The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties Announces 2006 Award Winners 

Thirteen individuals, community service groups and professionals who made a significant contribution in the field of developmental disability awareness were honored on Thursday, November 2 at The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties Annual Awards Banquet and Fashion Show, held at the First Presbyterian Church, Anniston. 

Receiving recognition for their work this year were; Hardee’s of Anniston employee Michelle Swain, Personal Achievement Award; the Opportunity Center, Employer of the Year; Action Industries Director Mary Jones, Administrator of the Year Award; Calhoun County Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation case worker Ernestine Shelborne, the Outstanding Service to Persons with a Disability Award; SAIL/ADRS/MIG Coordinator Teresa Boullement, Professional of the Year Award; Anniston Star editor and columnist Theresa Shadrix, Media Award;  Jacksonville High School Instructors Rickey Whaley, John Lyons and Roland Houston, Educators of the Year; Arc Prevocational Trainer Cathy Benton, MR Friendship Award; Judith Barton, The Arc Member of the Year Award; and Arc Executive Director Joanne Pope, The Ms. D Award – the highest honor Arc bestows. A Special Recognition Award was presented to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School.   

Jon Holder and Lora Chatmon served as emcees for the awards presentation. Prior to the awards ceremony, Ohatchee High School Principal Robin Kines served as emcee as 15 models with mental retardation and/or other developmental delays took to the “runway” to model clothes from Martin’s Department Store in Oxford. 

This year’s models included Josie Millie Crawford-Toledo, Kylie Hardy, Christian Hardy, Cameron Mendiola, Benjamin Cser, Chantal James, Nicole Maddox, Xavier Austin, Harriet Chandler, Betty Crosson, Stephanie Gladden, Marva Phillips, Stephanie Peacock, Bobby Brooks and Michael Bishop. 

Arc singers Teresa Jackson, Mark Dugans, Melissa Akles, Kim Boone, Stephanie Peacock, Brian Stevens, Sharlene Watkins and Faye Smith, under the direction of Traci Cox, provided the entertainment. Arc Starz Jimmy Walker, Anthony Hattock and Mark Dugans served as deejays.  

Also at the meeting, The Arc general membership elected Judith Barton, Sharon Davis, Lolan Granger, Rose Munford, Kay Sewell, Geraldine and Jerry York and Christy Vice to the Class of 2009 Board of Directors and Jonathan Gorman and Traci Cox to fill unexpired terms in the 2008 and 2007 classes respectively. The members also chose the following individuals to fill the 2007 executive board positions; Jerry York, President; Pat Kemp, Vice-President; Christy Vice, Secretary and Ron Drury, Treasurer. Thomas Holmes, Executive Director, The Arc of Alabama, installed the board members and officers. 

The Arc is a non-profit United Way Agency that serves people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

  

THE GREATER CALHOUN COUNTY AREA COMMITTEE

ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

1105 Woodstock Avenue, Anniston, AL  36207

 

Area Governor’s Committee Presents Awards 

The 23rd Annual Greater Calhoun County Area Committee on the Employment of Disabilities Awards Luncheon was held Wednesday, October 24, 2006 at Jacksonville State University’s Houston Cole Library. The banquet theme was “Americans with Disabilities, Ready for the Global Workforce.” 

President Tonya Frankum welcomed the guests and opened the awards banquet. 

The following awards were presented:

 

Large Employer of the Year                              Federal-Mogul Corporation

Small Employer of the Year                               Remodeler’s Outlet

J. Merrill Taylor Humanitarian of the Year          Mary Jones

Outstanding Educator of the Year                      Paulette Gibbs, Ranburne High School

Partnership Award                                            MANNA Enterprises /Jack’s Restaurants

Rachel Moncus Media Award                            Jon Holder, WGRW Grace Radio, TV-24

Outstanding Employee of the Year                     Frank Mosely, Wellborn student working at Food Outlet, Hwy 202

Outstanding Individual Award                            Janet Price, The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties   

Treasurer Gloria Crider, chair of the banquet organizing committee, announced that the Employee of the Year Award would be renamed in memory of Pete Tomlin, one of the founding members of the Greater Calhoun County Area Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. Tomlin, an 18-year employee with Cable One, continued to raise the awareness of the success of people with disabilities, despite facing large physical challenges himself. The awards banquet was also dedicated in memory of Tomlin, who passed away on September 26, 2006. 

Jon Holder served as the meeting’s emcee. Committee Member Teresa Boullemet presented the film Alabama Employees Ability, a short documentary produced by the Alabama Medicaid Agency and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation. Teresa Holmes, Executive Director of the Alabama Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities, provided the closing comments for the festivities. 

Door prizes were given away to attendees. The staff of the Marriott Food Service at Jacksonville State University served the meal. 

For more information concerning this committee, please contact Gloria Crider at 238-9300.