Locals being recognized with community service award in Ammon
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The following is a news release from the city of Ammon.
AMMON – The City of Ammon is pleased to announce the 2024 Ammon Mayor’s Community Service Award winners who have been selected for their continued commitment to Ammon, eastern Idaho and fellow community members.
The honorees will be presented their awards on Thursday, December 5th at 6 p.m. at Ammon City Hall.
Here is a list of this year’s recipients:
Sgt. Kyle Fielding
Sgt. Fielding served as the lead Ammon sergeant for the City of Ammon for four years. The sergeant overseeing the Ammon Division supervises both day and night shift deputies and the sergeant often works both shifts to get the job done. During that time he took a special interest in the welfare and safety of Ammon’s residents and businesses. He goes the extra mile by attending extra meetings and events in order to better understand and address the needs of our community. We are so grateful for his dedicated service.
Rebecca and Adam DeVore
The DeVore family helps clean up the parks, pulling weeds, picking up trash, and always asking what they can help with. Adam is an electrician that has helped with some electrical issues at the parks and city events. The DeVores have taken it upon themselves to take pictures and videos at all city events and put them to music for fun recaps that the City posts of social media. This takes a lot of time, but Rebecca enjoys doing it and it helps promote City events. The DeVores are a community asset.
George Watkins III
George Watkins III has served on the Ammon Urban Renewal Board for over 30 years, beginning in 1994. He has done so without any compensation or recognition. During that time, he helped to establish the first urban renewal district in Ammon called the Hitt Road District.
This ambitious project cleared several areas of dilapidated structures, relocated the canal, and constructed the shopping area where Albertsons, Target, McDonalds, and several other stores are now located. In the past 30 years, this project has brought jobs, services, and numerous benefits to the Ammon community. This project also sparked the economic development growth north and south along Hitt Road, and which significantly shaped the future and prosperity of Ammon.
Without George’s leadership and involvement, the project may never have begun or may have faltered for lack of dedication. All other original board members have moved on but George would like to see the closeout of the Hitt Road District, which will occur during 2025. Thank you George for your decades of selfless service.
Katie Howell
Katie coaches two teams in our Little League program. She is the head scorekeeper and runs a scorekeeper training class in the spring before the season starts. Katie gets scores and pitch counts from coaches every night and updates the website with that information. She works on policies and procedures and takes lots of calls from coaches with questions about rules. Katie is always asking what the City needs and is willing to help with anything. The Little League program would not be the success it is without Katie.
Lisa Meek
Lisa is the manager of the LaQuinta in Ammon and is largely responsible for the growth of the Ammon Days hot air balloon festival. In addition to offering the great room rates for pilots, she also extends that to pilots’ families and crew members. Lisa makes goody bags for all the pilots, personalizing bags and other gifts with each balloon. She decorates the LaQuinta conference room for the welcome dinner the evening all the pilots arrive. She goes out her way to welcome all the pilots and families. Lisa also is also at the park all weekend as a ground member for one of the balloons. Lisa is a big reason why hot air balloon pilots from around the intermountain west love coming to Ammon every summer.
Judge Dane Watkins
Even after a busy day at the courthouse, Judge Watkins always takes time to meet with youth groups like the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council to teach them about the judicial system. Judge Watkins has visited with the MYAC group on several occasions, and he truly cares that the next generation understands what happens in the courts. Thank you Judge Watkins for being a true community leader.