Keep Beatrice Beautiful Director retires, after 40 years of service

BEATRICE – A Beatrice woman was honored by the City of Beatrice Monday night for coordinating countless environmental and cleanup initiatives spanning four decades.

Linda Grell recently retired as Executive Director of Keep Beatrice Beautiful, formerly known as Beatrice Clean City. The chapter has been an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.

Mayor Stan With led a recognition of Grell’s 40 years of service to the community.  "The program has won seven Keep America Beautiful national awards...the President's Gold Cup award twice...and has had the opportunity to receive many Beatrice city grants. These grants have purchase recycled content benchs, restored the tabernacle at Chautauqua Park, repainted the Beatrice City Auditorium and purchased drapes, built park shelters and planted over 300 trees in city parks and along Chief Standing Bear Trail."

Grell started her position leading the environmental organization in 1982. Mayor Wirth noted the program led by Grell in 2005 won a national award from the Kodak American Greenways program, one of 47 groups nationwide to be awarded.

Grell also received the professional leadership award from KAB, served on a five-state advisory body of Keep America Beautiful Affiliates, received a professional leadership award from the national organization and served as a regional representative for Keep America Beautiful.

"I just want to thank you and thank the City of Beatrice for always having us in the auditorium, for free rent...that was gracious of them. It's been a great 40 years, I've enjoyed every minute of it, meeting lots of people. It's nice to do things for your community to make it look better and that's what all of you do, too....so thank you for all of your service."

Grell was presented with a plaque to recognize her forty years of service. Taking over the leadership position of Keep Beatrice Beautiful is Jerry Bucy, of Beatrice.