry makes calls and organizes Jason is often handling the “hands-on jobs”. The oversaw the local Little League program for five years. At the beginning they had very little to work with, but through their fundraising efforts they raised over $10,000. Last year, they spent the entire year and a very long weekend making sure local seniors would have a safe and enjoyable graduation night. In overseeing Project Graduation, which encourages seniors to stay sober on graduation night, the Coyles cleaned and inventoried the storage shed and made repairs to supplies and equipment. In addition, they raised enough money to award seniors $3,300 in cash prizes, $3,000 gift cards, and left an additional $2,000 in the treasury. Their nominator noted, “They Coyles have donated countless hours, money, and effort to support the kids in their community -- making Lovelock a better place to live.”

The Wild Bunch Motorcycle Club, Koyote Kruisers, and Great Basin Offroaders were nominated together for their collaborative effort in planning and hosting the Toys for Tots Poker Run in Winnemucca. The event does three distinct things for the community: 1) it stocks the soup kitchen and provides food for indigent services, 2) it provides Operation Santa Claus with a plethora of toys to be distributed to those who would otherwise go without gifts, 3) and all proceeds from the event benefit local children. In addition, this past year funds went to two local families who needed assistance with their children’s medical expenses.

The Wild Bunch Motorcycle Club, Koytoe Kruisers, and Great Basin Offroaders took home the award.

(shown) Members of the Wild Bunch Motorcycle Club were on hand along with the Koyote Kruisers and Great Basin Offroaders to accept the Unsung Hero award for their work in assisting underpriviledged children in the community.


Medical Hero

Sponsored by: NV Energy

The nominees were: Dr. Charles Stringham, Dr. Richard Ingle, and Dr. Soon Kim

Stringham was nominated for his work with local law enforcement and the training he gives officers to help them properly respond to incidents. His nominator noted Dr. Stringham is especially helpful during high-risk operations.

Ingle and Kim were nominated separately for actions they took May while responding with the Nevada Highway Patrol to an accident on US 95 in which a woman was impaled with a fence pole and was trapped in her car. It was the first time locally doctors were taken directly to the scene of the accident. Ingle and Kim stabilized the woman so she could be removed from the vehicle and transported to Humboldt General Hospital.

Dr. Kim received the Medical Hero award. Although Kim was reportedly at the event she was called away to a medical emergency. As one person noted, “She’s off being a hero.”

 

Youth Hero

Sponsored by: Marigold Mining

Nominated was: Rebecca Monroe

Monroe has been a member of the American Red Cross youth group since the 2^nd grade and has twice served as the group’s president. Monroe has participated in disaster services training and is certified as an instructor in Standard First Aid, CPR/AED, and CPR/AED for the professional rescuer. She frequently teaches youth and community classes. As a member of the Red Cross youth group, Monroe regularly volunteers with the annual Pumpkin Trail, Winnemucca Kidz ‘n Cops, the Real Heroes Banquet, and has been the Red Cross representative at Community Garden events. She participates in several school and community groups that extol the virtues of community service and volunteerism. She is a member of Key Club (the service arm of the Kiwanis) and helped sustain the club after membership dipped. As a three year member of the Torch Chapter of the National Honor Society, she was awarded the Leadership Award as a Junior and the Service Award as a sophomore and senior.

 

The MC for the event was KWNA’s Rod Stowell, who interjected his own special brand of humor, while the entertainment was provided by Humboldt County’s delegation of Cinderella Girls.

The American Red Cross - Winnemucca Service Center Program Specialist Ami Rogers is already planning next year's event, which she promises will be bigger and better.

 

(shown) The Humboldt County Cinderella Girls delegation entertained the crowd with their talents. (Above) Shayla Myers shows off her besst moves. (below) Halle Rogers gave a very sweet rendition of "Lean on Me."

 

 

 (shown above) Kayleen Creamer sang a charming rendition of "Friends" for the crowd.

(shown) Arloa Woolford and Amy Robbins manned the bar as part of their efforts to raise money for the Women in Mining Scholarship fund.

Written by Dee Holzel - Silver Pinyon Journal - 7/26/10

• Winnemucca News