The North Dakota Association of Counties conference and exposition, which is annually held in Bismarck will have a decidedly Burleigh County flavor this year.

Four Burleigh residents will be recognized at the conference which starts Sunday and runs through Wednesday. Three are receiving the Excellence in County Government award.

Burleigh County highway superintendent Rodney Ness is the NDACo's first vice president and replaces Ken Teubner as the president for the upcoming year.

The award winners are:

Long time Burleigh County commissioner Claus Lemke, who retired at the end of 2006, is being inducted into the County Officials Hall of Honor. Lembke also recently retired as executive vice president of the North Dakota Association of Realtors. Word has it that Lembke is in Germany visiting family and won't be on hand for the ceremonies.

Lembke was first elected as a county commissioner in 1986. He is a former president of the North Dakota County Commissioners Association.

Deputy auditor-treasurer Bev Bettenhausen is the County Employee of the Year. Bettenhausen began working for Burleigh 31 years ago as a clerk in the treasurer's office. She is credited as an astute money manager and a sensitive listener.

Bettenhausen is involved with the ILG Education Committee, the County Treasurer's Association, Zonta International and United Way.

While Bismarck resident Dave Leftwich isn't a county employee or elected official, he is well known by local governments throughout the state. Leftwich is the North Dakota Department of Transportation's division engineer for local government and is being honored by the NDACo as this year's Dedicated Partner.

Leftwich is originally from Towner County. He has worked for the NDDOT since 1973 and has been involved in several divisions.

Also receiving Excellence in County Government awards are McKenzie-Williams County Social Service Director Michon Sax as an appointed official; LaMoure County Recorder Donnell "Nell" Walstead, elected official; and Foster County commissioner Dwayne Erickson, county commissioner.

The awards will be presented Monday evening.

Drive-thru flu shots

We've seen drive-through food, weddings, churches, liquor sales, and now comes flu immunizations.

Get your flu shot without having to leave the comfort of your car at the "Stop the Flu - Drive Thru" being held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 13 at the Public Works building parking lot at 601 S. 26th St. - the same place Bismarck holds its hazardous waste roundup and obsolete electronics drop off.

It's part of the mass immunization exercise being held by Bismarck Burleigh Public Health. The exercise is helping to test the Southwest Central Region Emergency Preparedness emergency response plan, according to coordinator Cheryl Underhill.

"Citizens can remain in their cars while completing their paperwork and receiving their flu shot," says the city press release. "Local public health nurses and public health emergency volunteer will staff the exercises."

The goal is to have 1,000 cars drive through and participate in the exercise. Participants are asked to wear clothing that allows easy access to the upper arms. Cost of the vaccination is $20 and Medicaid and Medicare recipients should have their cards with them.

For more information call 701-355-1540.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)