Joyce Spencer: Community news for Friday, Aug. 18

EMMY: Congratulations to Jerod Smalley, a 1997 Cabell Midland High School graduate, a grad of Marshall University and sports director of NBC TV Channel 4 in Columbus, Ohio, who received an Ohio Valley Regional Emmy award on Aug. 5 at the Lawrenceburg Event Center in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Smalley was recognized for his work on The Autism Puzzle. This is the fourth Emmy award Smalley has won for this program that features local stories about people living with autism and the resources available for affected people and their families.

Jerod, whose sons, Brady and Tyler, are diagnosed with autism, gave the keynote address at the 2011 Autism Speaks National Leadership Conference and serves as co-chair for Walk Now for Autism Speaks in Columbus. He is the son of Jerry and Rhonda Smalley of Barboursville.

REALTORS: At a general membership meeting of the Huntington Board of Realtors on Aug. 15 at the Joan C. Edwards Big Green Room in the Marshall University football stadium, Ken Gainer of East Pea Ridge received the National Association of Realtors' 45-year award as a Realtor and the NAR Emeritus award. Mary Allyson Baisden received the Realtor of the Year award, and Zachary Rankin received the community service award.

AWARD: Mary Phillips, Cabell Midland High School vocational agriculture teacher, received the first "Coin of Excellence" award at the Cabell County Board of Education meeting on Aug. 15 for her outstanding work and devotion to the Future Farmers of America program at CMHS. Superintendent Ryan Saxe presented the award and recognized students who earned grand championship awards at the Cabell County Fair. A celebration of success ceremony will be held at every board of education meeting to recognize accomplishments of students and staff.

HAPPY: Happy birthday to Garrett Spence, the oldest grandson of Dalvin and Wendi Hawthorne, who celebrates his 12th birthday on Aug. 22. A straight-A student, Garrett recently spent a week at Bowling Green State University in Ohio to represent Fairland Middle School at the National Youth Leadership Forum Pathway to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) where he explored careers in STEM pathways and learned leadership skills.

AUTHOR: The League of Women Voters meets on Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Huntington Internal Medicine Group, 5170 U.S. 60 East, Huntington. Angela Dodson, author of "Celebrate the Ladies: Celebrating Those Who Fought for Freedom at the Ballot Box," will speak about her book and the events leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The public is invited to this event.

DANCE: Dick Newman hosts a dance from 7 until 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at Trinity Episcopal Fellowship Church's fellowship hall, 520 11th St., Huntington, for $15 per person. Singles are welcome.

ANTIQUES: The Pilot Club of Huntington has its 65th annual Antiques Show and Sale next weekend, Aug. 25-27, at the Big Sandy Conference Center in Huntington. Hours for Aug. 25 are 6:30 to 9 p.m.; Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6.

PICNIC: Watson Elementary School alumni, call Dixie Daniel, 304-736-0891, for details about the annual picnic at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Howell's Mill Road Baptist Church.

ANNUAL: Members of the 1953-54 Barboursville High School classes will have their annual picnic from 2 until 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at Barboursville Park, Shelter 9. Contact Wilma Smith, 304-733-1020, or Dixie Daniel, 304-736-0891.

BIRTHDAYS: Happy birthday this week to Lelia Hall, Justin Coffey, Nancy Salter, Donna Jefferson, Garry Ritchie, Charles Goodman, Bill Dutton, Vernon Peyton, Steve Sebert, Paul Short, Brad Merritt, Ron Foss, Jack Perkins, Kim Smith, Rock Moran, Pam Maciey, Richard Johnson, Jack Dilley, Tatum True, Joy Bragg, Ron Davidson, Lucille Hefner, Noah Stultz, Leonard Bragg, Mona Epperly, Brandt Adkins, David Bias, Sara Jordon, Anita Spangler, Kenny Large, Jessica Mahoney, Matt Chambers, Sarah Rice, Aubrey Wilson, Michelle Roberts, Helen Arthur, Nathan Edward Tiller, Hilliary Adkins Chelsea Somerville, Everette Vanhoose and Karen Stone.

SPECIAL WISHES: Special birthday wishes to husband and wife, Jack and Claren Perkins, who celebrated their birthdays this week; to Brenda Lucas, a Herald-Dispatch columnist, whose birthday was Tuesday; and to members of my family - my daughter, Robbyn Detring; my twin sister, Janice Glenn; and my son-in-law, Jeff Nash - who celebrated birthdays this week.

ANNIVERSARIES: Couples celebrating wedding anniversaries this week are Neal and Earlene Adkins, Ralph and Barbara Turner, Bob and Becky Chenoweth, Ron and Rosie Wooddell, Shawn and Jennifer Chapman, Jim and Sherry Hamilton, Jack and Jackie Lively, Greg and Flora Perry, and Ralph and Tammy Rozzi.

Send items for this column to Joyce Spencer, 817 Main St., Barboursville, WV 25504, or fax 304-736-4522. Her email address is jcspencer@MSN.com.