Mike Russell and Jon Shepherd are two of the most engaged neighbors in Wayne County.
The men were proclaimed winners in the recent Good Neighbor Week event created by the Missouri University. Wayne County Extension staff said the contest was to generate what a “good neighbor” looks like by encouraging residents to submit names and acts of kindness to the University of Missouri.
From the local list, MU Wayne County Extension Council chose two top nominees to receive “Good Neighbor Week” certificates and $50 gift cards. A donation from the Piedmont Rotary Club made it possible to give the gift cards.
Russell was one of the “Most Engaged Neighbor” nominees for Wayne County and was proclaimed as a great neighbor in Williamsville where he lives.
His nomination reads, “Mike is very helpful in our neighborhood. He watches over our house when we aren’t home, helps put wood in our stove in the winter, he even helped us clean out our basement. He checks and makes sure there’s gas and essential fluids in the cars of widows that live in our neighborhood.”
Russell has lived in the Greenville area most of his life. He is a graduate from the Greenville High School.
Among other lines of work, Russell was a truck driver for many years having hauled anything and everything including supplies for the Olympics and deliveries to the World Trade Center.
He lives in Williamsville along with his Australian shepherd, Suki.
In nominating Russell, the neighbors said, “he takes pride in his town and becomes vocal when he sees a need for improvement.”
Shepherd’s nomination reads, “at 92 years young, he still fixes the community’s road, sprays for weeds, helps fix other people’s equipment, and keeps everyone in the loop of what’s going on.”
Shepherd started coming to Wayne County about 40 years ago to hunt, when he was employed by General Electric making light bulbs.
A few years later, Shepherd and a couple of brothers bought property from a friend. Their sister soon joined them. They built homes on what is sometimes referred to as “Shepherd’s Mountain.” After some 35 years, there’s still family together on the property.
Shepherd takes care of about 11 acres, including cutting wood for his stove. He still loves to hunt and says he will never regret the purchase he and his brothers made years ago. He helps anywhere he can in his neck of the woods. He says he likes how it feels when he’s being a good neighbor.
Being a good neighbor doesn’t mean you have to do extraordinary acts, it can be as simple but thoughtful as a gentleman’s nomination who lives on Highway 143. He said, “I have allowed the dogs of our surrounding neighbors to roam around my yard freely without harm or getting in an argument with their owners.”
Extension staff explained, “It doesn’t have to be within a specific week for you to be engaged, either. Take some time to think of how you are or can be a good neighbor. Everyone is a winner when you do.”