2025 Community Keepers Award Winners

Celebrating Front Line Heroes! 

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We are proud to announce our winners of the 2025 Community Keepers Award! Both of our winners were chosen from nominations submitted by our CSCU members for their outstanding dedication to our community, both professionally and personally. 

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Both winners received a $500 cash prize and a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. Congratulations to Barry Lee and Tim Howard!

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• Barry Lee is the Director of Emergency Management for Holmes County. This past year alone, he has secured a grant to fund natural disaster recovery for two local schools and worked tirelessly to help communities across Holmes County bounce back after storms caused catastrophic damage. His dedication to strengthening and uplifting his community is evident in everything he does, from hosting local homeschool groups at the Emergency Management Office to securing certifications that qualify Holmes County for additional funding opportunities. 

• Tim Howard is a Lieutenant with the Holmes County Sheriff's Office. For nearly 17 years, Tim has been a dedicated part of the Sheriff’s Office family. Professionally, he is in charge of all inmate work squads and spends seven days a week ensuring that projects across Holmes County get done. When he’s out of uniform, Tim goes above and beyond for his community. From cooking for community events to lending a hand wherever needed, his dedication shines through in everything he does. 

We are proud to call you our Community Keepers. Thank you for everything you do!