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Older Alaska Workers Recognized, Wasilla Senior 2004 State Honoree

Sep. 17, 2004
No. 05-15

WASILLA -- The Alaska Commission on Aging has recognized Noreene James as Alaska’s Outstanding Older Worker for 2004. James, 76, was selected from five nominees 65 years of age or older who are employed more than 20 hours per week in paid positions.

James is employed fulltime as a certified nurses aide at Valley Health Services, a department of Valley Hospital. She works 40 hours per week assisting five patients with daily living activities in their homes.

Mrs. James will receive her award on September 21 during the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce noon meeting at the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn. The presentation is timed to coincide with Governor Frank H. Murkowski’s declaration of Employ Older Workers Week September 19-25.

James’ working career started as a teenager on a dude ranch in Wyoming. Later work included employment as an Idaho fire lookout with her late husband, Richard James. The couple’s three children and two grandchildren all live in Alaska.

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Greg O’Claray said, “It is a joy to honor Noreene James. She inspires all of us with her determination to continue her profession and she has no plans to retire.”

James’ predecessor as Alaska’s honored older worker in 2003 was Beulah Poindexter, owner of Anchor Point Greenhouse. Other previous winners include Jim Tyner, office manager and bookkeeper for an auto service station and repair business in Juneau and Margaret Sanders, director of a senior center in Nenana.

The older worker recognition program is administered by Experience Works, a national nonprofit organization that provides training and employment services for mature workers. The program is sponsored by the Alaska Commission on Aging and the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

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News Media Contacts:
Thomas W. Nelson, Director, Employment Security Division, 907.465.2712 or
Joe Holbert, Special Assistant/Communications, 907.465.5673

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