January 24, 2008

Bidding tops $10,000 at benefit auction

By Jennifer Larsen

News editor

An evening of live and silent auction bidding netted more than $10,000 for the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting last Saturday night at the American Legion Hall.

A total of 102 people attended, contributing $8,757.50 during the live auction and $1,265 in the silent auction for a total of $10,022.50, which will benefit member services, chamber events, community recognition programs and expanded promotion of Ritzville and the National Historic District downtown.

Two posters from the inaugural Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show in 2007, one autographed by nationally acclaimed western artist Fred Oldfield and the other by Cowboy Cartoonists International and newest Leanin’ Tree artist Jim Lisk, garnered $900 that will directly benefit the art show.

Topping the list of sale items was a Christmas season elegant dinner party for eight hosted by Dave and Carla Braun, which Gayle and Gaynel Gering purchased for $1,600.

Dave Braun jump-started the second set of auction items with a top bid of $1,100 for a progressive dinner for eight by the Koss, Kragt, McFadden and Danekas families.

The Ritzville Adams County Journal and Wheatland Waste Systems will host a steak barbecue for eight purchased by Michael Broeckel, of the Bank of Whitman, for $1,250.

Other top auction items included Yvonne Anderson’s patriotic quilt, purchased by Randy Flyckt for $435. Warren Kragt and Mark Schoesler bought a personal shopper certificate for 2008 at Sunny Spot Floral and Gifts for $300.

Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce President Anderson recognized elected officials and special guests as the evening started, including Sen. Mark Schoesler, Adams County Commissioner Rudy Plager, Ritzville City Councilman Harry Schafer and first-time chamber banquet attendees, Lucy Telecky and Rosie Colwell.

Dan Hille, Linda Schrag, Vicki Benzel, Tracy McFadden, Zane Ziebell, Dwight Remick, Kathy Schafer, Mark Schoesler, Dave Braun, Erik Hille, Jane Campbell, Deloris Allert, Eric Bell, Deborah O’Brien and Kirk Danekas won a variety of door prizes during the evening.

Various community members were honored with accolades and applause during the presentation of the community awards, which was interspersed throughout the live auction.

“We really appreciate the school for making these choices for us,” chamber president Dale Anderson said as the student and educator awards were being announced.

Heather Hunt (left) and RHS Principal Dave Funk

Ritzville High School Principal Dave Funk opened the presentations by announcing the Female Student and Male Student of the Year.

“The staff at Ritzville High School have selected two students that have both been described as gracious, helpful, dependable, mature and leaders in all regards,” Funk said.

While introducing this year’s Female Student of the Year, Funk continued to describe her as “poised, cheerful, loyal, kind, talented, self-directed, secure and a true joy to be around… It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Miss Heather Hunt.”

Erik D. Hille (left) and RHS Principal Dave Funk

The Male Student of the Year, as Funk said, “stands out among his peers for his dedicated work ethic and his intuitive nature.”

Erik Hille is a member of the National Honor Society, an active FFA member and has been involved in track and football during high school despite a severe arm injury, Funk explained.

“There is no doubt in my mind that he will eventually achieve his dream of being a mechanical engineer and ultimately be involved in automotive design,” Funk said.

Teacher of the Year Vicki Benzel (left) with Deborah O’Brien

Ritzville Grade School Principal Deborah O’Brien rounded out the first session of community awards by presenting the Educator of the Year.

A murmur of agreement spread through the audience as O’Brien announced that this year’s Educator of the Year is Vicki Benzel.

“In thinking back over Vicki’s career, which will continue for years to come, I’m sure there area many years she could’ve received this award,” O’Brien said. “Vicki is a veteran teacher and has a lot of good knowledge to share.”

The education team at the school is based on new ideas and veteran experience like Benzel’s, O’Brien explained.

O’Brien said that Benzel demonstrates to staff and students that the school is a huge portion of this community.

“She is compassionate and kind, yet she expects things from her students,” O’Brien said. “Her awards are all the children she’s touched.”

After a heartfelt standing ovation, Benzel stood at the podium and waited for the room to fall silent. As she tried to gain her composure, Benzel described what H and H Day at school was for her students on every Friday. As the students leave for the day, they can either give Benzel a hug, handshake or high five.

“Tonight H and H has a different meaning for me. I am truly humbled and honored to have been chosen to receive this award. I feel this award is a reflection of all the wonderful people that I work with each day. I also feel that any one of my colleagues could be up here receiving this award…

“I truly love my job and I love working in the Ritzville School District,” she continued. “For many students, school is a safe place. It’s warm, they get two hot meals a day, they learn and they know that someone cares for them. I guess I hope my legacy is that they always know that I care for them.”

First Responder of the Year Jim Bostic (left) with Bruce Benzel

Bruce Benzel introduced the First Responder of the Year as someone with many years of service in fire protection and emergency medical services.

Jim Bostic moved to Ritzville in 2006 to be closer to family after 20 years on the Anne Arunde County Fire Department and 12 years as a park ranger. He joined the Ritzville fire department and EMT association.

He’s served as an EMT in Maryland, Tennessee, Colorado and Washington, and had to retest from state to state.

“He’s probably had enough training to teach the class,” Benzel said, and he explained that Bostic was an instructor for volunteer fire departments while involved in the Tennessee Emergency Management Association.

“When you talk to Jim, he still has the passion for this work,” Benzel said. “We can be proud of men like Jim who are there to respond when we need them in an emergency.”

“I want to thank my wife for putting up with me and I want to thank the community for letting us be here,” Bostic said. “I also want to thank the volunteer firemen. I’m a team member with them.”

Farmer of the Year Fritz Coon (left) with Dale Anderson

This year’s Farmer of the Year shares common traits with Bostic, such as tenacity, dedication and hard work.

“It takes a great deal of hard work, long hours, scraped knuckles, broken bones and determination to make this property profitable,” Anderson said before announcing the award winner. “This farmer’s ag property, located in the vast pastureland between Benge and Ralston, can’t be considered as prime real estate.”

Anderson explained that the ground Fritz Coon works is shallow and rocky, camouflaged by green alfalfa fields.

According to Anderson, the Coons are active in the church and Fritz has served as the president of the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair for a number of years.

 “Over the years, the involvement in the community has been one of the most rewarding, and it’s probably what’s kept me going,” Fritz said.

Volunteer of the Year Ann Olson (left) with Carol Simonson

Chamber secretary Carol Simonson stood in front of the crowd to introduce the 2007 Volunteer of the Year.

“It was impressive to read the nominations we received at the chamber office for this year’s community awards,” she said. “As I read the nominations I was struck by the thought that one of the trademarks of a great volunteer is passion; passion for the organization, cause or event that they are working to promote.”

As Simonson listed the groups and interests that the recipient is associated with, such as president of the Ritzville Museum Volunteers, treasurer of the Ritzville Festivals Association, Adams County Development Council secretary, Ritzville Historic Preservation Commissioner, founding member of the Ritzville Downtown Development Association and ex-officio Ritzville Public Development Authority member, most realized that Volunteer of the Year is Ann Olson.

“She’s a valuable asset for me personally,” Simonson said.

“It’s not very often that I am speechless,” Olson said as she stood at the podium. “People ask me all the time why I do this. I do it because I love this community, I really do.”

Dale Anderson (left) with Business of the Year owner Stephen McFadden

Anderson presented the final community award – the 2007 Business of the Year. Until that time, the recipient was unaware of the pending announcement.

“When an established business is purchased there is typically a game plan as to how the business will be run and parameters are set for making the right improvements to bring back the respect it once had,” he said.

“When this new business owner came to town, I remember him saying that he planned to be a part of the community. And he expected the people who worked for him to do the same,” he continued.

“It’s hard to be in the newspaper business and you keep a secret from me,” Stephen McFadden, owner of the Ritzville Adams County Journal, said after accepting the award.

“When we purchased the Ritzville Adams County Journal, we purchased it for the long haul,” he continued. “I purchased it first with one goal in mind – to honor what John Pavlik did.”

During a short business meeting prior to dinner, the general membership unanimously appointed two new board members and reappointed three current board members to the board.

Sheree Tester, representing the Ritzville Drug Company, will fill the unexpired 2007-2009 term vacated by Darren Summers.

Melanie Kin Kade, of the Ritzville Adams County Journal, fills the unexpired 2006-2008 term of Larry Hutcheson.

Connie Galbreath (Sunny Spot Floral and Gifts), Audrey Schaible (Heartland Realty) and Victoria Ziemer (Big Bend Electric Cooperative) will serve two-year terms.

Anderson was reelected to serve as president for another year while Galbreath was elected as vice-president.

Three changes in the bylaws were unanimously approved by the general membership. The first changes the number of regular business meetings per month from two to one business meeting and one Business After Hours event per month.

The second change sets the regular meeting date from the second Wednesday of the month to the second Thursday of the month. In the final change, members of the chamber’s governing body will be called Board Members instead of Board Trustees.