Sometimes when I realize it's time for an event that I promised to attend a while ago, I think, "I'm tired, I'm busy, I'm ..." and a lot of other reasons why I would rather go home.

When I get there, it's like a switch comes on, and I'm really glad I chose to come.

I get a high from seeing the people I know and meeting new ones. And I have a feeling of satisfaction when I leave.

That's the way it was Monday night when I filled in at the Progress Alliance dinner, an event that can give anyone who believes in Jefferson County an instant lift.

The dinner is the brain child of my buddy Ed Looman, Progress Alliance director. He's been gone from the Herald-Star family for a long time but we don't forget our own. Now we have his daughter, Jess, sitting right behind me, and that's one of life's pluses.

Among the new people I met is Kathy Davison, new Steubenville city manager. On my list of old friends attending were two of the honorees, Laura Meeks and Pat Fletcher.

After they received their awards, I told them I was honored to claim such important people as my friends. And I meant it.

Laura gave one of the most meaningful thank-yous for the President's Award she received.

She spoke about her family and what the unexpected opportunity to receive a college education meant to her. She talked about the early supporters of Jefferson Technical College, including my first boss here, Joe Michl. After dinner, Ed Florak and I took a minute to remember some of the giants who were behind the establishment of JCC, now Eastern Gateway Community College.

Ed followed Fred Roby, the first Jeff Tech president, as leader of the young educational facility.

I was Joe's Jeff Tech reporter back then. I interviewed Fred at the school's first commencement and did stories on every program the fledgling operation offered. What a success story. Joe would be proud.

John Riley, who received the very first Robert D'Anniballe Entrepreneur of the Year Award, gave a very simple thank-you that, nevertheless, was filled with meaning. John and Rita Riley and their family are one of the biggest success stories in the area, and they deserve the recognition. By the way, John says he is most proud of the number of employees who have been with them since the Riley Kwik Kings first opened.

There were other touching moments and funny ones, too. Carolyn Glaub of the Center of Music and Art talked about the people who come into the center that she calls the fun business in town. She says she and her husband, Jody, want the center to be "what you want it to be." She also announced plans for a new program for artistic children and added, "I never feel like I'm going to work."

Fred Brower said he was accepting the award for the 1,700 people who work for Trinity Health System, those people who "do it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, who never stop and never say no."

What a tribute.

Pat Fletcher rearranged her travel schedule - she was vacationing in Florida with her son and his family and her husband, Lawrence - when she was notified Laura Meeks was going to receive a major award. She said she was told, "You have to be there," not realizing she, too, was going to be honored for all those fruitful years as an educator and community leader.

Earlier in the evening, I bumped into a beautiful young woman in a striking black-and-white strapless dress, and her husband. I thought they were such a nice young couple. They also were, I discovered later, the owners of a 50-head herd of registered Angus beef cows. These are busy people -Brent and Shawna Nemeth. They are involved in family businesses and operate residential and commercial rental properties while Brent attends law school. Brent also has a civil engineering degree, and Shawna has an elementary education degree. Wow!

For those of us who have known Earl Cramblett for many years, it was wonderful to be present for his award. When we were all young, Earl and Sohio were synonymous. He has been a role model for the work ethic and also a tremendous contributor to community life.

His nephew, Matt Underwood, traveled to Steubenville to present the award. He said that was only fitting since Earl and Marian drove to his hometown every Friday night during his high school football career to see him play.

I was interested in Matt since he is the television voice of the Cleveland Indians. I was a fervid Indians fan during my youth, spending many a summer day listening to the play-by-play over the portable radio my brother-in-law handed down to me.

It was gratifying also to see Ed Rice of Signs Unlimited recognized for his business acumen and confidence in Jefferson County in a move to a new facility at Jefferson County Industrial Park and Indian Creek School District for its successful bond issue campaign for a new junior high school in Mingo Junction.

Putting the finishing touch on a rewarding evening were the goodies produced by members of the Food Artisans of the Ohio Valley. What an array of cookies! Perfect!