Rotarians honor three with Service Above Self awards

Goodhue County dispatcher Wayne Betcher remembers a terrified 11-year-old babysitter’s call in the early 1990s. Someone was attempting to break into a rural home, banging on windows, jiggling doorknobs, demanding to be let inside.

She hid the kids in a bedroom closet. She didn’t know the address – because there was no such thing then. She didn’t know the parents’ full names. She needed help.

“The only reason we knew it was a 911 call was we had push button phones. There were five lines. Four of those lines were admin lines and one for 911,” Betcher recalled.

He had the girl look for anything that might provide details so officers could respond. She finds an envelope.

“She looks at it and says, ‘Resident, Route 2, Goodhue.’ That didn’t help,” Betcher said. “In the meantime, I had deputies and city of Goodhue police out scouring the area, telling them to turn on their sirens periodically one at a time so she could hear if that siren was close by.”

That story ends well with her hearing a siren, one of the officers finding a car in a nearby ditch and then following tracks in the snow to the house.

But the bigger story, according to Goodhue County officials, is that Betcher during his 34 years pushed for the enhanced 911 system and a host of technological improvements in place today.

“The system changed how we handle emergencies,” Sheriff Marty Kelly said.

On Tuesday, April 1, Red Wing Rotary presented Betcher and two other civil servants – Lynn Nardinger with the city of Red Wing and Mark Johnson of Red Wing Public Schools – with the 2024 Service Above Self awards.

“All well-deserving individuals,” Rotarian Troy Young said.

Wayne Betcher

Betcher retired in December. His title changed last from dispatcher to public safety telecommunications sergeant, but his dedication remained steadfast, according to Supervisor Chad Steffen.

“Nowadays we get a 911 call,” Betcher said. “We’ve got multiple different sources that will show GPS coordinators. We now have the ability to show the level, whether it’s first floor, second floor, third floor of a building. And you can text. You can do all sorts of things to get help, which is all part of that scenario from where I started until now.”

Lynn Nardinger

You could call him a curbside recycling pioneer, a snow fighting hero or, more officially, the city of Red Wing deputy director of public works. Lynn Nardinger has filled numerous roles and had a lasting impact in 30-plus years. 

“He is one of the few who has made exemplary service to others a way of life,” city Business Director Marshall Hallock said.

Public Works Director Shawn Blaney said Nardinger’s resume also includes solid waste management, cemetery management and marina management. His can-do attitude has carried into every role in the organization.

“He has built strong working relationships across virtually every city department and with numerous external organizations,” Blaney said, and the resulting projects make the city a great place to live.

Nardinger thanked his coworkers, his family and Rotary. “Any of you who know me know that I’m not very comfortable being up in front of a group of people speaking. I’d rather be a person behind the scenes making sure things get done directly and on time.” 

Mark Johnson

A young boy was struggling. His family had encountered tough times and he needed extra support. 

“While we know that his teacher, principal, and school social worker were there for him, he found his life-changing champion in Mark Johnson – buildings & grounds crew member, district driver and all-around great human being,” Red Wing Public Schools Buildings & Grounds Director Alan Gaylor told Red Wing Rotary.

Six years later, Johnson is still there for this young man, whose face lights up when he sees Johnson mowing the lawn, navigating the hallways or simply waving as he drives down the street. 

“The connection lasts because it is real,” Gaylor said. “Mark Johnson demonstrates why we at Red Wing Public Schools know that every staff member is an educator in some way. Mark lives district values of ‘Creative, Courageous and United’ by connecting and giving that little bit extra beyond the classroom that boosts a student’s social and emotional needs – and without those we all know that learning suffers.”

Nutrition Services Director Jess Peña said Johnson interacts this way with everyone at the Red Wing Public School District, calling him a bright spirit no matter how demanding the work is. “I can only hope that my own children are fortunate enough” to have a Mark Johnson in their lives, she said.

Johnson responded simply, “Just put it this way. I love my job. I love these guys. I love the school district. I’m just grateful for everything. Thank you.”