There’s still time to nominate your neighbor

Another week has gone by in the search for the ultimate good neighbor, but we’re still looking for nominations from the North Side, South Side and Valley.

The 15th annual Good Neighbor contest is looking for that wonderful neighbor who helps those who need it and make a neighborhood a great place to live. Maybe they shovel your driveway in the winter or take care of your yard when you’re away. Perhaps they are the ones who host neighborhood gatherings or let local kids use their pool when temperatures soar.

Last year’s South Side winners, Bill and Sandy Thompson of Cheney, were nominated by their neighbor, Melanee Balmes. She wrote:

“I became acquainted with Bill and Sandy Thompson when my mother and I moved into Meyers Park in 1997. You might say that they were an oasis of friendship amid a desert of strangers, for we knew none of our neighbors at first. However, Sandy and Bill were welcoming and supportive from the very beginning, making us feel right at home.

“There are three incidents that I feel best demonstrate their kindness and dependability. In 1999, my mother suffered a severe heart attack. In the midst of the excitement and worry, I forgot our two little miniature Schnauzers that had made themselves scarce amid all the commotion. When I returned from the hospital, I found that the Thompsons had taken them to their house, where they stayed safe and comfortable.

“More recently, another elderly neighbor of ours injured her back. I offered her my recliner so she could rest at night but had no way of transporting it to her home. I called the Thompsons to ask their advice, and within minutes Sandy and Bill appeared at my door, wheelbarrow in hand. They literally wheeled the chair to her home.

“Just this last month my mother was working in the yard when she lost her balance and fell. Not able to get back up, she was quite stranded. Seeing Sandy, she called for help, and Sandy did not hesitate to come and help her to her feet.

“Sandy and Bill are well-known for opening their home to friends and strangers alike. Celebrating birthdays or the holidays at their house is a common occurrence. And whether it is helping with a computer problem, assisting to evict a nasty rock or snatching a ride to Wal-Mart, you know all you have to do is ask. We at Meyers Park are thankful for the Thompsons.”

So tell us why your neighbor deserves to have some recognition. Write us a letter detailing their actions. We meet your neighbors through the words you write, so make sure to include a lot of details. Also be sure to send us your neighbor’s name, address and telephone number as well as your own.

Contest winners will receive an engraved plaque and be the guest of honor at a catered block party. Winners will also be profiled in a Spokesman-Review story introducing them to the community.

Letters of nomination can be mailed or e-mailed by Aug. 11 (see the information box for details).