Mark P. Gwinn 1951-2025 Mark P. Gwinn Jr., 73, of Rio
Mar. 5—Mark P. Gwinn 1951-2025 Mark P. Gwinn Jr., 73, of Rio Communities, peacefully passed away on Feb. 22, 2025. Mark was born on July 1, 1951, to Mark and Violet (Bux) Gwinn, in Belen, N.M. As a young man, Mark enjoyed playing a variety of sports, and was an active Boy Scout, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Following his graduation from Belen High School in 1969, he went on to receive degrees in physical education and psychology from Western New Mexico University. His talent and skill at golf provided an opportunity to attend college on a golf scholarship, where he played all four years. After college, in 1973, Mark began his career with the Santa Fe Railway, a career he enjoyed and excelled in. While working for the railroad, he met the love of his life, Carolyn (Clover) Johnston. The two wed in 1979, and raised two children, Tina (Johnston) Dziuk and James Johnston. Mark loved his family, his career and was devoted to both. He was an active father, who coached his son's Little League team, and always made time for school events. While working for the railroad, from 1990 to 1992, Mark traveled to Illinois, where he worked with a group of computer programmers to develop a Transportation Support System. The program was the first of its kind for Class I railroads. Throughout his career, Mark received multiple awards and recognition for his work. In 2007, Mark retired from the BNSF Railway as the superintendent of operations on the Gallup substation in Belen. He chose to retire early to travel with his wife, and care for her as she battled late-stage breast cancer. Following the loss of his wife, Mark became an organizer for Relay for Life, and also began volunteering in other ways within his community. In May of 2013, Mark was elected as the first mayor of the newly-incorporated city of Rio Communities. Before and during his time as mayor, he spent countless hours working to improve his town. Mark's impact on his career, community and his family will not be forgotten. He is greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Carolyn. He is survived by his sister, Martina Gwinn; his two children, Tina Dziuk and James Johnston; his grandchildren, Tyler, Alec, Bresia, Brooklyn, Jay and Kaylyn; and three great-grandchildren, Gianna, Kalasia, and Xeneca; and many other extended family members he cherished. Mark was especially grateful for his father-in-law, Robert Clover, who he enjoyed breakfast with every Sunday on their way to church, prior to his illness. A memorial service to celebrate Mark's life will take place at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, at Abundant Life Christian Center in Rio Communities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Marion Women's Club earns national award for historic restoration
The Marion Women's Club Home received an accolade for its efforts in historic preservation. The Capt. William Hendricks Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) nominated the Marion Women's Club & Home for the Historic Preservation Medal and Certificate, according to an announcement. The award recognizes the club's dedication to preserving its archives and historic property. The award was in recognition of the restoration work completed at the home, 1126 E. Center St., over the past several years. 'Beginning in 2015, the Women's Club experienced a revival in club membership and community engagement which enabled the Club to begin raising funds to restore the 1903 Home and 1962 auditorium,' Sharol Herr, chair of the club's History, Museum & Preservation Committee, said. 'Projects have included digitizing Club's rich archives that date back to its formation in 1895, installing a new roof and gutters, improving foundation drainage, interior plaster repair and painting, and replacement of the original 1903 boiler, to name a few.' The award honors individuals who have made a distinguished contribution toward the historic preservation of local landmarks. The Women's Club is an all-volunteer organization. 'The Women's Club Home is an amazing project and is recognized at the state and national levels for the work that has been accomplished,' Barbara Chesney, national vice chair of DAR's Historic Preservation Committee, said in the announcement. 'It is an impressive example of a living history museum focusing on women's impact on their community. It truly deserves to be recognized with the Excellence in Historic Preservation Medal and Certificate.' DAR is a nonprofit, non-political volunteer women's service organization founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism across the United States. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Women's Club Home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized by the Ohio History Connection's 'Re-MARK-able Ohio' bronze marker program. It was built in 1903 by Ida and Shauck Barlow and donated to the club upon their deaths in 1945 to serve as the club's headquarters and 'forever' home. For more information, visit This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Women's Club honored for preserving 1903 historic home
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Managing Laurel Hill is personal for PGC forester Tom Respet
The ridgetop and hollows of Laurel Hill are in a state of constant change. What was once a vast swath of American chestnut, hemlock and fire-dependent pitch pine is now predominantly oak and other mixed hardwoods. Wildlife populations have ebbed and flowed with those changes regardless of human interference, but efforts by a local forester and his staff are ensuring they all have what they need to thrive. Pennsylvania Game Commission forester Tom Respet, of Champion, has 10 game lands encompassing 50,000 acres in Somerset and Westmoreland counties in his care. 'My projects on (State Game Lands No.) 42 are geared toward forestry for wildlife,' Respet said. 'People don't like to see trees cut, but some of the species that they don't see around much more depend on that early successional and the young forest – that dynamic of tight-knit trees. There's grouse on that game lands. A lot of it is due to the habitat being provided to them by cutting trees.' Respet has a special connection to Laurel Hill. Growing up in Smithton, he hiked on it as a young Boy Scout, shot his first buck on it, hunted bear with family on its broad summit and skied down its slopes. Now, he has the pleasure of managing its forests. 'I can honestly say it is a dream come true to be responsible for managing some of the areas that were such a meaningful part of youth into adulthood,' Respet said. Besides chainsaws and mowers, Respet and his crew use prescribed fire and chemical application to foster conditions that will best provide food and cover for species such as grouse, woodcock, turkeys and a variety of songbirds by creating what he calls 'flush undergrowth' – that is, high-quality cover. 'We're trying to utilize forestry for wildlife,' Respet said. 'I know a lot of people in the public think that we cut trees just to make money for that almighty dollar, but that's far from the truth with regard to us. We take pride in our work.' Although a carpet of ferns sprawling under a canopy of mature hardwoods is picturesque, it is not healthy wildlife habitat. 'We're trying to get sunlight down to the forest floor for regeneration purposes of trees,' Respet said. 'Red oak, oak of all types, maple, poplar – they're all under there, just waiting on their time. When that sunlight hits, they take off.' What the U.S. Department of Agriculture calls 'an introduced fungal disease' caused a chestnut blight in the 1820s, which spread throughout eastern hardwood forests at a rate of 24 miles per year. By the 1950s, almost all mature American chestnuts had succumbed to it. Mixed hardwoods now reign on the ridge. 'On our ridge over here, it's really difficult to regenerate the oak stands the way they were,' Respet said. 'We're having the birch take over.' That birch, as well as red maple and ferns, block sunlight from reaching the more desirable oaks that feed wildlife with their acorns. Since ferns and birch are not preferred browse for deer, they can quickly choke out the more beneficial species. 'Hopefully there is some oak re-gen under there, and when we eliminate that (interference), it will have time to shoot up and outcompete the birch,' Respet said. Fenced-in sections of woods, called deer exclosures, remain a vital tool for him. There are four on Laurel Hill. 'We're just trying to prevent deer from browsing down all our preferred re-gen,' Respet said. The exclosures need to remain for roughly 10 years to have any desired results, but fallen trees and branches destroy fencing and allow deer to enter and feast. Respet said that people have cut the fences as well. 'Our main objective is providing wildlife habitat – good, quality wildlife habitat,' Respet said. 'Hunters benefit from that along the way. We definitely want the hunters because they help us out. There's too many deer. They're over-browsing our regeneration that we're trying to keep, so we're working for both purposes – wildlife and hunters. 'We're trying to create young forests – it's the habitat that's been missing across the landscape.' His projects benefit bird species and mammals such as rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and black bears. Standing dead trees, called snags, and mast-producers are spared the chainsaw's blade during clear-cutting. Photosynthesis allows blackberry, huckleberry, laurel, scrub oak and witch hazel to flourish as well. Respet has even begun managing areas for timber rattlesnakes on the ridge. 'My goal is to go into some of these rocky areas and just open them up to sunlight,' Respet said. He said the technique will also draw insects, which in turn will attract bats. Current oak and cherry stand projects he and his crews are working on are expected to yield positive results decades into the future. 'As those stands get from, say, 10 to 20 to 30 (years old), there's stem exclusion,' Respet said. 'They're competing with each other. We're just helping that along.' Playing such a pivotal role in Laurel Hill's future is an assignment that is very personal to Respet. 'I love the Laurel Highlands,' he said. 'I've grown up here. Anytime I'm on it, I'm happy.' John Rucosky is a photographer for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5055. Follow him on Twitter @JohnRucosky.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Hamden high schooler completes Eagle Scout project, helps local animal shelter
HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A Hamden High School senior helped a local shelter by building a bridge for animals to safely walk over a stream on the shelter's property. Zayed Elahee, 17, completed the bridge for his Eagle Scout project. Laundry room fire at animal hospital in North Haven under investigation On Sunday, he was joined by community members and staff from Where The Love Is Animal Rescue to test out the bridge and attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dogs crossed the bridge on Sunday which showcased the improvements to hiking paths on the shelter's property. Elahee is set to begin at the University of Connecticut next fall. He facilitated the design and construction of the bridge with help from other Scouts from Troop #610. 'The most important aspect of an Eagle Scout project is that it benefits the community,' Elahee said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
