Paramedics and EMS staff honored for service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Yadkin County Park and Yadkin Memorial Park took center stage at Monday’s meeting of the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners as several individuals were recognized for their support of the parks.
Former Parks and Recreation Director, now part-time parks employee Phil Martin was honored at the meeting. Martin began working for the county in 1984 and though he retired in 2005 he remains a part-time staff member, keeping the grass mowed at the county park.
County Manager Lisa Hughes said Martin was “instrumental in making [the park] what it is today.” Parks and Recreation Director Jason Walker announced that a new park shelter near the walking track will be named in honor of Martin.
“We appreciate all Phil does,” said Walker.
“I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I love this county and I love the Yadkin County Park,” Martin said.
Also honored during the proceedings was Oz Prim, a great supporter of the county park. Walker said Prim uses the county park more than anyone in the county.
“Oz has made a lot of contributions and he has coached a ton of kids in the county,” said Walker.
In Prim’s honor, the nature trail at the County Park will be named the Oz Prim Nature Trail.
“It changed my life, made my life better” Prim said of the park. “The park made me a better Dad, made me a better person.”
The Ashley and Ladd families, represented by Zack Ladd and Ted and Doc Ashley on behalf of their father Millard Ashley, were recognized for selling land to the county for the park trails. A portion of the trails at the Yadkin Memorial Park will be named the Ashley-Ladd trail in honor of those families.
George Sappenfield, creator of frisbee golf, now called disc golf was honored at Monday’s meeting. Sappenfield designed the new disc golf course at the Yadkin Memorial Park which will be unveiled Thursday at a ribbon cutting ceremony. The course will named in his honor. Sappenfield shared briefly how he came up with the idea, originally with frisbees thrown through hula hoops, in 1965.
Sappenfield said it was an honor to have the course named for him.
“I’ve worked with a lot of recreation departments over the years. By far this has been the most pleasurable experience I’ve had,” said Sappenfield. He praised the work of Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Caleb Poplin saying, “he has a passion for doing it the right way.”
Sappenfield said when he first came up with the idea it was meant to be fun. Now there are more than 10,000 disc-golf courses worldwide, one on every continent, including Antarctica, Sappenfield said. While many courses now are longer and meant for professional players, the new course at the Yadkin Memorial Park is meant to be a beginners course and for fun.
Yadkin County paramedics were honored at the meeting as well. EMS Director Keith Vestal spoke briefly about the dangers facing EMS staff as they are “facing COVID head on” as they are often those coming in direct contact with those who are positive for the illness. Vestal praised the work of EMS staff who now wear additional personal protective equipment and go through decontamination procedures after coming in contact with patients. He said no EMS staff had contracted the virus throughout the pandemic thus far. Paramedics were presented with special service pins recognizing their work during the pandemic.
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-679-2341 or on Twitter and Instagram @RippleReporterK.