SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

The volunteers of the Chelsea Citizen Observer Patrol were treated to a dinner at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea on Feb. 28.

This was the seventh annual awards and recognition meeting for the Chelsea COP program, hosted by Mayor Earl Niven.

Bill Weldon and Pat McDanal coordinated the program, which included guest speaker, U.S. Marshal C. Martin Keeley.

Guests included Sheriff Chris Curry and several on his staff, representatives from the Montgomery Police Department and Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), members of the Chelsea City Council and Fire Chief Wayne Shirley and his staff.

The Volunteer of the Year award went to Sallie Williams.

It was noted that Williams gives freely of her patrol hours and has great leadership and training skills.

Donald Shirley, Mavis Efferson, Russ Thuleen and Bryan Weldon received special recognition for outstanding service to the city of Chelsea.

The COP program is an all-volunteer organization devoted to keeping a watchful eye on the city of Chelsea. The program has 30 active members who volunteer about three hours a week. For information, call Bill Weldon at 965-5980 or 678-6588 or Pat McDanal at 678-0258.