Tusky Valley Ruritan Club honors employees
The Tusky Valley Ruritan Club met Tuesday, May 20 for its monthly dinner meeting at St. Paul’s Community Church. Fifteen members and five guests attended.
The ladies of the church served a spaghetti dinner with meat sauce, accompanied by tossed salad, garlic toast and assorted pies for dessert.
During the meeting the club presented Merri Gensley with the 2025 Certified Tusky Valley Employee of the Year. Jason Phillips, principal of Tusky Valley Middle-High School, introduced Gensley and made the presentation. Gensley is retiring this month after 38 years as the high school band director.
Donald Walls was named the 2025 Classified Tusky Valley Employee of the Year. Scott Pennell, a club member and Tusky Valley’s head of grounds and transportation, presented the award.
The club also reported member Dave Neading recently replaced the flooring in the club’s food trailer in preparation for the upcoming Bolivar Strawberry Festival. The club will sell quarts of strawberries at the festival and raffle tickets for a strawberry-themed quilt made by longtime member Russell Dean.
Members also accepted an invitation to provide the food trailer at the Jo Brown Auction in Zoar on June 28.
Additionally, members sold 46 pulled-pork dinners as part of a takeout fundraiser in partnership with Texas Roadhouse of New Philadelphia.
The club plans to participate in the Twist on Mineral City on July 12 with its mouse game.
The club also welcomed and installed a new member, Ken Engstrom.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m. at the Warren Township Community Center in New Cumberland.