Newsmakers, Dec. 18-24, 2014

Ethan Lacanienta, 15, a sophomore at Sierra Vista High School, completed the requirements and was found worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, he collected and cleaned more than 1,900 gently used books to be distributed to at-risk students in the Las Vegas Valley through nonprofit Spread the Word Nevada. He is the son of V. Shane and Chantelle Lacanienta of Las Vegas.

Emily Lockwood, 19, graduated from U.S. Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Okla. She is set to attend advance individual training at Fort Sam Houston in Houston. Lockwood is the daughter of Paul and Jeanette Lockwood of Mesa, Ariz., and granddaughter of Phillip and Ngoc Lockwood of Las Vegas.

Joseph Miller, Fisher Industries Nevada area manager, and Mike Scronce, Fisher Industries Nevada operations manager, were recognized as Honorary Playmakers by the Clark County Department of Family Services for their donation and service for the KaBOOM! community-built playground project at Child Haven.

Vegas PBS has announced Anthony Caruth as its graphic artist. He will provide graphic design support for print media, Web, social media platforms and on-air productions.

Comedy magician Mac King was named Entertainer of the Year Nov. 21 at Win-Win Entertainment’s Headliners Bash 2014, presented by the John C. Kish Foundation.

Army Pvt. George J. Paysky graduated from One Station Unit Training at the U.S. Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Paysky is the son of Tammy Paysky III of Henderson.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Brandon P. Gauthier graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. Gauthier is the son of Maria E. Sanchez of North Las Vegas.

Vero Strategies, a Las Vegas public relations firm, was honored with two Pinnacle Awards for the categories of press conference and public service. Veronica Meter, founder, accepted the awards during the Public Relations Society of America Las Vegas Valley Chapter 18th annual Pinnacle Awards Ceremony Nov. 12 at the Hard Rock Live.

The Clark County Department of Family Services celebrated November as National Adoption Awareness Month, a time set aside to increase awareness about adopting children from foster care. The department presented a proclamation to Open Arms Adoption-Jewish Family Services Agency director Ann Coleman.

Army Pvt. Kyle Shadko graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Shadko is the son of Judi Byrd of Las Vegas and is a 2014 graduate of Silverado High School.

Army Pvt. Donald A. Stevens graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Stevens is the son of Randy and Veronica Stevens of Las Vegas.

Army Pfc. Amber A. Turner graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is a 2012 graduate of Palo Verde High School.

Army Pvt. Devin U. Daguiar graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Daguiar is the son of Desiree Daguiar of Las Vegas and is a 2014 graduate of College of Southern Nevada High School: West Charleston campus.

Air Force Airman Matthew M. Walters graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio. He is the husband of Alyson M. Walters, the son of Katherine A. Walters of Phelps, N.Y., and the grandson of Frank and Joyce Bloom of Dundee, N.Y. The airman graduated in 2014 from Eldorado High School.

Weidinger Public Relations was presented with four awards by the Public Relations Society of America, Sierra Nevada Chapter at the organization’s 28th annual Silver Spike Awards. The firm’s work with the American Century Championship on behalf of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and NBC Sports in collaboration with the Vizion Group, Berwyn, PA, earned two Silver Spike Awards, the first recognition for outstanding achievement, far-reaching client results, and high standards for quality of work and ethics on the annual celebrity golf tournament. The second Silver Spike noted it as the best overall campaign in Northern Nevada out of all entries.