Norman named SWCD 'Friend of Conservation'

Friday, March 18, 2011
Greencastle City Planner Shannon Norman, left, accepts her "Friend of Conservation" award from Sue Crafton on Tuesday. She has held her position for six years and earned the award mainly for her work with the Big Walnut Watershed Alliance.

Greencastle City Planner Shannon Norman was recognized Tuesday as a Friend of Conservation.

The award was presented at the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District office in Greencastle. Norman received the award for her dedication to the Big Walnut Watershed Alliance, of which she has been an integral part since its inception in 2006.

Norman began her career as Greencastle city planner in 2005 and is in the sixth year of her tenure.

Through her family's history of civil service, local involvement in cities and towns and participation in local politics, Norman developed a respect of how government works and a desire to be involved. That passion to help others led her to Valparaiso University, and then on to the University of New Orleans for her master's degree in urban planning.

Her mission to promote sustainability ties in with the goals of the Big Walnut Watershed Alliance of improving or maintaining the water quality of Big Walnut Watershed. The long-range planning involved on some of the projects the alliance is developing has many of the same aspects as city planning, such as recycling and eco-health. The shared end goal for both communities is to have a positive impact on the environment.

Norman's dedication to seeing a project from planning to completion is what she enjoys most. She has worked for two mayors and serves as liaison between the city and SWCD.

The city planner strives to help Greencastle and Putnam County become a better "green" community by becoming more efficient while curbing costs. In the end such efforts can make this a more profitable area while saving important natural resources for future generations.

The Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District congratulates Shannon Norman on her dedicated service to the citizens of Putnam County.

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