
DATE: Friday, March 21, 1997                TAG: 9703210653

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  124 lines

MILESTONES

VIRGINIA BEACH

Edward S. Garcia, president of ESG Companies, and Yvonne S. Holley, Realtor and 16th Division lieutenant governor of Kiwanis International, both of Virginia Beach, have been presented the Good Scout award by the Tidewater Council Boy Scouts of America.

The awards were presented by Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, a past recipient, at a banquet Feb. 26 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

The following members of the Virginia Beach police, fire and sheriff's departments were recognized during the fifth annual Law and Order awards day of American Legion Post 113:

William A. Burket, a master firefighter and 16-year veteran of the department was honored by the Legion for his dedication and service.

Burket is the lead instructor and expert and area coordinator of the shipboard firefighting effort.

Deputy C.H. Moore, with the Sheriff's Office, was recognized for his quick action and sound judgment for a November incident involving a fellow deputy who was overpowered by an inmate who was being held on numerous felony charges including murder.

Lieutenant Dennis E. Free, an 18-year veteran of the Police Department, was honored for consistently rendering his assistance. In May, Lt. Free and several other officers were trying to coax a suicidal person to give up a knife. Free was able to rush the person, grab the knife and thwart the suicide attempt.

In July, Lt. Free was at the scene of an accident where a 60-year-old man had lost control of his pickup and ran into a pond. With the truck almost submerged and the driver's leg trapped, Free jumped into the water, swam to the truck and freed the man. PORTSMOUTH

Bill Leffler, who recently retired as a sports reporter for The Virginian-Pilot, was honored during the recent General Assembly session.

The state legislature presented Leffler with House Joint Resolution No. 715, the Bill Leffler Resolution, which commends him on the completion of a ``remarkable journalism career.''

The resolution also recognized that Leffler's many years of sports reporting and his volunteering with youth sports made him a legendary figure in Hampton Roads.

Leffler was the first president of the Manor Basketball Association and served for 13 years as a youth baseball coach.

In recognition of his volunteer contributions, he was given the Ace Parker Award by Portsmouth Parks and Recreation Department in 1977.

Leffler covered sports for 43 years, 41 for The Virginian-Pilot. CHESAPEAKE

Phyllis M. Keeling, administrator of compliance and technical training at Virginia Natural Gas, has been awarded the G.J. Tankersley Community Service Award by Consolidated Natural Gas Co.

The award recognizes employees of the gas company who are involved in volunteer work in their communities. Keeling was chosen primarily for her work with the Luncheon Pilot Club of Chesapeake, a civic organization of business and professional people. A $1,000 contribution to the club was made in her name.

Among the projects in which Keeling has been involved is one in which volunteers dress stuffed bears and fill stockings for needy children at Christmas. She started the project at Virginia Natural Gas, and now Pilot Club members have expanded it to the companies where they work.

Keeling is a member of the Economic Development Committee of the Pilot International Foundation and Virginia District parliamentarian for Pilot International. She serves on the Supervisory Committee of Tidewater Dominion Federal Employees Credit Union and is a Gideon Auxiliary member of the Chesapeake East Gideon Camp. She was a district governor of Pilot in 1993-94. SUFFOLK

Each of Suffolk's public schools has selected a teacher of the year who will compete for the citywide honor.

The honorees are:

Janet Bronner, Oakland Elementary; Linda Burnett, Mount Zion Elementary; Nancy Cline, Lakeland High; Gloria Colbert, John F. Kennedy Middle; Deborah Creekmur, Nansemond River High; Amy Espinosa, Southwestern Elementary.

Paige Falls, Nansemond Parkway Elementary; Tawney Moller, Kilby Shores Elementary; Tara Moore, Elephant's Fork Elementary; Lori Mounie, Northern Shores Elementary; Julie Moyer, Booker T. Washington Elementary; Jennifer Presson, Forest Glen Middle.

Amy Seaver, Robertson Elementary; Jodi Sommerfeldt, Driver Elementary; and Jennifer Thomas, John Yeates Middle.

The teachers are compiling portfolios of professional biography, professional development, community involvement, philosophy of teaching, letters of support and essays on issues and trends in public education and strengthening the teaching profession.

The divisionwide selection committee will meet in April to choose Suffolk's Teacher of the Year. NORFOLK

Norfolk Police Lieutenant James W. Brownlie has been honored as Exemplary Sector Commander by the Fraternal Order of Police Associates, Commodore Lodge No. 3.

Brownlie was cited for his outstanding work in community policing in the 1st Patrol Division's blue sector, which includes east and west Ghent, Old Dominion University, Huntersville, Park Place, Colonial Place, Larchmont and Lamberts Point. MEMO: SUBMISSIONS

Have an item for Milestones? Call us:

Chesapeake - Deloris Moyler, 547-9761.

Norfolk - Kathryn Darling, 446-2286.

Portsmouth - Debbie Markham, 446-2612.

Suffolk - Shirley Brinkley, 934-7550.

Virginia Beach - Patty Jenkins, 490-7200. ILLUSTRATION: [Photos]

William A. Burket

C.H. Moore

Dennis E. Free

Bill Leffler