A seasoned Carbon County commissioner has been recognized with a prestigious state government award.

Wayne Nothstein, who serves as chairman of the county's board of commissioners, received the Commissioner of the Year Award during the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Annual Conference at the Split Rock Resort.Nothstein, 67, of Lehighton, was one of two commissioners to receive the award at the organization's annual banquet and awards ceremony on Tuesday. The other was Jeff Haste, chairman of the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners.Contacted today, Nothstein said he remains "in total shock. I don't think it's sank in yet; I'm still at a loss for words."Nothstein said he was nominated for the award by both the county administrator and county solicitor, and he said fellow county commissioners were in support of his nomination."I had no clue until it was announced," Nothstein said. "I'm really honored by it, humbled, it's just fantastic; and for it to happen in my home county is a great thing."Nothstein cited his involvement with various organizations such as the Carbon County Council of Governments, the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation, the Carbon County Interagency and Family Collaborative Board, the SHINE Afterschool program, as well as being a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years, which he believes aided in his winning the award."I think there are so many other people that were more deserving," he said. "I thank everybody; it's not I, it is we that have formed a lot of these organizations. I never could have formed any of these groups by myself."Nothstein is currently serving his fifth consecutive term on the county board of commissioners, with this being his ninth year as chairman. He was elected to the board in 2000.The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is the voice of county government; a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing all 67 counties in the state. The group's members include county commissioners, council members, county executives, administrators, chief clerks and solicitors.