Rogers, who is branch manager of HomeTrust Bank in Waynesville, was selected for the recognition by the DWA in appreciation of her contributions to the downtown revitalization process.

In nominating Rogers for this honor, the DWA wrote the following: “... there is a small group of individuals you can call upon for any task. They are invaluable to the success and mission of the organization. They are competent, talented, committed and leaders in the community. Patsy Rogers is one of those individuals. Patsy has been a member of the Downtown Waynesville Association board of directors since 1988 and a member of the executive board since 1990. She has served as president on two different occasions, secretary, and chair of the infrastructure committee. She has been a participant and leader in every aspect of downtown revitalization, from fund raising to serving on hospitality committees.”

In the other category, a special tabloid publication that was a joint effort of The Smoky Mountain News and The Mountaineer — who both have offices in downtown Waynesville — won top honors in the caterogy of Best Printed Promotional Item.

“Downtown Waynesville: 20 Years of Partnership,” was produced to mark DWA’s 20th anniversary. The publication was written, designed and printed through a collaborative effort of the two newspapers. In their comments, judges praised the project, saying it was “wonderful to see the cooperative spirit” that made the publication possible. They also noted that it employed “a perfect distribution system for audience pick up” and was ”very professionally done.”

Main Street is a downtown revitalization program for smaller towns based on economic development within the context of historic preservation. The North Carolina Main Street Program is part of the Office of Urban Development in the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.