By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
Yukon Parks & Recreation Director Jan Scott has been recognized by a group of ringers for her long-standing support.
The Yukon Horseshoe Club recently presented a plaque of appreciation to Yukon’s longtime parks and recreation chief. The surprise presentation was made Aug. 18 by club members Ken Ryel and David Montgomery.
The plaque cites Scott’s support “year after year” for Yukon’s horseshoe pitching group.
“We just wanted to thank Jan for everything she’s done for us,” said Ryel, the Yukon Horseshoe Club’s secretary/treasurer. “She’s well respected. Jan does a lot for the parks.”
The Yukon Horseshoe Club credited Scott for her efforts to secure funding for an upgrade to the Yukon City Park horseshoe courts off Jim Watson Drive.
That project was finished in 2013 and has allowed the local horseshoe pitchers to host larger tournaments.
“Jan does whatever we need,” Ryel said. “At the state singles (tournament), she’s there for us furnishing snacks and food and helping with the trailer.
“She goes down and plants flowers herself.”
Scott, who’s been Yukon’s parks and recreation director since 1999, said the award was a pleasant surprise.
“They’re always very nice and very appreciative,” she said.
The Yukon Horseshoe Club has completed several joint projects with Yukon Friends of the Park.
“We have a good partnership with them like we have with different groups in our community, like the Yukon Optimist Club and Southwest Covenant,” Scott said. “That’s important in a city like Yukon.”
The Yukon Horseshoe Club hosts about five tournaments annually at the Yukon City Park courts.
“That first year, we had a really large tournament for the state singles because everybody wanted to come to our new courts,” Ryel said. “We had over 100 participants.
“We raised $5,000 from local companies and individuals for ‘pay-out’ money and to help pay for a building we used as an office.”
Yukon will host the state singles tournament again this year on Labor Day weekend.
Members of the Yukon Horseshoe Club have had league play on Tuesday nights for more than 30 years, Ryel noted. The club is open to anyone with an interest in horseshoe pitching who wants to have fun. There’s no cost to participate.
For more information, call David Montgomery at (405) 206-1581 or Ryel at (405) 306-8400.
