Lee receives Youngblood Award

Starlene Lee is the latest recipient of the Carla Youngblood Award presented by The Friends of the Berryville Library.

The Youngblood award, presented quarterly, recognizes individuals for their acts of kindness to the community.

It is named after Carla Youngblood, who worked as a librarian at the Berryville Library for many years.

Lee, a longtime Berryville resident and president of the Carroll County Historical and Genealogical Society, was presented with the award during the second annual Pioneer and Heritage Days festival in Berryville.

“We are fortunate to have her in our community and we are happy to recognize her in this way for bettering this community,” said Friends of the Library president Calvin Cleaver.

Lee, a 1982 graduate of Berryville High School, worked for many years at the Learning Center of North Arkansas with the adult program, where she brought fun and a variety of activities to physically and emotionally challenged adults in this community.

Lee planned field trips to the many local attractions, including Town and Country Bowling Alley, Branson Showboat Belle, Imax Theater, and Turpentine Creek wildlife Refuge, along with many others. Her students loved her as much as she loved her students.

Lee has also volunteered as the chairperson for the Carroll County Quilt Trail, chairing meetings, getting volunteers to paint quilt square blocks, and hang them in multiple locations in Carroll County.

Lee, who has painted more than 10 quilt blocks herself, recorded each one and reported this information back to the Arkansas Quilt Trail Organization, which has included Carroll County on the trail.

Lee has volunteered as a board member of the Carroll Historical Society for more than eight years and has been acting president for seven, checking on the Carroll County Historical Society Museum at all hours, responding to issues such as electrical and plumbing problems or rain leaking into the Museum.

Lee has spent hours researching and applying for grants to support the museum and Berryville’s Pioneer Park and was also was the driving force for the remodel of the old Berryville Community Building located next door to the museum.

She volunteered to purchase materials with donations and ensured that the work was completed.

As historical society president, she oversees the museum staff and annual membership drive while organizing the monthly food fundraiser that coincides with the Carroll County Cruisers on the Berryville square.

Two years ago, Lee spearheaded efforts to bring back the Pioneer Days festival, including contacting the Newberry family to share stories of their family and the cabin that is part of Pioneer Park, along with improvements to the Little Red School House and hours of research into old-time activities and characters to re-enact the longago citizens of historic Carroll County.

As the latest recipient of the Carla Youngblood award, Lee will receive a complimentary membership to the Friends of the Berryville Library and a $50 award to a non-profit group of her choice, along with having her name added to a perpetual plaque displayed in the Berryville Library.

For more information on becoming a Friend of the Berryville Library, call 870423-2323 or stop by the library located at 104 Spring Street.