LOCAL KIWANIAN RECEIVES AWARD—Stephen W. (Steve) Lemond, member of the Martin Kiwanis Club, holds an engraved plaque stating that his name has been added the Kiwanis Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District Tablet of Honor, the highest honor the District Foundation can bestow. The plaque was presented to Lemond on behalf of local members and officers by fellow Kiwanis member Linda Ramsey at the Feb. 2 meeting of the club. Lemond received this honor in recognition of his leadership in the Kiwanis Club of Martin and for his dedication to youth and various community and club service projects. The Henry W. Nash and Eugene J. Maier Tablet of Honor, located in the district office in Baton Rouge, LA, has individual plates bearing the names of those honored. 

Josh Wilson of the Martin Fire Department—recently honored as the 2020 Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tenn Kiwanis District Fireman of the Year—has shared his award with a local charity.

Wilson presented a check to Mike and Jennifer Wenz of the Anna Kate Wenz FIGHT Foundation, named for their three-year-old daughter who died on March 2, 2016, after a courageous battle against cancer. Martin Kiwanis club president-elect John Mayros was present for the brief ceremony held December 30, 2020, at the fire station.

The Martin Kiwanis Club named Josh Wilson as the local 2020 Fireman of the Year and nominated him for the Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee Kiwanis District Fireman of the Year. In December, Kiwanis received word that Wilson had received the district award and a $250 check to present to a local charity of his choice.

“The first charity I thought of was the Anna Kate Wenz FIGHT Foundation,” said Wilson. The mission statement of non-profit is in part “to educate, encourage, and empower others to get involved and make a different for children with cancer.”

Wilson has been a part of Martin Fire Department since 2015 and is an EMS Lieutenant/Lead Firefighter. In addition to his service as a fireman, he teaches educational courses for the Martin Fire Department.

Current Kiwanis president Annie Jones said, “Words cannot express the gratitude that the Martin Kiwanis Club has for you and the service you and others in MFD provide for our community. Your commitment and dedication do not go unnoticed.”

Wilson received an engraved plaque along with the check to present to the Anna Kate Wenz FIGHT Foundation.

(photo: Josh Wilson, Martin Fire Department (second from left), presented a $250 check to Mike and Jennifer Wenz of the Anna Kate Wenz FIGHT Foundation. Martin Kiwanis club president-elect John Mayros (left) was present for the brief ceremony held at the fire station.)

Martin Kiwanis Club recognizes the Firefighter, Lawman, Layperson, and Teacher award in our community for the 2019-2020 Year.

Congratulations to Josh Wilson, Phillip Fuqua, Steve Lemond, and Clinton Smith for your outstanding contributions to your profession and to our community. 

We are proud to recognize you for your service.

Each person has been also been nominated for the Louisiana-Mississippi-Tennessee Kiwanis District for the district award for outstanding Firefighter, Lawman, Layperson, and Teacher.