Good Neighbear award presented to umpire in support of Midget Baseball Association

Mark Chitwood, center, receives the State Farm Good Neighbear Award from State Farm's Deanna Martin, right, at the McCook Midget Baseball Association Cubs Tournament. Chitwood was nominated by Aggie Roberts (left) for his dedication to the Baseball program in McCook. (Grant Strunk/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Thanks to last year's hail storm and the hiring and training of newly-licensed employees Linda Maiden's Agency missed several months of the Good Neighbear Award but that is an advantage to the McCook Midget Baseball Association.

The MMBA is the recipient of the most recent charitable donation of for the Good Neighbor Award which with all of the missing months totals $500.

This award is made possible thanks to a submission from Aggie Roberts and the Good Neighbor attitude of Mark Chitwood. In her nomination of Mark she says that he has been instrumental in the success of the Little League Baseball program at Felling Field. Chitwood puts in a lot of hours -- even on some Sundays for make-up games and serves as the head umpire, most of all he really cares about all of the kids.

Chitwood personally helps the smaller and inexperienced boys on where to stand in the batter's box when needed and looks out for the safety of the catchers to make sure they are a safe distance from the swinging bat.

He encourages all of them and comments when they make a good play, he sets the tone for all to have a good time, win or lose.

Linda was sorry to miss this presentation but wanted to do this before the baseball season was over. So Deanna Martin, new employee at the agency, presented Mark Chitwood and the McCook Midget Baseball Association with a check for $500.

The Good NeighBear Award is a joint effort of Linda Maiden State Farm Insurance and the McCook Daily Gazette to recognize individuals who make an extra effort to help others. Nominations for this award may be submitted online at www.mccookgazette.com, emailed to lindamaiden@lindamaiden.com or completed in paper form and left at Linda's office at 802 West B or mailed to PO Box 917 McCook.

So nominate your "Good Neighbear" and your favorite may be the winner of up to $100 a month.