Re-1 employees of the month

The Roaring Fork School District announced its employees of the month.

They are Kay Bell, para-educator, and Roark Roney, technology teacher and tech support. Both are from Roaring Fork High School.

• Kay has been a para-educator in the “Abilities” Program at RFHS for 13 years. She supports children with disabilities to learn what their abilities are and how they can be successful in the world. Her greatest joy is when the hard work pays off — when the light comes on or the shoe gets tied, the behavior changes. Kay grew up in a Midwestern farming community. Her parents modeled hard work and honesty. Her motto is “If you're going to do it, do it right.” Kay enjoys knitting and riding the Harley with her husband. Thank you, Kay, for your commitment to your students and your help in making a difference in their lives.

• Roark has been with RFSD for three years and has been in the education field for 18 years. He remembers two teachers who had a positive influence on him — Mr. Young, who taught him the power of story, and Mrs. Popham, who inspired the love of math and found a hidden talent for him. One of Roark's favorite phrases is “Be True Unto Thy Self.” Roark finds learning and teaching enjoyable, likes people, and thinks learning is the key to a better world. Thank you, Roark, for your positive influence on our students.

Welcome, Phoebe

Grandparents Coy and Mary Bretthorst of New Castle are proud to announce the arrival of Phoebe Sage Scoggins, daughter of Shannon and Anthony Scoggins of San Diego. She was born Oct. 11, 2009, at 4:09 p.m. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 191⁄2 inches long. Welcoming her home is big brother, Benjamin, 17 months. Other grandparents are Don and Mary Ann Scoggins of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and great-grandpa Emil Eisenhauer of Syracuse, Neb.

Welcome, Samantha

Samantha Gean Neuernberg was born Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs.

Her parents are TJ Neuernberg and Jessica Scholl of New Castle. Her proud grandparents are Mike and Freenny Lehmann from McKinney, Texas, Jerry and Audrey Scholl of Silt, and Tom and Terry Neuernberg of New Castle.

Potato pickers

Boy Scouts Adam Bodrogi, Brian Brent and Lewis Bini from Glenwood Springs Scout Troop 225, joined by parent volunteers Lynda Brent and Mike Bodrogi, pick potatoes in the fall sunshine last Sunday at Deer Creek Ranch in Old Snowmass. Ranch owner Chuck Cherek (not pictured) historically donates some of his Woody Creek organic potato crop each year to local charities and nonprofit organizations.