Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 129, Number 8, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 23 February 2006 — Page 6

u..uK,a isiews • Thursday, February 23, 2006

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/A.W. GADSON For Million Dollar Day (Feb. 15), members of the North Wood FFA brought $1,025,000 worth of farming equipment to school.

FFA, Continued from Front

"We go there each year," Reed said. The students parked their "vehicles" in a grassy space located behind the restaurant, owned by the neighboring farm equipment store. It may have been only FFA students driving the tractors into school, but anyone could have taken part in the fun. "Anyone can participate, but it's mainly FFA kids," Reed said. "This gives us a chance to show off a little." Right: North Wood senior Brent Reed starts up one of the tractors which was parked outside of the high school last Friday. ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/ A.W. GADSON

HERITAGE, Continued from Front

the county has to offer, Ostrom talked about the Das Dutchman Essenhaus, the Old Bag Factory and of course, Amish Acres. While the tried and true Elkhart County attractions are still popular, newer events, such as the Farmer's Market and the Midwest RV Super Show and Rally may become attractions as well. The Farmer's Market is set to open in Spring of 2007, while

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the RV Super Show is slated for Aug. 17 to 20 this year at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds. The presentation was just one of many occurring at Heritage House, with a dinner theater slated for Friday, Feb. 24 from 5:30 to 9 P p.m. at Heritage House, located on County Road 7. The production is entitled "Cyanide & Antique Lace," and will be presented by Playhouse Productions. The dinner theater

Community

will be an interactive experience for guests, who will be a part of the show. A program, entitled "Stronger After 60: The. Fitness Fountain of Youth," will be presented at Heritage House on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. The program will be given by Lauren Gemhardt, who holds a Master of Science in health and kinesiology from Purdue University.

DINNER Continued from Front

For those n'ot discovering Nappanee online, , Andrews would also like to update the city's information packets, which are located in businesses around town. "It's been a number of years since we looked at those," he said about the packets. "We want to make sure it's still an image we want to represent." In 2005, the Chamber upped its membership to 194, with a budget of $224,000. In 2006, Andrews would like to see membership reach 200. He commented that 27 percent of the Chamber's membership is located outside of Nappanee, making his goal of 200 reasonable. "People outside of our area see something good about us, and they want to be a part of it," Andrews said. While working to bring in new members, Andrews also wants to work with the Chamber's current members. "We want to hear what we can do for them," he said. As far as programming goes, Andrews wants to continue to bring businesses to the downtown. "We have lost a number of businesses downtown," he said. "Twenty-five percent of the space downtown is vacant, and that's not something we're used to." Following his report, the chamber’s awards were distributed. Educator of the Year Genie Tobias The Chamber's Educator of the Year award is given to an individual who has shown dedication to the profession of education, has high academic and moral standards for self and community and teaches within the Wa-Nee community, among other qualifications. For 2006, the Chamber awarded Nappanee Elementary Principal Genie Tobias as its Educator of the Year. "Teaching and working with children, in my opinion, is the most wonderful profession anyone could have," Tobias said after being given the award. Tobias will be retiring from the Wa-Nee School Corporation at the end of this school year after 16 years with the school system. Tobias started out as a guidance counselor with the Wa-Nee system, before being promoted principal. "Thank you, and it's been a wonderful journey," Tobias said. Past Educators of the Year are: Jim Snyder and Dennis Myers (2005); William Swigert (2004); Tom Allen (2003); Beverly Fales (2002); Jerry and Jane Lelle (2001). Business of the Year Nappanee Window Nappanee Window's continued success was no more evident than when the company moved to the Buss West Side Industrial Park in 2005, having outgrown its former space. Among the company's highlights was a 299 ranking on the Inc. 500 list of growing busi-

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/A.W. GADSON Max Bigler amuses the crowd with his humor after being named Citizen of the Year by the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce.

nesses. "This is an open and shut case," presenter Dick Pletcher said about choosing Nappanee Window as the 2006 Business of the Year. Having already moved to Nappanee's newest industrial park, Nappanee Window is also anticipating building a new building this year, with the possibility of another building coming in 2007. "I accept this award on behalf of our owners, management team and 200-and-odd number of employees," Larry Perks said. Past Business of the Year winners are: Amish Acres (2005); Martin's Supermarket and Owens Corning (2004); Graber's Carpet and the Borkholder Corp. (2003); Martin Hardware and VITCO (2002); Everlastings and Persing Tire (2001). Harold Hoffer Memorial Award Sonya Harman The Harold Hoffer Memorial Award is named after the Chamber's first full-time executive, and goes to a Chamber "board member who has gone above and beyond while serving the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors." This year, it was Sonya Harman who won the award. Harman is the Group Marketing Manager at the Elkhart County Visitors Bureau. "She has great ambition with an impact that goes far past our community," presenter Brian Hoffer said about Harman. Harman has been working to draw people into the Nappanee community, and hopes to continue that. "1 look forward to the challenge to move the community forward," she said. Past winners of the Harold Hoffer Memorial Award are: Gary Fraelich (2005); Liz Mullett (2004); Linda Yoder (2003); Dianne Debelak (2002); Dave Bowers (2001). Craftsman of the Year Sandra Seanor For her work with the MACOG, Sandra Seanor was

the recipient of the 2006 Craftsman of the Year. Seanor's work includes bringing funds into the community, which has aided in the construction of bike paths and improvements of the roads. "In Nappanee, she has been responsible in getting funding for the downtown and our bike path," Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson said during his presentation. Past Craftsman of the Year recipients include: Diana Lawson (2005); Todd Beer (2004); Tricia Sloma (2003); Richard Mangus (2002). Citizen of the Year Max Bigler One of the bigger, if not the biggest, award of the night was given to Max Bigler as he was named the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year. Bigler has lived in Nappanee his entire life, aside from his time spent serving his country during World War 11. Back in Nappanee, Bigler worked for the Nappanee Post Office for 32 years, and currently volunteers his time to drive the Elder Haus van. While citing the names of past winners, Henry and Helen Whelan (2005), Steve and Kristi Gall (2004), Nathan and Nicole Wiggins (2003), Dana Hollar (2002) and Don Abel (2001), Master of Ceremonies Ron Bedward pointed out what the award means. "These people say something about the type of people we recognize as Citizens of t|ie Year," he said. During his acceptance speech, .Bigler admitted that he was totally in the dark about receiving the award. "I was lied to by your chamber of commerce," Bigler said with a smile. "I'm always the last to know." In preparing for the dinner, Bigler had thought he would be presenting an award to Nappanee Water and Wastewater Superintendent Gale Gerber. Because of his respect for Gerber, Bigler had written a speech and even missed a televised event to attend the dinner. "I thought so much of him, that I missed the Olympics," the light-hearted Bigler said. "When you're 78 years old, and the Olympics aren't for another four years, it gets a little touchy."

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