By the time this article hits the paper, we will have had our annual senior picnic.

It is something I look forward to each year. And we have a new twist this year. A couple months ago, Ragan Townsend, who is currently the town of Conquest youth director, came to the board asking if she could be put in charge of the senior picnic, along with that Ragan wants to do other things for the senior citizens in our town.

The town board thus made Ragan the town of Conquest senior citizen administrator, a newly appointed position.

So stay tuned to see what Ragan has in store for the seniors of Conquest.

In other news:

This year, we decided to give the key to our town to two very special employees. Mary Lou Haney has been an employee for us for many years, and we all know her as the transfer station lady.

Mary Lou has done and continues to do a nice job for us. Mary Lou is all the time looking out for the seniors in our town. For as long as I have been doing the picnics, Mary Lou gives me envelopes with money in them for the bingo games we have at the picnic. Mary Lou always lectures me when we make any changes at the transfer station that we must first consider our seniors before making any changes.

Mary Lou just hasn't realized and she probably won't agree with me now that she is a senior. I think she might agree a little now because she quit dying her hair, and it is turning a little white. I do believe everyone would agree with the town board that Mary Lou Haney is well deserving of this distinguished award. Thank you Mary Lou for being you.

The other person deserving this award is long time employee Ron Harris. Ron has worked many years mowing and taking care of the three cemeteries for many years. He still is the cemetery administrator and has for the past couple years taken care of mowing and cleaning up our park. Ron takes a lot of pride in what he does.

I often get many compliments about the park and cemetery. Although Ron was an employee long before I took office, I have known Ron for 29 years, and he has raised a very good family here in Conquest. I know this for fact because I married his daughter, and Ron is an excellent father and grandfather.

I am very much honored to be able to give Ron Harris this award. On behalf of the Town of Conquest, Town Board and myself please congratulate both Ron and Mary Lou for being our seniors of the year of 2008. I would also like to thank the town board for its support each year for this event.

Charles Knapp is the Town of Conquest supervisor.