SCOTT CITY VOLUNTEER RECOGNIZED

SCOTT CITY -- After more than 30 years of helping the community, Les Crump has been recognized for his volunteer work.

Crump was one of 10 people who received the Governor's Adult Leadership Award at the Missouri Community Betterment Conference. He was nominated by the Scott City Community Betterment Club.

"I was surprised because there are a lot of other people like me in the state," Crump said of winning the award this week.

The award recognizes outstanding community leaders from around Missouri. Crump serves as fire chief for Scott City, which is where most of his volunteer work began.

The department makes holiday food baskets for the needy each year, collects money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and offers CPR and first-aid classes to scouting groups and area schools.

Another major project for Crump and the department was to renovate an old furniture building into the present Scott City city hall and fire department building at 618 Main St.

Since 1990, the Scott City Community Betterment chapter has earned seven awards for the town, said Chamber of Commerce President Shirley Young. Each year the chapter compiles a record book of volunteer activities it submits for the annual competition.

More than 800 people representing 100 cities attended the 32nd annual conference in Columbia. Community Betterment is a community improvement program sponsored through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.