Warden Development Council honors volunteers

WARDEN - Three volunteers' awards were given to two individuals and a business during this week's Warden Economic Development Council meeting.

Andi Vincent, the council's outgoing president, handed the awards to Velma Meiners, Bruce Swindler, owner of Skone & Conners, and Debbie Kappel.

Vincent said Skone & Conners donated to nearly all the beautification projects the council has done during the last four years.

Employees have also donated time and money, she said.

Kappel watered all of the town's flower baskets throughout the summer, sometimes twice a day.

Meiners was in charge of Warden Community Days during the centennial.

"She did a lot of work," Vincent said. "It was probably one of the largest vendor turnouts."

The awards are given annually.

Vincent also talked with the Columbia Basin Herald about her two years as president.

"It was good," she commented. "I had done it for two years, it was time for me to let someone else run the Warden Development Council now and bring in some fresh leadership. It was good. We didn't reach all of our goals, but we got a lot of things done we wanted to do."

The council is still working to raise money to purchase and install an electronic reader board on the corner of Road U and Road 170.

They have about $17,000 left to reach the total amount of $34,000. Installation and engineering costs are also figured into the total.

"We're looking for donations all the time," she said. "If we're going to do it, we're going to do it right. It's kind of a way for everyone to know what's going on in town."

The council's new president is Susie Barr.