PORT ANGELES — Five “local heroes”‘ will be honored Friday with the Clallam County Community Service Award for 2004.
The recipients are:
* John and Lelah Singhose, longtime Joyce-area community leaders, active in Crescent Grange No. 1123, Joyce Daze festival, Crescent School, Clallam County Fair and state Highway 112 clean-up efforts.
“In the years we have known John and Lelah Singhose, they are always available to help the community and are wonderful spokesmen for the county and all it has to offer,” wrote Fred and Kathleen Walton of Joyce in their nomination letter, one of six received for the Singhoses.
“If a life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives, then from the contributions made by these two people and their impact on this community, we consider John and Lelah Singhose perfect candidates for the Community Service Award.”
* June Robinson of Sequim for her work with the Clallam County Historical Society (four terms as president), Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board, Sequim School Board, Clallam County and Sequim museums; author of several books, pamphlets and the monthly Clallam County “Back When” column in Peninsula Daily News.
“(She is) dedicated, sacrificing and always willing to help,” wrote Mary Patricia Bates of Sequim, one of those who nominated Robinson.
* Roger Oakes, M.D., well-known community-minded physician active in United Way fund-raising, Hurricane Ridge Ski Team, Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority and several Olympic Medical Center committees, including the Quality Task Force of the Transforming Health Care in Clallam County committee.
He also leads hiking excursions into Olympic National Park.
“Dr. Oakes is an exceptional person who quietly goes about doing what he can to improve our community,” said Nola Grier of United Way of Clallam County in one of several nomination letters for Oakes.
* Cheryl Bauman, executive director of Clallam County Pro Bono Lawyers, a nonprofit agency that assists low-income people with civil legal matters.
Seven letters were received nominating Bauman, including a joint letter from Ken Williams and George L. Wood, the county’s two Superior Court judges.
“Cheryl has worked tirelessly for many years to see that justice is made available to all,” wrote Port Angeles attorney Susan Bondurant.
Ceremonies at Tempest
The five will receive framed award certificates at a luncheon that begins noon Friday at The Tempest Youth Center, 535 E. First St., Port Angeles.
The Community Service Award honors the “dedication, sacrifice and accomplishments of local heroes” — community leaders and volunteers — “who have made a difference in Clallam County, who have made our communities a better place by doing extraordinary things for their neighbors, their community or the environment.”
This is the 24th year of the award, begun by Peninsula Daily News and now co-sponsored with Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Noon Club.
A judging committee selected the five from more than 40 nominations made by individuals, clubs, churches, businesses and other organizations.
Friday’s awards luncheon is open to the public; lunch is $8.50.
Peninsula Daily News also sponsors the Jefferson County Community Service Awards.
The Jefferson awards will be made later this year.
