Don Turner Jr. Award committee selects confidential winner to be announced at National Night Out

The Don Turner Jr. Award Committee met on July 8, 2026, in Milton’s Community Room and reviewed a packet of eight nominees labeled A through H before selecting a winner by secret ballot. Kary Towne, the committee clerk who presided over the meeting, recorded that the committee identified Candidates D, A and H as the top contenders and confirmed that Candidate D’s contributions were 100% voluntary.

Committee members discussed whether nominations reflected individual volunteer service or organizational missions and noted the selection rubric can be limiting when submissions are incomplete. Members recommended revising the nomination form and the timetable for next year to encourage more detailed entries.

On a motion by Lina Balcom and a second by Kristen Bartlett, the committee voted unanimously to award Candidate D the 2026 Don Turner Jr. Award. The minutes state the committee approved the motion unanimously; with four members present, the vote was recorded as unanimous. The committee kept the winner’s identity confidential pending an announcement at Milton’s National Night Out event on Aug. 4, 2026.

Earlier in the meeting, the committee approved the minutes from its June 10, 2026 meeting on a motion by Ryan Bushey and a second from Lina Balcom. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. on a motion by Balcom with Bartlett seconding. The minutes were recorded and submitted by Kary Towne; links to the meeting documents and a video recording were provided in the minutes.