HIGGINSVILLE TOPS COMMUNITY BETTERMENT AWARDS

            Thirty nine communities and 18 individuals were honored at the Missouri Community Betterment (MCB) conference in Jefferson City. The Awards Banquet was the highlight of the 46th conference which assists communities to improve their quality of life. Nearly 350 volunteers, community leaders and youth from across the state were in attendance.

            The city of Higginsville won the Gene Speichinger Community of the Year Award over the other 38 communities that entered this year. MCB judges and Board members were impressed with the overall number and level of projects that were completed using a variety of community resources, and for completing projects that were prioritized in their own community assessment. Other winners in their population groups were: Caledonia, Grant City, Albany, Eldon and Kirksville.

            “The Missouri Community Betterment Board congratulates all the winners and participants,” MCB President J.C. Smith said. “Because of these dedicated individuals and organizations, Missouri communities will continue to be a place where our children can, and want, to come back to live.”

            The Awards Banquet is an integral part of the MCB program, which is administered by the Missouri Community Betterment Educational Fund. MCBEF is a not-for-profit organization made up of businesses, public utilities, community representatives, federal and state agencies and individuals.

            Following is a list of the community and individual award winners:

Gene Speichinger Community of the Year Award       Higginsville
 

Certificate of Merit:

Category I        Sheridan, Hawk Point

Category II       Clarence, Morley

Category III     Paris, Monroe City

Category IV     Charleston, Mt. Vernon

Category V      Aurora

Glenn Smith Youth Group of the Year Award Clinton

Youth Groups

Category I                    First Place                    Caledonia

                                    Second Place               Annapolis

Category II                   First Place                   Grant City

                                    Second Place               Higbee

Category III                 First Place                    Mansfield

                                    Second Place               Albany

Category IV                 First Place                    Higginsville

                                    Second Place               East Prairie

Category V                  First Place                    Salem

                                    Second Place               Pleasant Hill

Category VI                 First Place                    Clinton

Certificate of Merit:

Category III                 Cabool

Category V                  Perryville

Adult Leadership Award

Cliff Borgstadt                                     Pleasant Hill

Jeanne Fleischmann                             Higginsville

Barbara Ford                                       Annapolis

Deanna Hendrich                                 Clinton

Howard Hils                                        Moberly

Athena “Tina” Loeffelman                     Eldon

Charlie McKinney                                Houston

Brad Nash                                           Salem

Charles “Chuck” Place                        Albany

John M. Robinson III                           Caledonia

Ken Worthington                                 Lexington

Youth Leadership Award

Tiffani Caruso                                     Mansfield

Sumarlea Foster                                   Eldon

Tricia Kay Goring                                Higginsville

Hannah Kettner                                   Salem

Alex Kolster                                        Lexington

Lucas Watson                                      Louisiana

Janelle Winter                                      Clinton

MCB 2009 Ambassador Award            Janie Dunning