Center honors outstanding citizens

Eighth annual Bob Skidmore awards salute volunteers

GRANT COUNTY — A Grant County organization made sure the prevention efforts of several community members did not go unnoticed.

The Grant County Prevention and Recovery Center held its eighth annual Bob Skidmore Recognition Event, honoring the most proactive people working in prevention, Thursday afternoon at the Best Western Lake Inn.

Center administrative assistant Marlo Alvarado explained Skidmore was a member of the center's advisory board.

"His passion was to make sure each year, citizens of Grant County are recognized for their efforts when it comes to prevention, mentoring and anything of that sort," she said.

Since Skidmore's death in 2001, the center has made the awards an annual event.

Nomination forms are sent to local churches, schools and law enforcement departments. The advisory board looks over the nominations, Alvarado explained.

"It's an opportunity to award those people who are outstanding in the substance abuse arena," Bob Skidmore's son Travis said. "My father started a legacy of prevention of substance abuse, and it's just carried on. He was involved with countless programs, and this was one of his favorite programs to be involved with. It means a great deal for our family — we're very honored and very proud they've continued on with this legacy."

Keynote speaker Emilio Vela, Jr., treatment and prevention policy analyst for the state Department of Social and Health Services' Division of Alcohol and Substance, noted the most successful prevention efforts and programs are founded upon volunteerism.

"Those of us in the field of prevention understand the importance of giving of our time," Vela said during his presentation.

As the state begins to understand how to measure prevention in order to get funding, Vela said nothing succeeds in a community without the spirit of someone like Skidmore.

"When you feel that commitment, you've got to give it back," he said. "I think it means a lot: What makes programs work in prevention is the volunteers."

Receiving recognition this year was:

? John and Linda Hillman for their work with 21st Century students at Mountain View Elementary School

? Noemi Alfaro, for her work on the Grant County Victim's Panel

? Shelley Snitily and Debora Holt for their work as board members for the center advisory panel

? Wanda Harrison, for volunteering as the youth-senior connection director for the United Methodist Church

? Nancy Larsen and Barb Graham for their work in the Warden community as Warden School District special services director and Warden Middle School counselor, respectively

Alvarado attributed Bob Skidmore's passion as a reason the awards continue.

"There's a lot of knowledge out there which has to do with prevention, and not a lot of people in the county know about it," she said. "We hope with this, we might be able to get mentors to help with our own programs within our agency."