A Garner resident with more than four decades of wide-ranging contributions to the community has been selected to be the 2026 recipient of the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award.

Karen Padgett was recognized for her service to the community spanning from her days as an educator to her more recent volunteer work of preserving and telling the story of her hometown and its rich history.

A proposed merger between Raleigh-based WakeMed and Charlotte-based Atrium Health is facing sharp scrutiny from state leaders, led by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. Stein’s office sent a formal inquiry to WakeMed leadership posing approximately a dozen critical questions regarding the proposed combination.

The department received its accreditation during a CPSE hearing on Aug. 18 at the organization’s headquarters in Rosemont, Ill. Garner Fire-Rescue is among the fewer than 1 percent of fire departments worldwide to achieve international accreditation through CFAI and CPSE. 

“Achieving accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality of service to our community,” Garner Fire-Rescue Chief Barrett Penny said. “More important, it reflects the dedication of our members and our willingness as an organization to continuously evaluate ourselves.”