County commission recognizes employees

Twenty-six county employees with milestone years of service were recognized Tuesday by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners.

During Tuesday’s commission meeting, nine department heads presented their respective employees with a pin to commemorate their employment-related achievement.

Recognized for a decade of service were Rose Risko, Katie Hughes, Paulette Snay, Stacey Bower, Jerimiah Abnet, Ed Rangler and Josh Allabach.

Fifteen-year recipients were Lori Barczak, Vilma Taylor, Brian Stears, Martin Mullendore, Luke Lori and Frank Metz.

The group of 20-year employees was comprised of Gloria Tate, Pat Ellis, Chad Spence, Mason Stratton, Mike Pahl and Kathy Griffin.

Silver anniversaries were acknowledged for Keli Bazant, central dispatch telecommunicator; Cindi Labencki, deputy district court clerk; Eric Vanheukelum, sheriff’s department sergeant; and Sue Eickhoff, judicial secretary.

Meanwhile, district court administrator Tab Wedge hit her 30-year anniversary this year as did executive secretary Pat Kulikowski.

Leading the pack this year was Dennis Brandenburg, who has a 40-year record of employment with the county between 27 years with its sheriff’s department and 13 at central dispatch.