Alpine's seniors of the year lauded

Alpine County's senior citizens rejoiced at the outcome of their recent vote - two seniors were tied for the honor of Senior of the Year.

The split decision was announced by District 2 Supervisor Henry "Skip" Veatch at the April 8 potluck luncheon at the Early Learning Center who read the board of supervisors' resolutions for each of the Seniors of the Year, Jo Daugherty of Mesa Vista and Edie Veatch of Alpine Village.

Veatch noted that Jo Daugherty was at first a teacher's aid at the Alpine Children's Center in 1983 and in 1984-09 was the teacher and director of the center. She also participated in the home visitor program, and became its director, and has spent many hours as a volunteer at the Death Ride Spaghetti Dinner, the Alpine County Christmas Drive, the turkey bingo and the Mother's Day champagne brunch. And for many years has been a foster parent to over 60 children, and currently for two girls.

The second senior honored was Edie Veatch, who came to Alpine County in 1973 as the operations officer of the Bank of America's Markleeville Branch where her husband Skip was bank manager. They adopted Christopher in 1978, and daughter Tammy Shannon was born in 1984, six-weeks' premature. Edie spent six weeks with her at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's hospital in Reno. She and Skip now have three grandchildren.

Edie was one of the founding members of the Alpine Children's Center and started the Alpine County Campfire Program that became Alpine Kids, and helped manage outings for different age groups of children as well as for families and teens.

She served as a board member of the Mother's Club and the Children's Center and was hired by the center in 1991, serving until 2005.

For many years she has chaired the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission.

Supervisor Veatch handed a framed resolution and a special card to each Senior of the Year, at which point Sherry Worrel presented a bouquet of flowers to Jo and Edie received one from Susan Lipman, followed by the extensive applause by the other seniors and guests.