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Chamber honors volunteers
Donors and bidders raised $6,625 for local promotional activities as the McCook Chamber of Commerce members and community members gathered Saturday to honor volunteers at the 79th annual McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.
Dave Stout of the McCook Radio Group was the master of ceremonies for the evening, at Memorial Auditorium. Dinner of prime rib was provided by The Rocket Inn of Indianola.
The chamber president, Craig Olsen, gave the state of the chamber address and thanked the past-president, Butch Mires, for his leadership with the chamber in the past year.
Mires presented the other awards for the evening.
Tammy Hilker received the McCook Cordial of the Year award. Hilker was the president of the Cordials this past year.
The recipient of the Ag Builder Award was Tom Kiplinger and his late mother, Alice. The Kiplingers helped financially provided for the Kiplinger ag arena located on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. The building is used to rodeos, horse shows and ag events.
Ron Friehe was the recipient of the Community Service Award. He has served on many boards and committees throughout his career and currently serves on the Republican River Basin Coalition Advisory Board, the Conference Center Committee and the McCook Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He had an active roll in keeping the Work Ethic Camp open.
The Community Builders Award went to Van and Jan Korell. The Korell's are very active in a variety of committees and boards, including Van's participation in the Masonic Lodge and McCook Economic Development Corporation and Jan's involvement in the McCook Art Guild and the Chapter FA of PEO.
McCook Area Public Servant Award went to the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department. The department responds to fires and various disasters and provides the area's Hazardous Materials Response team.
The McCook Area Service Award was given to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat helped provided a new home for Becky Keenportz and her sons at 805 West K in McCook. The home took 185 volunteers and approximately $43,000 to build. As part of the program, homeowners must invest hundreds of hours into building their own home.
One of the Chamber Volunteers of the Year was past Chamber president, Butch Mires. Mires has served on the chamber board for the past 10 years and has provided many man hours to the chamber's projects, including Hot Summer Nights, The Christmas Light Parade and the care and upkeep of the flowers in Norris Park.
The other Chamber Volunteer of the Year was Mike Kugler. Kugler also has spent much time volunteering for Chamber activities including the High Plains Freedom Flight, Hot Summer Nights and flying in Santa Claus to visit with the area's children. He has been on the Chamber Board of Directors for the past four years.
Award winners all received a plaque and community recognition for their service to the community.
The silent benefit auction brought in approximately $2,525 for the benefit of the Chamber and the activities they provide. The regular auction, with auctioneer Johnny Walker, brought in approximately $4,100, for the total of $6,625. Auction packages included gift certificates, lawn mowers, movie tickets, home furnishings, Husker football tickets, a DVD player, art work, collectibles and Bison memorabilia.
The evening ended with a skit performed by the Chamber Players. The skit pertained to the past year in the McCook area and the year's highlights.
The Chamber Players include Kathy Latta, Janet Hepp, Sheryl Havens, Sue Watts, Lori Dack Pierson, Wendy Hageman, Janet Weber, JeriLynn Karr, Angie Reiners, Maury Green, Greg Hepp, Mitch Lyster, Carl Philo, Kent Craw, Jim Ulrich, Mark Graff, Howard Kool, Jon Burkey and Don Harpst. The performance included music and comedy.