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The Thompson Falls Beautification Committee honored three properties with a Thumbs Up Award for keeping Thompson Falls looking beautiful last week. Each year the awards are given out to a residence, a community property and a business. The awards recognize the efforts of residents, businesses and institutions in keeping their properties attractive in Thompson Falls.

The residential Thumbs Up Award went to Bud and Judy Leufkens for their home on Maiden Lane. They were nominated for their manicured front lawn and landscaping. The back yard of the property had also gone through numerous renovations with an added covered patio. The Leufkens property sits on the bank of the Clark Fork River, but water access was difficult to reach until a wooden staircase was installed.

The second Thumbs Up Award went to the Thompson Falls Christian Church for maintaining their property and always keeping it tidy. The congregation works to clear debris, rake and prune the trees on the property.

"It's a group effort. We all work together to keep up with the property," said Bob Crowder, who was grateful to be accepting the Thumbs Up Award on behalf of the church along with Matt Fortin and Gerald Ingraham. 

The business Thumbs Up Award went to the office of Dr. Roland Goertzen along Highway 200 just east of Thompson Falls. The dentist office has a flower bed under the business sign filled with a colorful variety of flowers. Goertzen was applauded by the Thompson Falls Beautification Days committee for keeping the grass looking sharp and the landscaping close to the building nicely manicured.

"We love to hand out these awards every year," commented Beautification Committee Chairperson Rita Lundgren. "It is about recognition. We like to shine a light on the efforts of residents keeping this community looking beautiful." 

Callie Jacobson

THOMPSON FALLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH members Mark Fortin, Gerald Ingraham and Pastor Bob Crowder accepted their award.

The Thumbs Up Awards are one of the many efforts put forth to ensure that the city of Thompson Falls always looks its best. The Beautification Days event held each April also encourages the community to take part in picking up trash, raking leaves and clearing branches and debris from public property. Volunteers also assist residents who are unable to complete the work themselves.

According to the city of Thompson Falls website, Beautification Days started with the simple request for a trash can in front of the public library for visitors to put their trash in before entering. The request inspired more and more clean-up programs which officially became Thompson Falls Beautification Days.

Currently Beautification Days are put on by the Thompson Falls Community Development group, numerous volunteers, local businesses, and public schools who all work together for a cleaner community and the public service of assisting neighbors.