Health district honors individuals, firms

Friday, May 12, 2000 | 9 a.m.

The Clark County Health District awarded Hero Awards last month to three individuals and five local companies for their contributions to the health and well-being of the community.

Recipients include Robert Ansara, a member of the Nevada Restaurant Association and co-owner of Ricardo's Mexican Restaurants; Mary Hall, a volunteer for the Clark County Health District's Baby Find Program; and Louise Helton of Citizens for Healthy Smiles.

Ansara provides input on proposed regulations and procedures to the health district's Environmental Health Division. He volunteers his time and facilities and participated in the district's Smoke Free Restaurant Campaign.

Hall provides volunteer services daily to the Baby Find Program at MASH Village. The program uses mothers as mentors to women unlikely to use prenatal care. In addition to mentoring six young mothers, Hall distributes free formula, diapers, baby wipes, prenatal vitamins, blankets and clothing to homeless mothers and infants.

Helton worked to ensure that legislation was passed that would enable Clark County to add fluoride to drinking water as a means of reducing problems of tooth decay affecting local children.

The five companies that received the Clean Air Recognition Effort: Airway Rock Products, which incorporated a control measure for preventing track-out soil when sweeping the streets; Hanson Aggregates, Las Vegas Paving Corp. and Nevada Ready Mix, which began a project that demonstrates positive effects of cleaner burning diesel fuel; and Sunrise Colony Co., which is developing two projects using techniques that prevent dust problems.