Kelly Gamble of Karns City was a member of the four-person KortneLyn's Dream Katchers baton team, which took first place at the Twirling Unlimited regional competition held recently in Sharon.———During its recent appreciation diner, the

Irene Stacy Mental Health Center honored 43 employees who have served the center for 10 years or more.Among the honorees were

Betty Fetzko for 40 years of service and

Sandy Montgomery for 35 years of service.Employees honored for 30 years of service included

Sandy Bash, Roger Kelly, Beverly Hildebrand, Ruth Ann Sarteschi and

John Broad.Honored for 25 years of service were

Sandra Rapp,

Janice Christofano and

Randall Georgic.

Karen Hussaini, Sandie Jean Smith, Barbara Snider, Joe Fleischmann and

Scott Lutz were honored for 20 years of service.The following former and retired employees were also honored:

Shirley Hignet, former executive director, 36 years of service

Dr. Walter Hiller, former medical director and staff psychiatrist, 35 years of service

Robert Pickens, who served for 31 years in several programs

Kathy Bock, former director of Adults and Children's Outpatient Services, 23 years of service

Michael Venditto, former Adult Outpatient Therapist and Director of Emergency Services, 34 years of service

Irene Shearer, former fiscal supervisor, 20 years of service.———

WalkAmerica, held April 30 at Butler Memorial Park, raised more than $20,000 for the March of Dimes.Nearly 200 walkers participated in the Butler County event, according to Jackie Gailey, state director of communication for the March of Dimes.WalkAmerica raises money to support research into premature birth and birth defects.———The

Butler Health System Foundation has announced that its 2005 Caring Angel campaign raised $80,000.The funds were distributed to the emergency department at Butler Memorial Hospital, to support emergency care for children; to Family Services of BMH; and to the Butler Recovery Project, to support young adults recovering from chemical dependency.Sponsors for the campaign were NexTier Bank, MSA, Highmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield, SEIInvestments, Sky Bank and the AKSteel Foundation.Funds were raised through the sale of Barkus Chocolates and Betsy Ann Chocolates.———

Matthew Boice, of Washington, Pa., a 1979 graduate of Butler High School, was honored with the Citation of Excellence in Music Education for 2006 by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.The choral director at Quaker Valley High School, he is the son of Robert and Janice Boice of Prospect———The winners at the Butler Duplicate Bridge Club game April 27 were

Lorraine Worsley and

Bob Freemon. Coming in second were

Jean Brackett and

Patsy Bachman.