Annual chamber of commerce awards banquet highlights exceptional county residents

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

“Tonight we recognize Harney County’s best, brightest and most innovative,” announced master of ceremonies Joyce Moser during the 59th annual Harney County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet held on Jan. 24 at the Harney County Fairgrounds Memorial Building.

The double honoree of the night was Fred Flippence who was selected as Man of the Year and received the Distinguished Service Award for his volunteer work with the Lions Club and the Harney County Opportunity Team, Library Foundation Board and various budget committees.

A full listing of the award-winners follows:

Boss of the Year: Pete Runnels

Business Person of the Year: Dale and Pat Martin, Riley Store

Distinguished Service Award: Fred Flippence

Educator of the Year: Anne Kness

Grassman of the Year: Fred and Debbie Otley

Lumber/Industrial Person of the Year: Debbie Cronin

Man of the Year: Fred Flippence

Senior Man of the Year: Bruce Farster

Woman of the Year: Delcy Currey

Senior Woman of the Year: Millie Eshelby

Young Farmer/Rancher of the Year: Zach Sword

Crane Student of the Year: Dallen Davies

Burns Student of the Year: Lizbeth Zavala

The filet mignon dinner enjoyed by the near capacity crowd was catered by Francis Estep.

Before the awards were announced, Patty McNeil was sworn in as the new chamber president, and Lyle Stratton, Kristi Rickman, Samantha Landon, Debbie Ausmus, Christy Young, Cindy Witzel, Joyce Moser, Selene Dobson and Ron Wulff were recognized for serving on the chamber board.

Outgoing chamber president Witzel said that the chamber has accomplished much within the last year including assisting a Travel Oregon film crew while they were filming in Harney County. Witzel noted that the chamber had 30,000 visitors check out its Web site in the last seven months, and 3,798 hits to the business directory. The chamber represents the county at the state fair each year and keeps track of monthly business referrals it gives out.

In other big news, the chamber moved into its new location on Broadway in the newly renovated Smith building, which also houses the Harney County Community Center.

For the awards banquet, local businesses sponsored tables, decorating them to represent the night’s “Winter Wonderland” theme as well as represent their business. The best representation of a business table award went to Ruel Teague Motor Co. and the best representation of the evening’s theme went to Gourmet and Gadgets.