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Last updated on Saturday, April 6, 2013
(UNDATED) - The DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs recently honored volunteers and employees for their commitment to conservation in 2012.
Volunteer of the Year awards were given to Jim Mummert and Len Logterman, who both donated at least 100 hours in 2012. Mummert was honored for volunteering at the Hardy Lake Raptor Center and with the Friends of Hardy Lake group. Logterman was honored for removing invasive plants at Brown County State Park.
The Partnership Award went to McCormick's Creek State Park and the Friends of McCormick's Creek group for creative fundraising and the renovation of the Peden Springhouse, and to Indiana Dunes State Park and the Friends of Indiana Dunes group for fundraising, securing equipment and other benefits to the park.
The Tulip Tree Award, the highest honor given to someone within the division, went to Tim Cordell, interpretive naturalist at Potato Creek State Park for more than 30 years. Cordell has transformed the park's natural and cultural resources, including the interpretive program.
The Innovation and Leadership Award went to Dave Story, Chain O'Lakes State Park sign shop supervisor, and the staff of the park. Story developed a program that offers inmates a six-month reduction in sentence for working 2,000 hours in the shop.
The Property Achievement Award went to property manager Rob Hogg and the staff at Shakamak State Park for their renovation of the West Shelter Restroom Facility and the Four Poster Shelter. Both facilities were in major disrepair.
Property manager Sam Boggs and the rest of the staff at Chain O'Lakes were recognized for efforts to promote, manage and protect the natural and cultural resources of the division. They have improved the park's timber stand, administered prescribed fires, removed many acres of invasive plant species and dedicated the new Glacial Esker Nature Preserve in 2012.
The Inn Employee of the Year award went to food service manager, Brian AmRhein, and assistant food service manager James Teel for improving service at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park.
Director's awards recognize people from outside State Parks & Reservoirs. The first went to Chari Burke, DNR chief administrative officer, for improving and streamlining work processes. The second went to Kevin Orme, director of construction services for the Department of Corrections, for assisting State Parks & Reservoirs with many partnerships.
The division also recognized the Lucy Pitschler and Monarch awards winners. These awards recognize achievements in "memory making" through interpretive services. Brad Gilley, formerly a seasonal naturalist at Hardy Lake and now a full-time interpreter at Spring Mill State Park, received the Monarch. Coletta Prewitt, a full-time interpreter at Spring Mill, received the Pitschler award.
The division also awarded 68 employees with five-year milestone awards, honoring a combined total of more than 1,300 years of service in the DNR.
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