Valley Village founders honored for contributions

Each year, the ladies of the Valley Service Organization (VSO) bestow the title Woman of Distinction on a woman who has made significant contributions to the North Platte Valley. 

In previous years, honorees have included influential Valley residents such as Elva Evans (2018) and Cheryl "Mo" Munroe (2019). This year, the VSO awarded the title Woman of Distinction to five Valley residents for their hand in filling a need for childcare in the area. Tiffany Jones, Cheena Parsons, Schelby Merrill, Brekke Munks and Abby McIrvin were all honored on May 27 for their roles in starting Valley Village Childcare.

One founding member who was not present was Katie Cheesborough, former Riverside Town Council member and big game habitat biologist for the Saratoga area. Katie and her husband, Casey, moved from the Valley before the new childcare facility was realized due, in large part, to the lack of childcare.

Cheryl Ervine, a member of VSO who was given a tour of Valley Village Childcare earlier in the month, gave a speech highlighting each of the founders before the awards were presented and began with Jones.

"While visiting with the five ladies I felt like Tiffany was a driving force and an encourager (sic) to the others after being here 11 years and raising her children on a ranch," said Ervine. "She saw livelihoods and income being affected by parents searching for childcare. Tiffany strongly felt that families should not be leaving because of not being able to find childcare."

Jones, who is the marketing director for the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, was followed by Parsons, who also works at the Resort and is the assistant general manager and sales director.

"Cheena and the other ladies give her (Cheena's) husband, Joe, a lot of kudos for helping them," Ervine said. "Her son, Boothe, is 4 years old. His parents were strongly considering moving because of no childcare. Cheena's big smile and enthusiasm would have been missed if they left, plus her husband Joe's involvement in our community."

According to Ervine, Merrill was the first of the five women she met in the process of gathering them together and arranging a tour of Valley Village Childcare. Merrill, who currently serves on the Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District and is married to Cade Merrill of Merrill Meat Company, first came to the Valley eight years ago for a management position at Brush Creek Ranch.

Munks has also been in the Valley for eight years and currently works for Carbon County School District No. 2 as the director for the Board of Cooperative Education Services. Along with working with students from newborn to senior adults, she is also a soil scientist and has started two businesses with her husband, Ryan; Plattoga Aggregates and High Plains Greenhouse.

The fifth woman to be honored was McIrvin, who was hired as the director of Valley Village Childcare.

"She is great for this role," said Ervine. "She has a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. She grew up around early childhood care centers helping her mother."

Before she was hired as the director of the childcare facility, McIrvin worked for Child Protective Services in Rawlins as a caseworker.

"One of her philosophies is; children learn through play," Ervine said. "With her extensive background and calm demeanor, Abby is a perfect fit for Valley Village Childcare."

McIrvin and her wife, Krissy, are currently in the process of taking over ownership of The Beartrap Cafe and Bar in Riverside.

"These women deserve our 'Women of Distinction' awards for being huge assets to our community. With their intelligence, enthusiasm, persistence and hard work they have started a safe, fun and educational childcare for our community," said Ervine. "Families with children no longer need to leave."

Valley Village Child Care opened on December 6, 2020 and is already serving 38 children. *Editor's Note: Joshua Wood's wife, Telitha, is employed by Valley Village Child Care*