PERSONNEL: CORRECTIONAL OFFICER NAMED TOP EMPLOYEE

Correctional officer Kevin Porter has been named "Employee of the Year" at the Tamms, Ill., Correctional Center.

Porter, who became a correctional officer in January 1998, was selected from a dozen "Employees of the Month," for the annual honor.

Porter, who is assigned to the prison's 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, was instrumental in assisting a fellow correctional officer to secure an inmate during an altercation between the inmate and the correctional officer.

Porter will receive a letter of commendation from Warden George Welborn. Porter's photo will be displayed in the facility's lobby for a year. He also received a $50 savings bond and a year's paid membership to the Illinois Correctional Association.

Porter is one of a number people honored at the facility. They include:

* Correctional officer of the year: Brad Shields.

* Employee Volunteer of the Year: Sue Cash.

* 25 years of service awards: Correctional officer David Mowery and officer Timothy Goins.

* 20 years of service awards: Capt. Kenneth Bartley, Capt. Norman Pierson, Maj. Sam Riley, Lt. Chester Langin, correctional officer Donald King and Ronnie Williams.

* 15 years of service awards: Billie Adams, Michael Caldwell, William Clutts, David Gibson, Alcenia Johnson-Byrd, Homer Markel, Charlene Meskill, Kirk Mitchell, Gary Moore, Rick Nannie, Donnie O'Neal, Rodney Pfaff, Jaclynn Pritchett, Charles Roper, Dwayne Ross, Robert Sales, Robert Smith, Ruane Tanner, Jeffrey Tinsley, Russell Warren, Brian Watts, William Wolford, Donald Wollard.

* 10 years of service awards: Michael Adams, Sheila Clark, Randall Clark, Billy Droge, Timothy Duffield, Phyllis George, Sherrie Runge and Tyrone Walker.