Estelle's Achievements
Estelle’s work on behalf of the community has been recognized throughout the years.
>> Honored by the Board of Supervisors for her service to the community during the 1992 Earthquakes.
>> Panel on Credibility in Journalism: National conference of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, San Francisco 2003.
>> Citizen of the Year by community members and the Garberville - Redway Chamber of Commerce 2003.
Estelle Fennell with past Citizens of the Year
>> Honored with a resolution from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, commending Estelle for her work on the Canoe and Honeydew fires. (2004)
- - Responsible Media Award from the California Fire Safe Council. (2004)
FENNELL HONORED: The California Fire Safe Council decorated KMUD reporter Estelle Fennell last week, honoring her coverage of last year's Canoe and Honeydew fires, which ravaged the SoHum area last summer. In its commendation, the council said that Fennell "comprehensively reported the fires with a commendable level of professionalism and accurateness"" and noted that the firefighters themselves came to depend on KMUD for information about the blaze.
~ from The NORTH COAST JOURNAL, November 2004.
EXCERPT FROM NCJ OCTOBER 2003: ........ But the last word on news coverage of the fires should go to the CDF, who took the unusual step of singling out a non-CDF employee for particular praise in their official wrap-up report on the fires. "Local resident and reporter Estelle Fennell, news director of radio station KMUD 91.1 FM, has an established credibility with the citizens in the ruggedly individualistic communities of Southern Humboldt County," the report reads. "Her timely, accurate reporting of fire information helped to minimize the fear and anxiety residents were feeling during the fire siege. Her accessibility and intrepid dedication were remarkable, as was the accuracy of her reports."
~ from THE NORTH COAST JOURNAL, October 2003.
EXCERPT FROM LIFE AND TIMES DECEMBER 2003: ........ " Estelle's incredible dedication and professionalism during the forest fires of September kept the entire community informed and calm. Even people who don't normally listen to KMUD were depending on Estelle's broadcasts. She was on the job 24/7 during this crisis. She earned the respect of CDF and all of the agencies involved so that she was able to go behind the scenes and get information other news media did not have access to….I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Estelle's work may have saved lives." "She kept this community together….."
~ from THE LIFE AND TIMES, 9 December 2003.
>>Honored by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department with an Award of appreciation in recognition of Estelle's "Years of dedicated service to the community". (2007)
>>Elected to the Board of Directors of the Briceland Fire Department, in January 2008.
