Monday, November 10, 2008
Pike County Among Several Locales Honored During Envi Awards.
A local student, elected officials and business were honored today during PRIDE’s annual Envi Awards program. The awards ceremony, which was held at the Forum in Hazard, was recorded for broadcast on WYMT-TV at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 17.
Pikeville High School senior Don Combs won one of five Green with Envi Awards, which spotlight conservation projects that PRIDE would like to spread. Combs launched a multi-school recycling program run by students.
He recruited 5 high schools that are competitive in sports to cooperate for the environment. He lined up contributors to provide recycling bins, storage sheds and other materials. PRIDE encourages other students to follow Combs’ model.
Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford and the Pike County Fiscal Court shared a Green with Envi Award for an innovative, forward-thinking project. They have finalized an agreement to build a $200 million plant that will convert municipal waste into ethanol. This is an environmentally-friendly solution to waste disposal, with the added benefits of creating 150 jobs and strengthening the domestic fuel supply. Rutherford accepted the award with Roger Ford, Pike County Energy Director.
SouthEast Telephone Company (SETel) won the region’s Unsung Hero for dedicated service toward fulfilling the PRIDE mission. The Pikeville-based company supports PRIDE volunteers by donating thousands of bottles of water. The staff cheerfully tows a big grill to feed volunteers across the region, from the Spring Cleanup Kickoff at Cumberland Falls to the Fish Trap Lake Cleanup in Pike County. Bambi Phillips accepted SETel’s Unsung Hero Award.
"I congratulate all our finalists and winners for your achievements,"
said Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5), who co-founded PRIDE. "You have earned special recognition among a remarkable class — the thousands of students, volunteers, elected officials and business owners who make a difference day after day with PRIDE. I also want to thank those people at home who show personal responsibility for our environment."
Rogers said that 262,955 volunteers have donated 947,798 hours to PRIDE cleanup and education efforts since 1997. In that time, 2,714 dumps have been cleaned up, and 535,485 students have enjoyed hands-on environmental learning projects.
In addition to Rogers, special guests were former NFL and UK Quarterback Tim Couch and Paul P. Bollinger, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Partnerships. Musical guests were the 23 String Band and the Rhythm Express Cloggers.
The event was made possible by SI International, Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors, Whayne Supply and Republic Bank & Trust Co.
The PRIDE Envi Awards are presented annually to honor the individuals and organizations who excelled at pursuing the PRIDE mission — Personal Responsibility In A Desirable Environment. PRIDE is an environmental cleanup and education initiative in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. It was founded by Congressman Rogers and James E. Bickford, the former Kentucky Secretary of Environmental Protection.
Pikeville High School senior Don Combs won one of five Green with Envi Awards, which spotlight conservation projects that PRIDE would like to spread. Combs launched a multi-school recycling program run by students.
He recruited 5 high schools that are competitive in sports to cooperate for the environment. He lined up contributors to provide recycling bins, storage sheds and other materials. PRIDE encourages other students to follow Combs’ model.
Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford and the Pike County Fiscal Court shared a Green with Envi Award for an innovative, forward-thinking project. They have finalized an agreement to build a $200 million plant that will convert municipal waste into ethanol. This is an environmentally-friendly solution to waste disposal, with the added benefits of creating 150 jobs and strengthening the domestic fuel supply. Rutherford accepted the award with Roger Ford, Pike County Energy Director.
SouthEast Telephone Company (SETel) won the region’s Unsung Hero for dedicated service toward fulfilling the PRIDE mission. The Pikeville-based company supports PRIDE volunteers by donating thousands of bottles of water. The staff cheerfully tows a big grill to feed volunteers across the region, from the Spring Cleanup Kickoff at Cumberland Falls to the Fish Trap Lake Cleanup in Pike County. Bambi Phillips accepted SETel’s Unsung Hero Award.
"I congratulate all our finalists and winners for your achievements,"
said Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5), who co-founded PRIDE. "You have earned special recognition among a remarkable class — the thousands of students, volunteers, elected officials and business owners who make a difference day after day with PRIDE. I also want to thank those people at home who show personal responsibility for our environment."
Rogers said that 262,955 volunteers have donated 947,798 hours to PRIDE cleanup and education efforts since 1997. In that time, 2,714 dumps have been cleaned up, and 535,485 students have enjoyed hands-on environmental learning projects.
In addition to Rogers, special guests were former NFL and UK Quarterback Tim Couch and Paul P. Bollinger, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Partnerships. Musical guests were the 23 String Band and the Rhythm Express Cloggers.
The event was made possible by SI International, Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors, Whayne Supply and Republic Bank & Trust Co.
The PRIDE Envi Awards are presented annually to honor the individuals and organizations who excelled at pursuing the PRIDE mission — Personal Responsibility In A Desirable Environment. PRIDE is an environmental cleanup and education initiative in 38 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. It was founded by Congressman Rogers and James E. Bickford, the former Kentucky Secretary of Environmental Protection.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 4:49 PM 
