ST. JAMES — Four Maries County residents were honored during the Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s (MRPC) annual dinner Oct. 24 at the Stonebrooke Center in Waynesville. Shane Jones, Karlee Hallahan, Joey Butler, Sr., and Cindy Butler were honored for their outstanding community service.

Nine other individuals were also honored at the dinner.

Jones, son of Eugene and Consuelo Jones of Belle, was nominated as an outstanding youth volunteer by MRPC board member Steve Vogt. Jones is a 2019 graduate of Belle High School and currently attends Missouri State University where he is studying accounting. He hopes to become a certified public accountant and open his own firm.

At Belle High School he was active in extra-curricular programs including Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Science Club and band. Jones completed over 200 community service hours in FBLA. Jones was described by his teachers as being understanding and empathic while having a superior work ethic and dedication to every project.

Hallahan of Vienna, was nominated by Maries County Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman, for her work with Visitation Catholic Church’s school in Vienna.

Hallahan who was diagnosed at birth with Epidermolysis Bulosa, a skin disease, has never let it slow her down or deter her from her dreams of working with children.

Hallahan started in 2017 as a part-time office assistant and devotes two afternoons a week to the school where she fields phone calls, takes messages, makes changes to the dismissal routine as needed, copies, stuffs folders and proofreads. She is also responsible for the front door traffic.

Stratman says, “In a small school, Karlee’s volunteer time is priceless.”

Joey Butler, Sr., of Belle, who was also nominated by Vogt, was honored for his tireless work in a multitude of venues. Butler served on the Maries County R-2 School Board for nine years, was a member of the booster club for five years, was the assistant baseball coach at Belle High School for one year and has been a member of the Lions Club for four years.

He serves on the Belle Golf Association, Scholarship Foundation Board and as an elder at the Bland Christian Church. In 2017, he hauled hay and supplies to Kansas for fire victims in the Starbuck Wildfire Hay Relief and  hauled supplies to New Orleans for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Cindy Butler of Belle was nominated by MRPC board member Ray Schwartze.

Butler is in her 12th year as president of the Belle Ya-Yas, a local group of women who have raised over $220,000 for those in need in the Belle and Bland area. She also serves as president of the Ozark Central Ambulance District’s Board of Directors.

Butler, a registered nurse entering her 20th year at Phelps Health, is the administrative director of patient care services. She has served as the Phelps Health Foundation’s fund administrator for the past five years.

Other individuals recognized by MRPC for contributions to their communities were:

• E. Louise Baker of Owensville, nominated by Owensville Mayor John Kamler;

• Patricia Heaney of Hermann (Local Agency Representative), nominated by Hermann Mayor Dr. Robert Koerber;

• Dr. Donald “Doc” Broman of Linn, nominated by MRPC Board Member Dr. Donald Claycomb;

• Julia Semsick of Crocker, nominated by Crocker Mayor Glen Smith;

• William “Bill” S. Jenks III of Rolla, nominated by MRPC Board Member John Butz;

• Judy Apperson of Salem, nominated by Dent County Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles; and,

• Jan and Terry Primas of Waynes-ville, nominated by Waynesville Mayor Luge Hardman.

The Eugene E. Northern award, the highest honor given by MRPC for volunteers and community service, was presented to Faye Howard of Cuba. She was nominated by Crawford County Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders.

The Missouri Bank was honored with Meramec Regional Development Corporation’s Lender of the Year award. Kathy Schlottach-Brandt, of the Hermann branch, accepted the award on the bank’s behalf.

One staff member, Connie Willman, senior community development specialist with MRPC, was recognized for 25 years of service.

Linda Loughridge, fiscal officer, was honored as MRPC’s employee of the year.

The night included a reception featuring food and beverages from Hoppers Pub, Cellar 66 Restaurant and Wine Bar and Piney River Brewery. Reception food was sponsored by the Waynesville/St. Robert Regional Airport. A silent auction during the reception raised over $1,614 to offset the costs of the dinner attended by 170.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe was the keynote speaker and addressed infrastructure and workforce development topics.