Sheriff's office announces winners of annual awards

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and the county Detention Center recently named their employees and officers of the year.

Blacksburg native Brian Mullinax was voted Deputy of the Year at the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office for 2007, said Sheriff Bill Blanton.

Prior to receiving the Sheriffs Office honors, Mullinax was one of two Sheriffs Office law enforcement officers to receive the 2007 DUI Arrest Award from the Cherokee County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for the removal of drunk drivers from the roadway. Mullinax arrested about 50 drunk drivers in 2007.

Blanton said Leonard Blackwell was named Reserve Deputy of the Year for 2007.

Donna Brackett was named Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Employee of the Year.

In the detention center, Edwin Rhinehart was named Detention Officer of the Year and Christy Quinn was named Detention Center Employee of the Year, Blanton said.