Community briefs for December 14, 2001

Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 | 9:17 a.m.

Science teacher gets national honor

A Lovelock high school science teacher has won a national teaching award for demonstrating outstanding advocacy for public education.

Valdine McLean, who teaches at Pershing County High School, received the National Education Association Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence during its seventh annual Salute to Excellence in Education in Washington, D.C. McLean will receive a $25,000 award.

The award also recognized her effective community engagement, attention to diversity and instructional practices.

County competition pays cash to winners

The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department's Cultural Division announced the winners of this year's Artist at Play competition.

Ragen Mendenhall took first place and won $600 for a series of artist-produced postcards she created. Magda Szeitz Kearns won a $300 second-place prize for a mixed media work, titled, "Scratch." Lloyd Heslip won a $50 third-prize gift certificate to Bonanza Gifts for his "Aloha" digital art composition.

Their artwork will be displayed until Jan. 19 at the Winchester Center Gallery, 3130 S. McLeod Dr., near Desert Inn Road. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, a juror's award of $30 was presented to Tom Umholtz for his "LOVE" painting, and two honorable mentions were awarded to Ashley Forgey and Sara Pearson-Ochoa.

LV man named international president

A Las Vegas resident was recently elected 2001-2002 president of the International Association of Emergency Managers, a group that brings together emergency managers from the military, private industry, local, state and federal governments to develop safer communities.

Bob Andrews served as director of Clark County of Emergency Management before he was elected president. There are 1,900 members in the organization that was founded in 1952. Andrews will set goals that seek to unify emergency preparedness procedures, which has become a critical issue since the Sept. 11 attacks, he said.

"Events since Sept. 11 further underscore the importance of our international program," Andrews said. "Public safety is the basic common denominator among all nations."