April 26, 2024

Creston Chamber celebrates 75th anniversary

Citizen of the Year Arlan Biere gives his $200 check to Habitat for Humanity. Barb Coenen will be Chamber president in 2015.

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Mike McCullough of Wellman Dynamics — president of the Creston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors — receives a plaque from incoming president Barb Coenen during the 75th annual Chamber meeting held Tuesday at Supertel Inn and Conference Center.

Creston Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 75th anniversary Tuesday evening at Supertel Inn and Conference Center.

A 10-minute “Through the Years” video — prepared by Chris Coke of three C design in Creston — highlighted last night’s celebration. It included photographs and short video clips exhibiting Creston’s development since the 1930s.

“The video showed how things have changed in Creston, but in other ways how we’ve stayed the same,” said Ellen Gerharz, executive director at the Chamber. “It showed Creston’s growth through the years and that it continues to be a vibrant community.”

Arlan Biere — with a full table of family in attendance — accepted the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year award Tuesday. Biere told the estimated 150 people in the room that “behind every successful man is a good woman,” giving special recognition to his wife Carolyn of 57 years.

Biere was given a $200 check from the Creston News Advertiser to be used toward the charity of his choice. He selected Habitat for Humanity.

Charlie Westman accepted the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year award. He received $100 and also selected Habitat for Humanity. And, Raegen Smith was recognized as Youth of the Year receiving a $200 scholarship from the News Advertiser in honor of former CNA publisher Harold Roberts.

City update

Creston Mayor Warren Woods gave an update on the city’s progress, thusfar, in 2014.

Woods said the safety improvement project in uptown Creston is nearly complete and the city will soon apply with the Federal Railroad Administration to become a Quiet Zone community — whereby train engineers no longer have to sound their horns when entering the city.

Among other updates, Woods said the city continues to work with a developer on the Cottonwood Subdivision in hopes a contract can be signed soon. The developer — Don Sonntag of Atlantic — wants to build at least 14 condominiums on Cottonwood Road.

Volunteer recognized

Gerharz recognized the “gatekeepers” who volunteered at the Creston’s visitors center from late May until mid-October this year. These volunteers greeted visitors from 30 different states and two countries in 2014.

Those volunteers included: Jane Briley, Don Mosman, Gene Cook, Ann Levine, Betty Miller, Alex Pikelis, Janice Ritter, Kay Ritter and June West.

“I thank all of these volunteers. They really are the doorway to our community,” Gerharz said.

New president

Mike McCullough of Wellman Dynamics — who led the annual meeting Tuesday — will soon exit as Chamber president. The incoming president for 2015 will be Barb Coenen of Maple Street Memories.