Bartlesville teenager Nicholas “Garrett” Bridges received a commendation from the City Council after completing the “50 Yard Challenge” — mowing 50 lawns for free for veterans, single parents, senior citizens and others in need.
Teen completes 50-Yard Challenge
A Bartlesville teenager was recognized by the City Council during Monday night’s meeting after completing the “50 Yard Challenge” – mowing 50 lawns for free for veterans, single parents, senior citizens and others in need.
14-year-old Nicholas “Garrett” Bridges received a Commendation for Service to the Community from the Council.
“He spent three months of his summer mowing lawns for free,” said Councilmember Aaron Kirkpatrick. “He spent a lot of time, really served above and beyond … really setting a great example in that culture of service for Bartlesville.”
The challenge was started in 2015 by Rodney Smith Jr. of Raising Men and Women Lawn Care Service of Madison, Ala. Smith traveled to Bartlesville in late July to personally recognize Bridges and present him with a brand-new mower, weedeater and blower.
More than a dozen young men from the Church of Latter-Day Saints were also recognized Monday night with a Commendation for Service to the Community for cleaning up an elderly woman’s yard.
Church group recognized for service project
More than a dozen young men from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were also recognized Monday night for tackling a daunting community service project, led by Tyler Vaclaw.
Those receiving a Commendation for Service included: Miles Brown, Luke Bulleigh, Oliver Bulleigh, Pierce Bulleigh, Zane Cragun, Garren Dennis, Reed Dennis, Rhett Dennis, Draiden Hanks, Preston Haskell (youth leader), Jax Hyde, Talmage King, Seth Neal, Steven Nebeker, Jacob Vaclaw, Ryan Vaclaw (congregation leader), Logan James, Peter King and Joseph Wirtz.
“They are a very dedicated group of young men,” said Mayor Jim Curd. “They recently asked our Keep Bartlesville Beautiful committee if there was anything available that they could go provide some public service to.”
The group identified a local elderly woman who had been widowed for several years and could not keep up with her yard. The City’s Code Enforcement staff had received multiple complaints about the property, and the church group agreed to take it on as a service project. The church assembled a group of 15 young men, ages 13 to 18, as well as adult supervisors, on July 16. Armed with trailers, rakes, clippers and other equipment, they removed undergrowth on the property, Curd said, and then returned on July 19 to continue the work. Curd noted that the group is planning an additional cleanup day in September to finish the backyard.