Rice, a secretarial assistant with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Warren County, has been a county employee since February 1981. She has been active in helping to coordinate the Warren County Farmers’ Fair each year, working overtime many days and on weekends to make sure everything gets done on time.

A Navy veteran, she also serves as secretary to the Warren County War Memorial Corporation Board and the Warren County Shade Tree Commission, and has been a union officer with AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees).

"Milly possesses a broad knowledge of horticulture and insect identification. She has willingly taken courses offered by Rutgers to expand her knowledge on horticulture and related fields as well as computer training," said Agricultural Agent Bill Tietjen, who nominated Rice for the award. "She has the ability to act independently and takes the initiative to get the job done," he added.

Payne is a certified social worker at Warren Acres, the county’s juvenile detention facility, where she acts as liaison between the incarcerated residents and the court system. Employed by the County since February 1987, she counsels residents on a daily basis and handles many other duties, remaining at the facility beyond her scheduled hours to help the troubled juveniles in turning around their lives.

"Residents receive supportive guidance and compassion from this non-judgmental individual who extends her professional service well beyond her workday," said Lt. Robert Castner, acting director of Warren Acres, who nominated Payne for Employee of the Year.

"She is a team player with a genuine interest in making a difference in the lives of others," Castner said. "She is like a surrogate mother to juveniles who have come to depend on her for emotional guidance and the physical courage to make necessary choices in their lives so they will become respectable individuals of the community."

In addition to honoring Rice and Payne, Freeholder Director John DiMaio, Deputy Director Michael Doherty and Freeholder James DeBosh recognized the following employees for perfect attendance and for their length of service:

PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Floyd Allen, Road Dept.; Wilbur Carr, Road Dept.; Ben Ritter, Road Dept.; Frederick Miller, Road Dept.; Wendy Woythaler, Library; Earline Ziech, Library; Don Kelley, Sheriff; Dennis Burd, Sheriff’s Office; Barry Smith, Info. Systems; Constance Allen, Warren Haven; Stefanie Buley, Warren Haven; Dawn Connelly, Warren Haven; Joan Cooper, Warren Haven; Robert Hoppe, Warren Haven; Melanie Loyle, Warren Haven; Eileen McNamee, Warren Haven; Dale Mullikin, Warren Haven; Carol Palmer, Warren Haven; Mary Kay Sullivan, Warren Haven; June Gallo, Nutrition; Charles Erhardt, Sr., Bldgs. & Grounds; Gary Giamerese, Sr., Bldgs. & Grds; Ed Bruder, 911; Pat Rivoli, Public Safety; Pete Houck, CFO; M.J. Finken, Treasurer’s Office; Robert S. Castner, Jail; Terry Dorshimer, Jail; Tracy Muthard, Jail; Elizabeth Wickkiser, Coop. Extension; Carl Dieffenbach, Health; Leon Fortin, Health; John Hawk, Health; Claude Mitchell, Health; Lynda Dalrymple, Purchasing; Henry Dinger, Welfare; Joann Fehr, Welfare; Rosemarie Homa, Planning; Kent Bergmann, Prosecutor’s Office; Twila Clifford, Prosecutor’s Office; Rudolph Drechsel, Prosecutor’s Office; Phyllis Gordon, Prosecutor’s Office; Keith Correll, Warren Haven.

THIRTY-FIVE YEAR PINS

Diane C. Paul, Treasurer's; Richard C. Wiseman, Warren Haven.

THIRTY YEAR PINS

Virginia M. Parson, Warren Haven; John A. Hawk, Health Dept.; Carl F. Dieffenbach III, Health Dept.; Henry D. Dinger, Welfare.

TWENTY-FIVE YEAR PINS

Robert S. Castner, Warren Acres; Kathryn A. Mikolon, Warren Haven; Daniel H. Gardner, Prosecutor's Office; Carol A. Griffett, Warren Haven; Barry W. Smith, Info. Systems; Cheryl Edison, Welfare; Susan Fishbough, Welfare; George Schindler, Welfare.

TWENTY YEAR PINS

Richard W. Moore, Library; Paula M. Kucharski, Sheriff's Office; Anna C. Herb, Prosecutor's; Frank J. Kise, Road Dept.; Elsie M. Kinney, Warren Haven; Gladys M. Beam, Warren Haven; Robert P. Thompson, Road Dept.; Joanne Farr, Warren Haven; Karen R. Kubert, Human Services; Joan M. Rudewick, PHNA Glenna Miller, Road Dept.; Marjorie E. Miller, PHNA; Earline B. Ziech, Library; Mildred A. Rice, Coop. Extension; Jeffrey S. Melberger, Road Dept.; William M. Pittenger, Road Dept.; Warren V. Dilts, Road Dept.; Frank J. Bucsi, Prosecutor’s; Rosemary Baker, Welfare; Carol Gross, Welfare.

FIFTEEN YEAR PINS

Walter A. Ference, Warren Acres; Joan M. Cooper, Warren Haven; Brenda M. Brockmann, Warren Haven; Mark D. Kimble, Bldgs & Grds; Barbara C. Warne, Warren Haven; Colleen D. Hovan, Bldgs & Grds; Melinda Forster, Library; Patricia J. Summitt, Warren Haven; Susan E. Zwicker, Warren Acres; James A. Bernaski, Engineer's; Frank J. Vitale, Jail; Susan K. Hunt, Health Dept.; Thomas J. Miller, Info. Systems; Betty L. Lunger, Warren Haven; June A. Gallo, Nutrition; Tatiana H. Westra, Warren Haven; Shirleen J. Richline, Warren Haven; Daniel L. Snyder, Road Dept.; Emma Rely, Nutrition; Stefanie M. Buley, Warren Haven; Marjorie Alston, Welfare; Carolyn Rehrig, Welfare.

TEN YEAR PINS

Christine Christ, Library; Marilyn H. Grandin, Library; Barbara A. Zmyewski, Warren Haven; John J. Malloy, Road Dept.; Shannon E. Brennan, Human Services; Ruthann Rush, Warren Haven; Richard W. Clayton, Prosecutor’s Office; Loretta V. Tipton, PHNA; Helen Winters, Warren Haven; Marie L. Hummer, PHNA; Gertrude E. Monteleone, Warren Haven; Joan P. Rodrigues, Warren Haven; Sheila C. Sutton, Library; Dawn M. Yeager-Tremble, Prosecutor's Office; Dorothy H. Magyar, Prosecutor's Office; Maryanne Lyons, Warren Haven; Lori A. Craig, Prosecutor's Office; Angela F. Borkowski, Prosecutor's Office; Donna L. Smith, Warren Haven; Richard L. Dalrymple, Prosecutor's Office; Rebecca S. Pene, Warren Haven; Judith A. Leone, PHNA; Beverly J. Botelho, Office On Aging; Tina M. Waters, Warren Haven; Jeanette A. Snyder, Econ. Development & Tourism; Frank Eisley IV, Jail; Gregory S. Ratzman, Buildings & Grds; Linda J. Guida, Library; Barbara A. Mullikin, Warren Haven; Cynthia W. Seelig, Library; Susan H. Mowery, Warren Haven; Sue A. Vasquez, Prosecutor's Office; Wendy Burdge, Warren Acres; Patricia A. Maselli, Warren Haven; Jenny S. Sipple, Prosecutor's Office; Leo F. Becker, Veterans Interment; Angelica Aguirre, Welfare; Nancy Blackwood, Welfare; Faye Dean, Welfare; Christopher Moritz, Welfare; Nayana Parikh, Welfare; Anabela Querido; Welfare; Dawn Walker, Welfare; Sandra Wyant, Welfare.

FIVE YEAR PINS

Amy S. Rodriguez, Warren Haven; Dennis M. Woodruff, Blds & Grds; Benjamin Ritter; Road Dept.; Mary K. Vass, Warren Haven; Dana F. Woolf, Comm. Center; Sandra K. O’Brien, Warren Haven; James A. Burd, Warren Haven; Karen L. Frutchey, PHNA; John M. Peterson, Sr., Road Dept.; Elizabeth A. Kappler, Warren Haven; Erich R. Sodtalbers, Bridge Dept.; Anne Marie Barger, Comm. Center; Joann Read, Warren Haven; Claire E. Trongone; PHNA; Nancy B. Hanna, Warren Haven; Constance E. Collins, County Clerk; Brian J. Pensack, Bldgs & Grds; Celena M. Roberts, Warren Haven; Robert D. Castner, Jail; Robert W. Rafferty, Sheriff's Off; Kathleen G. Berthoud, PHNA; Carole A. Ennis, Warren Haven; Robert J. Garatty, Jr., Jail.