BOZEMAN The Gallatin County DUI Task Force and Gallatin County Alcohol & Drug Services presented their seventh annual Swimming Upstream Awards Tuesday evening to outstanding local individuals and businesses who have helped at many levels to rehabilitate people with substance abuse problems instead of sending them to more expensive jail time.
All these award recipients reached out in a big way to provide help to people who made mistakes with drugs and alcohol, and Bozeman and Gallatin County reap the benefits of citizens restored to productive lives, said Glenda Howze, assistant to the county commissioners who was among organizers of the event at the Gallatin County Courthouse.
Awards and categories:
Public service County Commissioner Joe Skinner.
Public policy Rep. JP Pomnichowski (D-Dist. 63).
Criminal justice Jim Anderson, crisis intervention training; Jessica Betley, assistant city attorney, and Nick Guthneck, Bozeman Police Dept.
Public safety Bozeman policemen Ben Green, Nick Guthneck, Hal Richardson, Tracy Senenfelder and Jeremy Tankink; Gary Landers of Elite Towing, and Half Moon Saloon.
Collaboration Drew Ingraham, Montana State University assistant athletic director for marketing; Robert Putzke, MSU police chief, and Tom Stump, MSU auxiliary services director.
Education Brian Bagley, West Yellowstone superintendent of schools, and Three Forks High Schools Family, Career & Community Leaders of America.
Alcohol-free entertainment Nova Caf, Bozeman.
Workplace Rosauers supermarket.
Community involvement Matthew Cyr, Michael Dunham, Rodney Golladay and Dennis Houska.
Mental health Courtnay Duchin, Gallatin Mental Health Center, and John Watson, Mental Health Drop-In Center.
Media BoZone and the Quam Family.
Faith community Bozeman Prison Ministry, Salvation Army.
Dist. Judge John Brown was featured speaker.
Assisting Howze with the recognition program were Jenna Caplette, Gallatin County DUI Task Force coordinator; Shelly Johnson, Gallatin County Alcohol & Drug Services director; KC McLaughlin, of the task force, and Jason Karls, alcohol and drug prevention specialist.
Other participants included Lt. Mark Johnson, Bozeman Police; Marty Kent, Bozeman Police acting chief; Deputy Doug Lieurance, Gallatin County Sheriffs Office; Brandi Okeyo, AAA MountainWest, and Glenn Puffer, MSU associate dean of students.
####