News Release 087

KENNETH JONES NAMED FEBRUARY 2008
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH BY THE
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Volume 36-087

Contact: Philip Tremblay

(For immediate release)

573-751-7629

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, FEB. 28, 2008 --- Kenneth Jones, a park maintenance worker at Missouri Mines State Historic Site, has been named the Missouri Department of Natural Resources February 2008 Employee of the Month.

Jones was nominated for his excellent work as the only maintenance worker at the 25-acre Missouri Mines site and for his recent work at several nearby state parks and historic sites to help with presentations and special activities that benefit visitors.

In nominating Jones, David C. Warren, interpretive resource technician at Missouri Mines, said, "Ken is a very good worker and never seems to get the recognition he deserves. He always puts 110 percent into his work and always greets you in the morning with a smile. He treats employees, volunteers and visitors in a very respectful, courteous manner. He is an asset to the site and a very important asset to the department."

Maintenance work at Missouri Mines includes repairs, cleaning, mowing and various other activities. Over the past year, Jones has repaired the site's flagpole, fixed an emergency exit door, replace a light sensor, installed new emergency lights, completely checked out the site's sewer system to the lift station and installed interpretive panels, signs and solar shades. He also replaced sinks, toilets and drains and then helped staff at St. Joe State Park weld their water tank and helped water down that park's off-road vehicle area.

Jones coordinated with contractors to complete an 800-foot fencing project at Missouri Mines, installed a large HVAC system and did a extensive brush and tree removal project. During events at the historic site, he participates in planning, helps set up tents, directs traffic and answers questions from the public.

Jones also volunteers as a member of the Friends of St. Joe and does trail maintenance, assists with off-road vehicle races at checkpoints and on the trails and with the set up of the state parks showmobile. At Big Oak Tree State Park, Jones and a co-worker manned a booth on Missouri mineral resources and mining history at the park's History Day.

This past September, at Fort Davidson State Historic Site, Jones helped transport handicapped and elderly visitors from the parking areas to the site's museum and re-enactment areas. He answered visitor questions, helped take down the large tent, collected garbage and cleaned up after the event.

Jones also volunteers at the Marble Creek Campground, an unmanned, self-serve campground owned by the U.S. Forest Service in Mark Twain National Forest, Madison County. He provides maintenance services, including cleaning restrooms, mowing, maintaining fire pits and collecting garbage.

Jones has worked for the Department of Natural Resources for five years and lives in Pilot Knob.

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Editor: Photo is available at  http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/eom-jones.jpg.