St. Joseph County commissioners honor local businesses, volunteers and employees at awards ceremony

St. Joseph County commissioners held a public recognition ceremony to present monthly business, citizen and employee awards, applauding local volunteers, small-business owners and county employees for their service to the community.

The awards program, overseen by county commissioners, recognizes a youth, a citizen and an employee each month and culminates in a February banquet for all monthly winners. "For us, in Christ's name we pray," said Reverend Williams during the event's opening prayer, invoking a blessing for those honored.

Commissioners announced a series of business winners: Yellow Cat and Weigand Floral (April winners, not present), Asylum and Sons (June), Dorban's (July), Franky's (August) and WBS 89.7 (September). A representative from Asylum and Sons thanked the commission and described the shop's local roots and community contributions. Commissioner remarks noted WBS 89.7 operates from 702 Lincoln Way West and was founded in 1992 by Reverend Sylvester and his late wife, Wanda; station representatives spoke about the station's role serving listeners.

The county also presented citizen awards. Jenny Piontek (June) was praised for extensive volunteer work at Portage Manor, including cleanups and trail work; she told the commissioners she is forming the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association to keep neighbors engaged. Heidi Bell (July) was introduced with biographical remarks about her military-family background and long-standing neighborhood service; family members Mimi and Reema delivered personal testimonials about Bell's decades of community care.

Marvin Creighton (August) was honored for a multi-decade career in construction and local contracting. The commissioner summarized Creighton's history: integration into Carpenters Local Union 413, work as a journeyman and superintendent, founding Marvin A. Creighton Construction Co., and contracts for housing and airport projects in the county. Creighton, accepting the award, recounted his path, described becoming a certified disadvantaged business enterprise and urged young people to "work hard" and "trust God." Pastor Calvin Macon and several neighborhood leaders offered tributes describing Creighton as a community pillar.

County employees were recognized as well. Karen Teague of the St. Joseph County health department was cited for food-protection work and ordinance updates; she said she and colleagues updated inspection rules and recalled early work on tattoos and body-piercing regulation. The commission also recognized an employee identified as Alice for front-desk security and for helping manage high voter turnout at a Center Township Library satellite voting office. "We didn't anticipate that it would be so successful," County Clerk Amy Rolfes said of the satellite site, thanking Alice for stepping in to manage lines and logistics.

Kim (employee of the month for September) was singled out by Clerk Amy Rolfes and colleagues as the election office's subject-matter expert on filings, voter registration and certification, praised for bipartisan professionalism during the recent election. Joe Rice, a clerk's office staff member, also commended Kim's dedication and problem-solving.

The commissioners closed by reminding attendees of the upcoming banquet in February and announcing a Dec. 11 presentation at the library on a five-month ecological study of the Portage Manor property by Steve Sass. The study, the commissioner said, documented more than 250 plants, more than 50 species of birds, a great horned owl and about three dozen deer; commissioners encouraged public attendance to discuss preserving the property.

The ceremony ended with photos and informal remarks; no formal motions or votes were taken at the event.