Blell Named Public Works Employee Of The Year

Matthew Blell, Lead Utility Maintenance Worker for the Sewer Construction and Maintenance Division of the City of Sanford Public Works Department has been named 2014 Public Works Employee of the Year, according to Laura Spivey, Public Works Administrator.

This award is presented to the employee who is considered to have best represented the Public Works Department over the last year.

Blell has worked for the City since November 2011, is a native of Sanford, and lives in Sanford. Blell was presented the award on Thursday, May 22 by Public Works Director Victor Czar (pictured right) and Fedd Walker, City Sewer Superintendent.

Blell was nominated and elected to this honor from a pool of approximately 127 Public Works employees at the City. Blell received nominations from his peers, and then was awarded the honor based on the final vote by the Public Works Superintendents.

 Blell is married to wife Annette and they have two boys, Mason 4 and Brody 1.

How does it feel to be the Employee of the Year? “Shocking! I am honored and humbled by it, I feel blessed!” says Blell.

What do you like most about your job? “I like the mobility of the job and working with other City employees. All my coworkers are friendly and easy to work with. I feel blessed to work for the City of Sanford where I am well taken care of,” he says.

Council Appoints Byron Buckels For Ward 4

Long-time Sanford resident Byron Buckels was sworn into the Sanford City Council at the May 28 Law and Finance Committee meeting. Buckels will represent Ward 4 – filling the seat previously held for 33 consecutive years by Walter McNeil, Jr.

Buckels is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during Operation Desert Storm. He has served in the ministry for the past 21 years, during which he coordinated and served on mission trips both nationally and internationally to countries such as Japan, Bahamas, and Kenya, Africa.

A community activist, Buckels is a co-founder of The Nation of Big Brothers, an organization comprised of men that mentor young boys and provide positive influences for adult males. He has been instrumental in writing and securing grants for after school programs that continue to serve youth in our community.

Buckels was nominated to fill the Ward 4 seat by Billie McNeil, widow of Walter McNeil, Jr. He was chosen because he represents “the best of the old and the best of the new,” said Mayor Chet Mann during the meeting.

“McNeil has what I call hall-of-fame status,” Buckels told The Sanford Herald. “It can’t really be compared to. To be chosen [to fill his seat], it means a lot. Words can’t really say it.”

Read more about Buckels and his swearing in the May 29 edition of The Sanford Herald.

National Night Out Coordinators' Meeting

Community members planning to host National Night Out events in Sanford came together on May 5 for planning, prizes, and brainstorming.

Coordinators also won lots of prizes, including hats, a tote, helmets, and two $25 gift cards to Walmart. Our winners were very excited!

National Night Out is a city-wide celebration held on the first Tuesday in August each year. The goal is for people to meet their neighbors and fight back against crime.

If you couldn't make it, but would like to sign up to host a National Night Out event (on August 5 this year), contact Kelly at 919-777-1133 or kelly.miller@sanfordnc.net.

Fire Tower Road Clean Up

The City of Sanford's Appearance Commission picked up trash along Fire Tower Road in Sanford this past Saturday with the help of the Sanford/Lee County Boys and Girls Club.

In attendance were Anne Sears, Rex Connor, Deon Allbrooks, David Schau and Liz Whitmore. Deon brought seven youth from the Club to pitch in.

Together, the group collected 17 bags of trash.

If your youth group or organization would like to help the Appearance Commission, contact Liz Whitmore at 919-777-1406. The next collection day will be in late September.

Sanford's Day of Prayer

Hundreds of religious leaders, civic leaders, and community members gathered together throughout the day on Thursday, May 1 for local prayer events in honor of the National Day of Prayer.

The day began with the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at First Presbyterian Church. Mayor Chet Mann, Father Hector La Chapelle, Rev. Ron Stoker, Rev. Iris Jordan, Rev. Linda Smith, and Bob Bridwell presented an inspirational program.

At noon, Pastor Bruce MacInnes of Turner's Chapel Church led his annual prayer ceremony at the war memorial at the Sanford Municipal Center. Church leaders from across the county gathered to participate and lead gatherers in prayer.

That evening, newly ordained Catholic minister Bob Bridwell of St. Stephen Catholic Church joined Rev. Tim Martin of Trinity Lutheran Church and Father Craig Lister of St. Thomas Episcopal Church for a Vespers program in Depot Park.

Following these events, New Hope Baptist Church held a community prayer service at their church on Beechtree Drive.

Read The Sanford Herald's summary of the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and the noon prayer service. The articles are free to read, but you may have to register.

See more photos from the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, the noon prayer service, and the Vespers program on our Facebook page.