PK Lions volunteers awarded for 65 years of service

PINEHURST — The Pinehurst/Kingston Lions Club (PK Lions) held a very special meeting this past Tuesday, celebrating and awarding Robert (Bob) Fisher and James (Jim) Bening with the Legacy Service Award for 65 years of incredible volunteer service.

The room was filled with excited family members, fellow PK Lions volunteers, Lion’s Club International representatives and Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s Executive Office.

Both men received a letter from Little, read by North Idaho Policy Adviser, Jake Garringer, thanking them greatly for their service, unwavering commitment and dedication to serving the Silver Valley Community.

“Mr. Fisher, your service heart is evidenced by your 65 years of volunteerism throughout the P/K Lions Club, church leadership and supporting the Kellogg High School basketball program. Hearing how you owned and operated a bus company while still enrolled at Rose Lake High School to ensure your fellow classmates arrived at school was particularly heartwarming and is impressive on behalf of the citizens of Idaho,” Garringer read. “And Mr. Bening, I want to express my appreciation for your years of dedicated service to the people of our nation/state. There are few values as meaningful and rewarding as performing service. After reading about your life, it’s clear that public service is valuable here.”

Similar sentiments were expressed throughout the evening as Lion’s International First District Gov. Ken Cook presented the Chevron award for their 65 years of dedicated service.

Stories were told around the room by fellow members like Brad Kitchen, who said, “As a Lion’s Club member in this little North Idaho town, we have such a huge history. And we wouldn’t have that history without people like Bob and Jim. Jim can tell you stories about putting the first street signs up in Pinehurst.”

Fellow PK Lions Club member Gary Yergler spoke about knowing Fisher throughout the years and the impact that he has made not only in Pinehurst but the entire Silver Valley Community.

“Bob has been a member in good standing with the Pinehurst Kingston Lions Club since 1957. For 65 years, he has been involved in serving the community with the PK Lions Club, and continues to do so at the age of 95.”

He continued to say that Fisher attends meetings and serves the community at our fundraiser events, which include monthly breakfasts, annual fireworks stand and the infamous “Burger Wagon” appearing throughout the Silver Valley.

“He feels we can’t always be in agreement on everything, so at every meeting, he makes sure to issue at least one NO vote, regardless. We do not adjourn any meeting without Bob’s one NO vote,” said Yergler to the laughing guests. “Fisher is truly a native Idahoan and Pioneer of Shoshone County and the Silver Valley, as well as a valuable member of the PK lions Club.”

Yergler’s brother Larry spoke about Bening, “While living in the city of Pinehurst during a year of high flood water, Jim commandeered a Shoshone County Bull Dozer and immediately went to work securing the breached levee keeping tons of water from running down the streets of Pinehurst, thereby saving the city thousands of dollars.”

As an added gift for their many years of service, the two gentlemen will have their Lion’s dues paid for the rest of their time serving.

Lion’s Club International is a global network of volunteers who work together to make a difference. There are more than 48,000 Lions Clubs around the world, helping their communities. The PK Lions help support many fun community events like Pinehurst Days, chartering the Silver Valley Little League, holding Lion’s Club Breakfasts, and, most recently, helping with Pinehurst Christmas. If you would like to step up and volunteer in your community, the PK Lions Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Lion’s Community Building located at 106 Church St. in Pinehurst. For more information, visit lionsclub.org or contact Linda Yergler at lindayergler@outlook.com.