Decades of city service applauded
For the past 20 years, two faces have been a constant at the Pea Ridge Planning Commission meetings.
Dr. Karen Sherman was appointed to the Planning Commission in 1993.
Al Fowler was appointed to the Planning Commission in 2004. The 2000 census showed the city’s population at 2,346.
Recently, Mayor Nathan See surprised both Fowler and Sherman by presenting them each with a plaque honoring them for their decades of service to the city.
Calling them each “pillars of the community,” See thanked them for helping the city grow “in the right way.”
“For those of you who don’t know Al,” See said, “Al has been a dedicated cornerstone, pillar of the community and pastor of the First Baptist Church for 31 years.
“We’re giving him a recognition for his service on the Planning Commission for 20 years,” See said.
“Thank you for your loyal and dedicated service to the Planning Commission for the City of Pea Ridge,” See said. “Thank you for your commitment to that. It takes people like you to help us grow in the right way. I just want to show some appreciation to you for that.”
In 1993, when the city population was well under 2,000 people, Dr. Karen Sherman was appointed to the Pea Ridge Planning Commission. She served with longtime Planning Commission chairman Jay Hale, who retired in 2004.
“Dr. Sherman is a very well known veterinarian in the community, a successful business owner, a pillar of the community, a stake holder,” See said. “You have helped grow the community in different facets from donations to the Fire Department, but more than anything, thank you for your time of donations to the Planning Commission for 31 years.”
Fowler was appointed to the Pea Ridge Planning Commission in July 2004 as Hale retired.