In Ammon, locals are honored with an award for community service

The following is a press release from the City of Ammon.

AMMON – The City of Ammon is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Ammon Mayor’s Community Service Award, selected for their continued commitment to Ammon, Eastern Idaho and other community members.

Honorees will be presented with their awards on Thursday, December 5, at 6 p.m. at Ammon City Hall.

Here is a list of this year’s honorees:

Sergeant. Kyle Fielding

Sergeant. Fielding served as senior Ammon sergeant for the city of Ammon for four years. The sergeant overseeing the Ammon Division oversees both day and night shift deputies, and the sergeant often works both shifts to get the job done. During this time, he took a particular interest in the welfare and safety of Ammon’s residents and businesses. He goes one step further by attending additional meetings and events to better understand and address the needs of our community. We are very grateful to him for his dedicated work.

Rebecca and Adam DeVore

The DeVore family helps clean up the parks by pulling weeds, picking up trash and always asking what they can help with. Adam is an electrician who has helped with some electrical issues at the parks and city events. The DeVores have made it their mission to take photos and videos at all of the city’s events and set them to music for fun throwbacks that the city posts on social media. It takes a lot of time, but Rebecca enjoys doing it and it helps promote events in the city. The DeVores are an asset to the community.

George Watkins III

George Watkins III has been a member of the Ammon Urban Renewal Board for over 30 years, beginning in 1994. He did this without any compensation or recognition. During this time, he helped establish Ammon’s first urban renewal district, the Hitt Road District.

This ambitious project cleared several areas of dilapidated buildings, relocated the canal, and built the shopping district that is now home to Albertsons, Target, McDonald’s, and several other stores. Over the past 30 years, this project has brought jobs, services and numerous benefits to the Ammon community. This project also sparked economic development growth north and south along Hitt Road and significantly shaped Ammon’s future and prosperity.

Without George’s leadership and commitment, the project may never have begun or may have stalled due to lack of commitment. All of the other original board members have moved on, but George would like to see the Hitt Road District closed, which will occur in 2025. Thank you, George, for your decades of selfless service.

Katie Howell

Katie coaches two teams in our Little League program. She is the lead scorer and leads a scorer training course in the spring before the start of the season. Katie receives scores and pitch counts from the coaches each night and updates the website with this information. She works on policies and procedures and takes many calls from coaches with questions about rules. Katie always asks what the city needs and is willing to help with anything. Without Katie, the Little League program would not be as successful.

Lisa Meek

Lisa is the manager of LaQuinta in Ammon and is largely responsible for the growth of the Ammon Days hot air balloon festival. Not only does it offer great room rates for pilots, but it also offers these to pilots’ families and crew members. Lisa makes gift bags for all pilots and personalizes bags and other gifts with each balloon. She decorates the LaQuinta conference room for the welcome dinner the night all pilots arrive. She goes out of her way to welcome all pilots and families. Lisa is also at the park all weekend as a ground worker for one of the balloons. Lisa is one of the main reasons hot air balloon pilots from all over the Intermountain West enjoy coming to Ammon every summer.

Judge Dane Watkins

Even after a busy day at the courthouse, Judge Watkins always takes time to meet with youth groups such as the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council to educate them about the justice system. Judge Watkins has visited the MYAC group several times and he truly cares about ensuring the next generation understands what happens in court. Thank you, Judge Watkins, for being a true community leader.