Citizen nominations due Oct. 17

Port Aransas is known for idling on "Island Time," waiting until the deadline to get just about everything done.

With that in mind, residents are reminded that the deadline for nominating someone for Citizen of the Year is Friday, Oct. 17 - a week and a day from today, so stop those Island Time clocks and get on real time.

The 2008 Citizen of the Year will be honored at the annual banquet on Thursday, Nov. 13, when a light-hearted look at doing business in Port Aransas will be presented.

The award recognizes individuals for past and current service in several aspects of the community. These citizens have records of giving back to the community in volunteer time without expectation of personal or professional gain. The number of nominations a single individual receives has no bearing on the selection as Citizen of the Year.

Nominations are reviewed to determine that all nominees are eligible based on the criteria for the award.

"It is critical that complete background information about the nominee be provided so the selection committee can determine which nominee best meets the criteria," said Ann Bracher Vaughan, executive director of the tourist bureau, which sponsors the award.

A nomination form that accompanies this story should be completed and mailed to Citizen of the Year, P.O. Box 1117, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Nominations must be received by or before Oct. 17.

Previous recipients of the Citizen of the Year Award are, starting in 1991, Dale Bietendorf, the late Lillian Graham, Mark Creighton, Una Farley, the late J.C. and Wanda Barr, Georgia Neblett, Mike Hall, the late Barbara Sheppard, John Thompson, the city's first responders in 2001, George Horner, Pam Greene, Betty Crawford, Charlie and Linda Zahn, Richard Safford and Chuck Borders.