CARLISLE CARES AWARD
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This award is presented in honor of a community member who has demonstrated an exceptional act of kindness or caring. Those who have been recognized are :
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Our first to be honored is a mother/daughter team – Mary Sinclair and her mother Regina Conrad Sinclair. You probably heard about their story on television news or in the Des Moines paper. Mary donated a kidney in response to a person who donated a kidney to her mother Regina (Jean). To see the whole story, visit “Three Gifts of Love” by reporter Daniel P. Finney on the Des Moines Register website. Mary graduated in 1991 and Regina in 1969.
The second CHS Cares Award is named in honor of Joseph Wimp, Class of 2000. Joe sold his business and is traveling around the world. During his visits he is humbly giving to the needy people he encounters in various countries. He coordinated, paid for and hand carried 120 30 lbs. bags of rice into Cambodia to an orphanage. He gave away his $1200.00 camera to a woman in Australia because he heard her tell her husband she lost theirs. He coordinated a food drive in a small village in Peru, South America. He paid for a heart transplant for a 15 year old girl in Chile. He made sure a man in Turkey had enough pain medication for his back for six months when he could not afford it. He has literally given the clothes off his back – seven North Face Jackets.
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The third CHS Cares Award is named in honor of Kayla Kain Price, class of 1974. Kayla has volunteered most of her life to organizations within the school and community. She has worked with Carlisle Little League, PTO, After Prom, Carlisle Athletic and Music Boosters, was a Girl Scout leader for 6 years and served as the Cheerleading Coach for 20 years. Kayla has been a CHS Alumni Board member, Class Representative, and committee member. She has served in the Christian Church in many roles, including Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher and Chair of several committees. Her commitment to Christian Community in Action for 23 years is one of her most outstanding works, as she works tirelessly to make sure that needy families in Carlisle have a nutritious and plentiful Christmas meal. Kayla was honored in 2008 as the Citizen of the Year. This has all been accomplished while raising two children, Tyson and Tara, with husband Craig, and while working for33 years at Family Practice, now Mercy Clinic. Congratulations to this amazing woman!
Year four of the CHS Cares Award, we gave two! One in honor of Robert Fleming III and one in honor of Kelly Penman, Jr.
Rob and his wife Susan are in the process of preserving the one hundred acres next to the Middle School, known to most of us as, Danamere Farms. He has laid out four main goals. He sees the farm as a place where land restoration; working lands; youth education; and recreation – including fishing access from the farm’s pond, and the bike trail that gives residents access to Warren County’s 11-mile Summerset Trail – could all co-exist. They want the land available for use by Carlisle residents, students, conservation groups, college study projects. The farm has a unique prairie and oak savanna environment, which is endangered, making this project important state-wide. Thanks Rob and Susan for this caring act.
Kelly Penman, Jr. , Class of '93,has also demonstrated an amazing and compassionate service. Kelly started restoring cemeteries while out looking for his great, great, great grandfather’s grave. And when he found it, he also found that it needed repair. After fixing that headstone, he began cleaning other stones, as well as repairing some and raising the very old ones up from sinking under the level of the ground. He works mostly on the old, white sandstone types. Headstones representing a military death receive preference. He began in Chariton, has worked in Black Cemetery, Carlisle, and others. Lately, he and his now “crew” cleaned in Hartford. He created a Facebook Page called the Cemetery Guy to create awareness and bring people together. He has also established events to work on the cleanup and restoration of the Palmyra Church. He very much appreciates the help of others on his work day events and donations for the cleaning solution which is environmentally safe for cleaning the headstones. In addition, Kelly is one of our presenters for Career Day and serves as an alumni board member. Thanks Kelly for this caring act.
Year five of the CHS Cares Award, we gave two: Dave Sigmund and Beth Mason Adams
Dave is a valued employee for the City of Carlisle and was honored as Employee of the Year in 2017. As many of you know, he was previously a well-respected teacher in our school system, and a favorite of many students. He has been awarded this honor based on an act of kindness toward the Fetter’s family and our community.
In 2003, under the vision and leadership of Ruth Fetters, a small group of dedicated volunteers created the flower gardens of North Park. This vision included the archways, fences, swings, pergola and benches. Dave discovered that vandals has destroyed most of the benches. Nothing was left of the seat slats and they had also tried to remove the backs. Dave decided, instead of trashing them, he would salvage the plaques and iron pieces and reconstruct them. They returned to the pagoda area this spring! CHS Cares and so does Dave!
Beth (Mason '84) Adams has been honored, for an amazing act of kindness, by having a CHS Cares alumni scholarship presented in her name. This is because of an eleven year old young man named William Ihle, who is Beth's great nephew and Carol (Mason '66) Watson's grandson. Will suffers from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Beth took on the task of running a race in each of Iowa's 99 counties to raise money and awareness for this disease! Most of us don't even like driving that far let alone the thought of that much physical exertion. She just ran in county #98 and has saved run #99 for Carlisle/Warren County run on June 30th. If you would like to donate go to Facebook and search for 99 Counties for TSC. CHS Cares and so does Beth!
Year six of the CHS Award, we honored Dr. Jennifer Olson and Chad Johnson
Dr. Olson has served as a respected and popular care-giver in Carlisle for years. Countless number of community people have relied on her quality care and loving demeanor. She recently traveled on a mission trip to tend to those in less fortunate conditions and donated her services. Thanks Jennifer for being a true asset in our community and now, the world!
About ten years ago Chad Johnson found a renewed interest in photography, purchased his first DSLR camera and began taking pictures in the community. He photographed a few baseball games, and enjoyed it so much that he attended more sporting events and eventually became somewhat of a staple in Carlisle athletics and will never accept payment for these public events. He has attended sporting events, graduations, concerts, prom walks, Wildcat Games, senior breakfasts, assemblies, Chamber events and so much more. He loves that this hobby has given him the chance to meet so many people and become part of this community
Year seven of the CHS Award, we honored Barry Highland
No doubt living in Carlisle, you have heard of Barry Highland. This man decorates his yard for every holiday, bringing joy to the community. At Halloween, you can view more than $70,000 in decorations and watch as he gives out more than $3000 in cardy to those children who stop to enjoy his work, just to see them smile.
I’d like to share a few comments from members of the community. “Seeing Barry in his yard decorating leaves many with anticipation of what he has in store. He is very selfless and is a huge asset to this community with all the happiness he brings.”
“I love living in a small town for many reasons; today I’m thankful for a wonderful guy that brings joy to our children with his creativity, generosity and immense preparation for Trick-or-Treating every year. “He also decorates another special holiday – Memorial Day.
Year eight of the CHS Award, we honored Logan Nolan. Logan Nolan, branch manager of Great Western Bank in Carlisle, is the newest recipient of the Carlisle Cares Award. Logan has been very active in promoting and volunteering for the Alumni Association and numerous other civic groups in the area. He has volunteered for the Carlisle Car Show, served bacon at Pickers’ Day, and served as a reviewer and presenter for Stars for Tomorrow. In addition to Alumni activities, Logan has volunteered for Children and Families of Iowa facilitating arts and crafts at their annual party, and presented a financial literacy course to their clients. He has assisted with Dress for Success, Freedom for Youth, and Junior Achievement (at Morris Elementary) helping students understand the importance of professionalism and financial responsibility in the workplace and at home. Additionally, Logan was involved in Carlisle Shred Day (free to the public document shredding), Meals from the Market food drive, and the Carlisle Bike Rodeo as a bike safety volunteer. Even though Logan is a very busy man running a bank, he still finds time to help support the community. Logan Nolan exemplifies CHS Cares with his volunteer spirit and his positive attitude.
Year nine of the Carlisle Cares Award - recipients were
Tony Rhinehart and DeAnna Galloway Williams
Year ten of the Carlisle Cares Award - recipients were Troy Ohnemus and Janie Norton
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