Southern Illinois resident,
organizations to be honored at banquet in Springfield
By Adam Testa
June 8, 2007
http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/06/08/local/20524132.txt
The Southern
A Southern Illinois man will join the ranks of Olympic athlete
Jackie Joyner Kersee, Secretary of State Jesse White and former
Illinois First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan.
Edward Smith of Olive Branch will be
presented with the Paul Simon Community Service Award at a banquet
sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Community Services today in
Springfield. Smith serves as the Midwest regional manager of the
Laborers International Union of North America.
"He's also what we think is an exemplary example of someone who's
not only making a difference through his labor, but he's also
involved in his Southern Illinois community," said Joe Dunn,
executive director of the ICCS. "This is just a way of thanking him
for that."
Smith has been an advocate of bringing communities and labor
organizations together to benefit each other, Dunn said.
"I'm honored to receive the award," Smith said. "I've really always
admired the work Paul Simon did."
Smith stuffed envelopes during Simon's first congressional campaign
in 1974, and in 1988, he attended the Democratic National Convention
as a Simon representative.
The ICCS will also be recognizing 13 grassroots community
organizations for their accomplishments and growth. Two of these
organizations are based in Southern Illinois.
Supporting People in Need is a Murphysboro-based organization
created as a disaster relief effort for all of Southern Illinois.
The group also aids in child advocacy and operates a resale shop to
offer clothing at low cost, among other projects. The group is
currently renovating a wing of its office to create a shower
facility for homeless people, said Gary Green, founder of the
organization.
"We're proud to be recognized, but I'm just happy to be out there
doing what we're doing," Green said.
The Salt Days committee in Equality also is being recognized at the
banquet. Salt Days was the annual town festival, which had fallen by
the wayside, Dunn said. Three years ago, a committee was formed to
rejuvenate the Salt Days and bring it back after a 13-year absence.
"It's been a great way of promoting the community," Dunn said. "It's
just been a great community building experience for people in
Equality of all ages."
While the committee initially was created to plan the festival, it
also has taken other projects under its wing, said Pat Frohock, who
helped organize the committee. Projects have included aiding in the
construction of a visitors center in Gallatin County, organizing a
Farmers Market for the town and helping to bring small businesses
into the community.
"We've always got hope because there are always these people with
different hopes and dreams," Frohock said.
In 2006, the committee was given a Governor's Hometown Award for
revitalizing the Salt Days festival.
adam.testa@thesouthern.com
351-5031
