At the start of its regular meeting the Lawton City Council recognized Marines and festival volunteers, presented employee awards and highlighted upcoming holiday events.

Jason, the city’s arts and humanities director, told the council that Marines from the Marine Corps School of Artillery provided volunteer support for the Freedom Festival and International Festival, and that the 24 marines who assisted this year contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours for two festivals. Jason introduced gunnery sergeant Meseta and other Marine leaders, presented a plaque and a certificate and asked council and the public to give them a round of applause.

The city also presented its employee spotlight award to Alex Moore, a maintenance technician at the Medicine Park water treatment plant who has served about six years and led a tour for the Great Plains Technology Center’s industrial automation students. A True North award went to firefighter Jovid Serrano, who performed bystander CPR and restored a pulse before emergency responders arrived.

City staff and council members also used the reports portion of the meeting to announce several holiday events, including an inaugural tree‑lighting ceremony in the city lobby Thursday at 7 p.m., an LPD tree lighting at 6 p.m., a chamber of commerce open house and a Cameron University tree lighting.

Council members and staff encouraged residents to attend the events and to patronize the farmers market and community activities mentioned in ward reports.