Help deserving receive Jay honors

Congratulations.

That goes out not only to the winners of this year’s Jay County Community Awards, but all those who were nominated.

The community awards, hosted by Jay County Chamber of Commerce, are always an excellent event. It’s not just about who wins and who loses, because no one really loses. The evening is all about celebrating those who take their time to make our community better.

This year, the list of individuals who earned awards were Millie Ellis, Drew Houck, Jack Robbins, Joseph Vormohr and Mark Leavell. Also earning awards this year were Valentine Feed and Supply, Jay County REMC, Jay County Human Society and Sculpt Fitness.

If you see the individuals, or someone who is involved with one of the other winners, take a moment to say congratulations and thank you.

It’s interesting to look at the list of previous award winners. The names provide a snapshot of this community over the last few decades. Consider previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners like Leo Glogas, Greg and Marianne Moser, Dave Humbert, Elizabeth Starbuck, Harold Schutz and inaugural honorees Lee Hall and John Jaqua, and Citizen of the Year Award winners James Luginbill, Sam Shoemaker, Sandy Bubp, John Young, Stephanie Arnold and Bob Schmit.

All of these winners have been honored only because someone took the time to nominate them.

Still, there are many who give of their time to help, many who have probably never been even nominated for an award. Don’t let that happen again.

If you know someone you feel is deserving, keep an eye out for the chamber’s announcement that nominations are open. The process is fairly simple.

It can be especially gratifying to see someone you nominated take the stage to be recognized for their efforts, especially when they may not have realized how much their efforts meant to the community as a whole.

We encourage everyone to take a few moments and make a nomination. You could well find yourself at next year’s community awards ceremony watching your nominee get the congratulations they so richly deserve. — R.C.