Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Elk Township Librarian Larissa Schneidewind received the first Peck Police Department Citizen of the Year award last week. Left to right, Schneidewind and Peck Police Chief Rob Major. Photo by Casey Johnson
PECK — The Peck Police Department presented the department’s first annual Citizen and Business of the Year awards at last week’s village council meeting.
Honored as the first recipients were Elk Township Librarian Larissa Schneidewind, who received Citizen of the Year, and Lee and Ashley Haener, owners of Lee Haener & Son Trucking, Ashley’s Attic, and Faith Ann’s Auto Spa.
Peck Police Chief Rob Major presented the awards, and said he and Phronsie Warren, village trustee, got together to discuss the possibility of honoring local citizens and business owners who contribute greatly to the community. “We always recognize first responders,” Major said at the meeting, “We wanted to recognize local citizens who go above and beyond.”
The chief thanked the Haeners for their generous contributions to several of the department’s projects this year, highlighting their donation of a brand-new washer/ dryer for the school’s Giving Closet.
From left, Peck Police Chief Rob Major with Business of the Year recipients Ashley and Lee Haener.
The Haeners also allowed the use of their car wash for a student fundraiser.
“Lee and Ashley, when a call goes out you jump in and help,” Major said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, you go above and beyond.”
Major thanked Schneidewind for her dedication to the community through library services such as making the library accessible to children who are mobility and sensory restricted, and for her partnership with the police department’s Slushies with Cops program.
“Thank you,” Major said. “You’ve done great things in the library.”
Schneidewind shared her end of the year statistics with council members, showing library services are well utilized, and appreciated, by many in the community.
From January 1, 2024, Schneidewind said, she has signed up 167 new library cards, purchased 974 new books, had 532 people come in to use the library wi-fi, 282 people to use the computers, and checked out 2,591 books from the shelves.
The library also participates with Michigan’s eLibrary (MelCat) system, where libraries loan items to other libraries in the state.
Right now, Schneidewind said, she has two local college students using that platform to borrow their college textbooks for free.
Major said that he and the police department wouldn’t have been able to accomplish their projects this year without the help of citizens and business owners who provided time and monetary donations to ensure success. He said the department plans to continue granting the awards every year.
Mihomepaper
Our Hometown DMCA Notices
Newspaper website content management software and services
