Leonard Dishman, a 30-year-member of the Wayne County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 105, has been named the recipient of the Disabled American Veteran of the Year Award.

Dishman is very deserving of the award, since he has been instrumental in keeping the local chapter strong and active.

“A few years back Chapter 105 was about to fold. With his efforts of recruiting new members, he has helped to make the chapter as strong and active as it is today,” stated Don Lair, Commander of D.A.V. Chapter 105. “He has served on the Honor Guard for several years, even when the Honor Guard was only two men, they would go out during all types of weather to fold the flag for the deceased veterans. We now have 20 men on the Honor Guard–thanks to Leonard.”

At 86-years-old, Dishman is still active in the Honor Guard, where he now plays “Taps” at funerals. Lair said he is a member that others look up to. “He is an inspiration to everyone,” said Lair.

Dishman was born May 9, 1925 in the Sunnybrook area, where he married Della Dishman, his wife of 63 years. Together, they raised four daughters.

Dishman joined the Army during World War II on September 9, 1944 where he served in the Philippines and Japan for 18 months, suffering from severe frostbite.

During his 18 months overseas, he received the Bronze Star of the Philippine Islands for Liberation, two overseas bars, the Atlantic Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Army of Occupation Medal of Japan, the Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and the American Defense Medal.

Dishman has carved folk art since 1985. His most popular items are wooden knives.

He estimates having made over 4,000 knives and many have been donated to different charities to raise money for different organizations including the D.A.V. and the D.A.V. Auxiliary.

He is also a member of the car club, where he enjoys showing his 1929 Model A car.

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It was almost moving day for Frances Foster, as officials and well-wishers gathered at her new house on First Street on Thursday, June 23 to mark the completion of the first home in the Monticello Scattered Site Housing Project.

“It’s like I won the lottery,” said Foster, as she talked to people outside the three-bedroom house that now stands in the location where her 1982 mobile home was located. “I’m just thrilled.”

The mobile home was demolished earlier this year, and Foster relocated to a temporary residence while construction was underway. But she visited the site about every day to watch the progress of her new home.

Foster is one of nine homeowners selected for the initial phase of the project, which is funded through a $1 million Community Development Block Grant that was awarded the City of Monticello. Kriss Lowry, with Lowry and Associates, has administered the grant for Monticello and she was on hand to celebrate the completion of Foster’s home.

Lowry noted the program is geared toward low-to-moderate income families within the City of Monticello.

Originally, plans were to do as many as 10 homes with the CDBG grant, but the project has been awarded an additional $120,000 in Kentucky Housing Funds, which means that as many as three more homes can be done with the money that is available.

Lowry began taking applications for the Scattered Site Housing Project in 2008. That’s when Foster signed up and filled out an application. Applications are rated on a point system, and that time, Foster wasn’t at the top of the list.

But as participants changed their minds and dropped out of the program, Foster moved up the list. Then, last February, work began on her new home.

Strehl Builders actually constructed Foster’s home. Lowry noted that there is another contractor also working in Wayne County as part of the project right now–Mark Brown Construction.

Foster participated in the building process, picking out carpet colors, cabinets, and counter tops. She also got to select the color of the roof and the siding of the home.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on her front porch, Foster stepped inside her new home, as the crowd took a tour.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I would own a new home,” said Foster.