GENTRY -- The Wooden Spoon restaurant was filled with attendees at the annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Feb. 25.
Those in attendance were updated by Mayor Kevin Johnston on the city's growth and numerous ongoing projects. Johnston said the latest estimates of the city's population are well over 4,000 and the city continues to grow with 500 new housing units under construction and another 500 in the planning stages.
A highlight for Johnston was his announcement bridge construction for a replacement bridge over Flint Creek was finally about to begin. He said the bridge could be completed in July. The bridge was damaged by floodwater and closed in the spring 2017.
Johnston also spoke about city park plans, a sidewalk project, a walking bridge in the Flint Creek Nature Park, an increase in police officers, school resource officers and police protection, a new fire truck purchased for $250,000 under budget, and plans for a new water-storage facility to serve the eastern part of the city's water system.
Janie Parks, the executive director of the chamber, assisted by Josh Coones, president of the chamber's board of directors, announced and distributed three awards at the banquet.
The Business of the Year Award went to Harps Foods in Gentry. Parks said, "When Harps opened in 2016, we knew that they would be a great community partner. Harps contributes in many ways to our community. They donate money every Christmas season through their Christmas for Communities program. Through this program, our local Harps store donates needed funds to local charitable organizations that need a little extra help during the holidays. Harps Food's contributions to school groups, local charities and other organizations are too numerous to mention."
The award for Harps was received by Gentry Store Manager Amber Parker.
The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Lonnie Edwards for his volunteer work at the GFA Food Pantry in Gentry.
According to Parks, Robin Mitchell said it best when she nominated Lonnie for the Volunteer of the Year. Mitchell wrote: "I don't know anyone with more of a servant's heart than Lonnie Edwards. He started volunteering for the pantry a couple of years ago and he immediately caught our vision of alleviating hunger in our community. He literally is at the pantry/church every day, finding things to do to make it easier on everyone else.
"He goes to pick up shipments of donated goods on Mondays and Thursdays. He processes the donations, stocks the shelves, builds the boxes and fills the boxes. On Tuesdays, he is filling boxes with food and delivering it out to people's vehicles, always with a smile and a kind word. He doesn't hesitate to pray for pantry clients if they request it. Once a month, he goes to McKee to pick up their donations of Little Debbies, and then brings it back and organizes it. When we go to Springfield to get a shipment from Convoy of Hope, he's right there unloading and stacking. He absolutely loves GFA Pantry and its mission, and it shows in everything he does.
"Not only does he love the pantry, but he also volunteers at Gentry Assembly in many areas. He cleans the church strictly on a volunteer basis and he's always looking for things that need to be done, like cleaning carpets or doing minor repairs. He also does things for others outside the church and pantry, like running errands for elderly people, or sitting with the homebound who need a visit. None of us know what we'd do without Lonnie Edwards!"
The Citizens of the Year Award went to Kevin and Shelia Browers. According to Parks, one of the nomination letters said it best: "We would like to nominate the Browers. They are always willing to help no matter what the situation is. By definition, a good citizen is someone who respects others, someone who is helpful and considerate and willing to put others first. A good citizen helps people who are not in a position to help themselves. A good citizen is a productive business owner who shares skills, talents and abilities with others.
"They make a positive contribution to their community. We will probably never know the extent of Kevin and Shelia's generosity to the people of Gentry and the surrounding area, as they are not looking for a pat on the back. I do know that they are supportive of the Heart Association, Back to School Supply Drives, Child Advocacy and they make donations to the Cancer Drive and food drives for the flooding and disasters."
"Kevin and Shelia are always there for the Chamber and support our community events. Nobody could be more deserving of this honor," Parks said.
NW News on 03/08/2020