For immediate release May 20, 2008

NORCO - St. Charles Parish Friday honored 80 employees for their attendance and service during the 26th annual Civil Service Awards breakfast held at La Maison Magnolia in Norco.

HONOREES - Technology Specialist Eric Dufrene receives recognition for 5 years of service to St. Charles Parish. VIEW MORE PICTURES FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE AWARDS (Web gallery opens in a new window)

J. Charles Oubre III, a senior accountant in the St. Charles Parish Finance Department, was named outstanding employee of the year.

Oubre is a 24-year employee of St. Charles Parish. He had been nominated several times for the award in past years, and has received multiple perfect attendance awards from both the Civil Service Board and the Finance Department.

Though Oubre was not able to attend the ceremony, St. Charles Parish Personnel Director Sandy Zimmer spoke highly of him.

“He never leaves before the job is done, no matter what time the work day is supposed to end,” Zimmer said.

Oubre often does volunteer work around the parish, including coaching youth recreational sports.

Five special awards were also given out. These went to parish employees who went beyond the call of duty to help citizens in need.

Blake Chiasson and Anthony Zeller noticed a woman crawling on her knees in her Barton Ave. driveway. He and his partner helped the woman, who recently had surgery, back into her home.

Ellis Collins and Peter Somme' jumped into the George Cousins canal to rescue a woman who fell in during a fishing excursion. On another occasion, Collins noticed small child in the middle of the River Road chasing after a dog and stopped and grabbed the child before he was hit by a vehicle.

Kenneth Thompson Jr. investigated and found a breach in a levee on a Sunday afternoon while off the clock. He called in the problem to EOC, thereby heading off further flooding.

Mikela Levy Ford, a retirement specialist with Nationwide Retirement Solutions, served as guest speaker at the ceremony. Parish President V.J. St.Pierre Jr. and Civil Service Board Chairperson James “Jimmy” Breaux also spoke.

A segment on the Civil Service Awards is currently airing on the St. Charles Parish Government Access Channel, Cox Cable Channel 6. Photos from the ceremony may be viewed on the parish Web site, www.stcharlesgov.net.

The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.

For more information, contact Public Information Officer Renee C. Allemand at (985) 783-5000 or rallemand@stcharlesgov.net.

Award recipients are as follows:

ADMINISTRATION - SERVICE
Eric Dufrene - 5 Years
Leonce Clement - 15 Years
Jerry Mitchell - 15 Years

COUNCIL - SERVICE
Penny Duhe - 10 Years

COUNCIL - ATTENDANCE
Angela Gaubert

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - SERVICE
James Polk - 10 Years

FINANCE - ATTENDANCE
J. Charles Oubre, III

GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS - SERVICE
Eula Lay - 5 Years
John Chavez - 20 Years

GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS - ATTENDANCE
Dwayne Tregre

LEGAL SERVICES - SERVICE
Bobbi Cullen - 10 Years

PARKS & RECREATION - SERVICE
Geraldine Cato - 25 Years

PERSONNEL - SERVICE
Donna Orgeron - 25 Years

PLANNING & ZONING - SERVICE
Donya Folse - 5 Years
Marny Stein - 5 Years
Earl Matherne - 15 Years
Judy Caillouet - 25 Years
Leah Guidry - 25 Years

PLANNING & ZONING - ATTENDANCE
Rhys Kinler
Kenneth Lorio
Earl Matherne

PUBLIC WORKS - SERVICE
Keith Adams - 5 Years
Patsy Barkins - 5 Years
Patrick Doucet - 5 Years
Jack Landry - 5 Years
James Cooper - 10 Years
Jane Lanier - 10 Years
Roland Dowouis - 15 Years
Linda Dugas - 15 Years
Jerry Lilly - 15 Years
Clarence Williams - 15 Years
Phyllis Camacho - 20 Years
William Woodruff * - 20 Years
Mickey Champagne - 25 Years
Terry Chiasson - 25 Years
Terry Laurent - 25 Years
Raymond Lockett - 25 Years
Michael Reynaud - 30 Years

PUBLIC WORKS - ATTENDANCE
Terry Chiasson
Linda Dugas
Jack Landry
Cecil Lilly

WASTEWATER - SERVICE
Randy Breaux, Jr. - 5 Years
Chris Cambre 5 - Years
Stacie Deroche - 5 Years
Wade Dufrene, Jr. - 5 Years
Norman Griffin -5 Years
Wendy Scott - 5 Years
Lawrence Zeringue - 5 Years
Kevin Byrd - 10 Years
Johnny Dunn - 10 Years
Merrill Marshall - 10 Years
Brent White - 10 Years
Kenneth Clay - 15 Years
Alvin Dufrene* - 20 Years
Earl Dufrene, Jr.* - 20 Years
Bruce Stephany* - 20 Years
Tommy Troxler* - 20 Years
Herschel Hill - 25 Years

WASTEWATER - ATTENDANCE
Terry Breaux
Robert Champagne
Kenneth Clay
Herschel Hill

WATERWORKS - SERVICE
Chris Chiasson - 5 Years
Gilbert Bustamante - 10 Years
Jerry Davis - 10 Years
Roger Rankin - 10 Years
Warren Williams - 10 Years
Carey Rochelle - 15 Years

WATERWORKS ATTENDANCE
Jaime Hymel

SPECIAL AWARDS
Blake Chiasson
Anthony Zeller
Peter Somme'
Ellis Collins
Kenneth Thompson