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NEVADA STATE OFFICE NO. 2005-25

FOR RELEASE: May 3, 2005

CONTACT: Debra Kolkman, 775-289-1946

NEVADA COUPLE AND INDIVIDUAL ANNOUNCED AS MAD AWARD WINNERS

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) national volunteer awards are going to
three Nevada volunteers. The national "Making A Difference" (MAD)
volunteer awards will be presented May 11, 2005, at a special awards
ceremony at the Department of the Interior, in Washington, D.C.

"The public lands in Nevada are far better for the work of these and the
more than 1,500 volunteers who dedicate their valuable free time," said
BLM Nevada State Director Bob Abbey. "Their outstanding work is
exemplified by having Nevada volunteers chosen for two of the eight
national awards being presented this year."

Willie Stephenitch is a long-term volunteer at the BLM's Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area (NCA), just outside Las Vegas, and has
conducted extensive educational outreach with NCA visitors and the local
community through media contacts and hands-on projects. She designed and
developed "Trash Bash Day," a semi-annual clean-up event at Red Rock,
and plays an integral part in the NCA's annual "Tortoise Trot" trail run
and "Red Rock Day" volunteer work event. Most of the programs and events
with which Stephenitch has been involved have received enhanced
community visibility and participation as a direct result of her
efforts. She increased both involvement in Red Rock events and awareness
of public land management issues by Members of Congress.

The second Nevada winner is a couple, Darrell and Terri Wade, who
oversee the Nevada Heritage Stewardship Program as part of their
volunteer service with the BLM's Ely Field Office. The Wades are
residents of Mesquite, Nev. They established this program as a
non-profit organization under the auspices of the Nevada Archaeological
Association. In 2004, they led eight basic-training workshops where they
helped train more than 100 new site stewards. They also organized a
statewide site steward recognition program. In association with the
workshops, the Wades oversaw production of a revised Site Steward
Training Manual and educational slide shows. As a result of their
stewardship activities in 2004, 68 sites in 40 archaeology districts
were monitored, resulting in accurate location of cultural features,
repair of vandalized structures, clean-up of unauthorized dumps, and
numerous other improvements.

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Nevada Couple and Individual Announced -- 2222

Other volunteer winners are Jeff Landis, Arizona; Barbara Williams,
California; Larry Haight, Montana; Socorro Field Office Off-Highway
Vehicle Program Volunteers, New Mexico; the Jefferson County Adult and
Juvenile Community Justice Program, Oregon; and Manual Guerra, Las
Cruces, New Mexico employee.

A national panel of BLM and partner representatives selected the award
winners from more than 40 nominations. The winners were selected for
their exceptional contributions to conservation and management of the
public lands. Thousands of volunteers make significant contributions on
America's 261 million acres of public lands each year, performing
numerous functions in every aspect of public land management.

The BLM's "Making A Difference" national awards program supports the
President's call for increased service to America and is part of the
"Take Pride in America" initiative.

Information about volunteering to work with the BLM in Nevada is
available from Debra Kolkman, BLM Nevada State Volunteer Coordinator, at
(775) 289-1946. A list of volunteer opportunities with BLM and other
federal agencies is available at <http://www.Volunteer.gov/gov>.

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