Employee of the Quarter announced

Pike County named its first Employee of the Quarter in many years and awarded Jonathan Smith from the public works department a certificate and check for $250. He has worked for the county eight years. ’Jonathan’s work ethic is extraordinary. Any task he’s given, he takes care of it without complaint,’ said public works director Todd Goolsby. ‘We get calls from all the departments and everyone requests his help.’Recently, he was cutting grass behind the magistrate court’s office next to an insurance agency office. He found a bank money bag and found the owner without disturbing any money in it. ’This young gentleman saw the bag in our back yard and set out to find the owner. This act brought tears to my eyes and restored my faith that there are still good people in the world,’ said Pam Salter of State Farm in Zebulon. ‘Every day we see nothing but violence, bombings and murders on TV but we never hear about the good people in our world. Jonathan is one of those good people. I thanked him and told him how proud I was of him but I wanted to let his employer know too.’The Employee of the Quarter program is written in the Pike County code but for several years has not been awarded to employees. Commissioners decided to reactivate the program and Smith was the first employee selected. All county department heads submit candidates who implement cost-saving measures, exhibit leadership qualities and professional conduct, demonstrate personal initiative by undertaking related job and self-improvement training and improve methods to carry out their duties. ’He’s a very valued employee. He has a lot of knowledge about building repairs and he knows how to solve problems,’ said Goolsby. ‘He deserves this recognition and much more.’Jonathan is married to Jamelia Smith and has two children, Jaquvien Smith, 8, and Jayla Smith, 4.