Each spring, the Littleton Elks Lodge No. 1650 hosts a banquet
to honor those who serve the community, as well as to award
scholarships to deserving students. The event took place March 20
at the Lodge on West Alamo Street in Littleton.
Marilyn Ness, who was named Elks Citizen of the Year, has
volunteered with Meals on Wheels almost since the organization
began 45 years ago. She is the longest-term volunteer for the
active community organization. For most of those years, she was a
driver who delivered meals, climbing apartment stairs and
traversing sidewalks in all kinds of weather, until slowed down by
Achilles tendonitis. In addition, she has mobilized members of Holy
Trinity Lutheran Church to assist with special projects. On a
Sunday afternoon, the church youth group pitched in to organize a
chaotic Meals on Wheels storage room, for example.
Law enforcement officers were also recognized.
Arapahoe County Deputy of the Year is Jay Zachman, who was able
to resolve a series of burglaries of closed businesses by analyzing
patterns and setting up special surveillance in September 2009,
capturing two suspects who may have committed more than 20
burglaries.
Christina Robinson, Littleton Police Officer of the Year, has
been with the department since Feb. 2008. She was honored for
special efforts in DUI enforcement, both on her shift and during
extra enforcement shifts. She made 32 DUI arrests in 2009, the most
in her department.
Paramedic Lieutenant Ryan Knutsen was named Paramedic of the
Year for his extensive skills and his ability to teach others.
Six high school seniors shared $10,000 in scholarship funds:
Brenna Cameron, Mountain Vista HS and Nicholas Ribovich, Cherry
Creek HS received Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarships. Carol
Skelton, ThunderRidge HS; Amanda Erskine, Douglas County HS;
Nicholas Ribovich, Cherry Creek HS and Bryan Guymon, Arapahoe HS,
received Littleton Elks #1650 Memorial Scholarships. Mitchel Brown
of Chatfield Senior HS received a scholarship from the Colorado
State Elks Association.
