Tell City volunteer honored by US Forest Service | Environment

The 15-state Eastern Region of the US Forest Service awarded two honors to Indiana volunteers for 2012. “With such a large region and so many nominations, it is a real tribute to our volunteers that two awards were received on the Hoosier,” said Melany Glossa, Forest Supervisor.

The Regional Volunteer Awards recognize outstanding volunteers in eight categories. Bill Flamion from Tell City received the award for Campground Host. Flamion began mowing the Saddle Lake Campground because he liked to camp there, and knew that the Forest did not have enough personnel to keep up with all the maintenance. 

Glossa explained, “That’s how volunteers often come to us, they see a need and they offer to lend a hand.  Bill filled out a volunteer form and has helped maintain the campground and boat ramp for the past two years.” She said visitors to the campground have commented on how good it looks since Flamion has been maintaining it.  He cares a lot about the campground and takes great care to make it a hospitable place to visit. 

In the summer of 2012, Flamion offer to mow two other recreation areas, Mano Point Boat Ramp on the Ohio River and German Ridge Beach.  Flamion volunteered 200 hours in 2012. 

In addition to a recipient in each of the eight categories, there were four honorable mention awards. One was received by the Bedford North Lawrence (BNL) Special Kids for eight years of service to the Hoosier National Forest.

The students come by bus each week for one or two hours. They do a variety of administrative jobs including tri-folding recreation fliers and letters to be mailed, attaching address labels, or stuffing envelopes. Job coaches accompany the group to supervise and help the students.  

The number of students and coaches vary each year. In 2012, there were six students and three coaches. Last year the group volunteered 256 hours. 

Regionally Flamion and the BNL students are part of the 10,058 volunteers who contributed $7.5 million worth of work to the Forest Service in 2012, caring for the land and serving people.

Anyone interested in volunteering should call Teena Ligman at the Bedford office at (812) 275-5987 or Lisa Faulkenberg at Tell City (812) 547-9226.

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