Jones, Buttrill named Campbell County Volunteers of the Year

Each will be recognized by Governor Bill Lee at a special spring ceremony in Nashville

LAFOLLETTE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)- Each year, volunteers are honored by the State of Tennessee.  This initiative, led by Volunteer Tennessee, seeks to recognize outstanding community servants from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties.  With the program now in its seventeenth year statewide and its fourth year in Campbell County, two local leaders have been selected as the youth and adult Volunteer of the Year.  Isaac Jones has been named as the Youth Volunteer of the Year, and Walt Buttrill has been named as the Adult Volunteer of the Year.  These two servant leaders will be recognized by Governor Bill Lee in the spring at a special ceremony in Nashville. 

Isaac Jones is a Senior at Campbell County High School and was nominated by his Agriculture teacher Nathaniel Morton.  Morton described Jones as a “diligent and faithful worker” who has a “rare quality of listening and acting on situations that might intimidate others.”  He is the sole student member of the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and serves as President of his Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter.  Through FFA, Jones frequently speaks to area leaders about the importance of agriculture.  He spearheaded the delivery of water to counties suffering the effects of Hurricane Helene, and frequently helps those in need through the outreach programs of his church – East LaFollette Baptist.  He also volunteers with Special Olympics and is an active member of the Beta Club.  Prior youth recipients of the award include Mary Grace Myers, Landyn Ford, and Bella Fleming. 

If there’s a cove on Norris Lake, Walt Buttrill has probably seen it – and picked up trash from it.  Originally from Maryland, Buttrill moved to Campbell County in 2016 because of how much he loved the lake.  He started to notice how much trash (mostly Styrofoam) was polluting the lake and decided to do something about it.  He bought an older pontoon boat and refitted it with a small crane and more durable deck surface.  Buttrill has now led the boat, named the “Litter Gitter” to collect more than 230,000 pounds of trash from Norris Lake.  He has found everything from refrigerators and lift tanks to water trampolines and bowling balls.  Campbell County has one of the most beautiful lakes in Tennessee, and a huge part of that is because of Walt Buttrill’s selfless service.  Prior adult recipients of the award include Brandon Johnson, Bill Thompson, and Patricia Siwinski. 

“Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State, and I believe that Campbell County exemplifies that better than anywhere else,” said Brandon Johnson, who serves as Chairman of the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award Program.  “Our committee considered several nominees, but ultimately it was the selfless service of these two that rose to the top.  Their dedication to our community should be celebrated.”  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/11/2024-6AM-PHOTOS SUBMITTED)