Kiwanis Club honors Cronic with Youth Service Award

GAINESVILLE - The Kiwanis Club of Gainesville recognized Hall County Sheriff Steve Cronic Tuesday night with its Youth Service Award, an award newly renamed for the late John W. Jacobs, Jr.

The highest honor bestowed annually by the club, the Youth Service Award is traditionally given to a community leader who focuses on the advancement of young people in Gainesville-Hall County.

Cronic was recognized for a long list of accomplishments including the creation of the ADVANCE (Avoiding Drugs, Violence and Negative Choices Early) program for Hall County students and the development of the Fatal Vision accident prevention program for high school teens.

In announcing the name change for the award, Kiwanian Eddie Hartness noted that John W. Jacobs, Jr., the founder of Jacobs Media, was a past recipient himself of the Youth Service Award and had a true heart for children.

Also during the night's festivities, Joy Baeurband, a senior at Gainesville High School, was named the winner of the John C. Thompson Award for outstanding Key Club member in Hall County.