Jefferson Matters held its Community Appreciation event on Sunday afternoon at the Courtyard Wedding and Events Center. 

The program started with a look back at the 2024 year and went through some of the accomplishments, while also going through what the rest of 2025 will look like. Then, came the honoring of the Forces Under 40 individuals, which included Lyndsey Wathen, Bailey Mount, Clancy Clawson and Bridgette Heisterkamp. Jefferson Matters Executive Director Matt Wetrich said that Wathen helped to create the Bell Tower Festival website and does the marketing too. She and Heisterkamp made the new Jefferson Matters logo and the signage on the boards outside of the Welcome Center. Mount is the Youth Services Librarian at the Jefferson Library and Wetich mentioned all of the community partnerships that Mount has created to continue to make her programs successful with youth. Clawson is the Sierra Community Theatre Board President and is a member of the Jefferson Kiwanis Club as well. 

Heisterkamp talked about what her motivation is and her inspiration to continue to help make the community a better place for everyone.

“I am a mom of three. So living here in Jefferson, we walk around to the parks everyday, we’re like in Jefferson everyday. So I am passionate about just like the small town, community aspect, and just having a community that is safe, welcoming, and vibrant for my kids as they grow up and their future. So it’s really just a kind of about the future of Jefferson and the legacy that we get to leave behind for our kids.”   

 

Then after a presentation was made about Jefferson Matters being named the winner of the Great American Main Street Award earlier in April in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the 2025 Above and Beyond the Call (ABC) Award winner, Pat Richards, was introduced by Deb McGinn, the 2024 ABC Award winner. McGinn spoke about Richards’ leadership and her important role as the tour guide coordinator for the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower and how she first got to know her in the school system, when Richards taught at the former middle school building. Chris Deal also talked about her guidance in the classroom being a former student of Richards, and how she has made an impact through being a board member for the Bringing Optimism and Opportunities to Students and Teachers (BOOST). Her book club members also talked about Richards as a person. 

Richards recalled being surprised when she found out that she was the ABC winner because she was told she was needed to give advice on how to give a tour of the bell tower to some last minute tourists, which was a set up to formally tell her about the award. 

“I was so shocked, caught off guard and still questioning how this all came to be. I love what I do and there’s something about having a passion for something that just fuels your fire. I love Jefferson! I love being at the bell tower and it’s easy to do.”

Richards was joined by some family members and several friends to celebrate her receiving the award.