Creston chamber honors award winners

Creston Chamber of Commerce held its 85th annual meeting Tuesday at the Eagles.

The event included the naming of the chamber’s president for 2025, Danna Buls from MATURA. This year’s president was Bruce Pearson from Pearson Family Funeral Services. The evening also included the naming of Creston’s citizen, volunteer and student of the year based on nominations.

Dr. Jerry Katzer was awarded the Creston Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year. From Kansas, Katzer went to Kansas State University for a degree in veterinary medicine. His first few years in the field took place in Hiawatha, Kansas. However, after five years, Katzer said he wanted a change.

Joining Creston Veterinary Clinic in 1978, Katzer served the Creston community for 35 years. He retired and sold the practice in 2013. Katzer and his wife Ronda are active members at Holy Spirit Church. He said his membership on boards with the church progressed through the years.

Also through the church, Katzer volunteers at the thrift store The Rectory Rerun. Outside of the church, Katzer is a volunteer at Greater Regional Health, giving directions to patients as they enter the building. Katzer is also president of Creston’s Lions Club.

Karen Drake was named volunteer of the year. Drake has worked at Creston’s Walmart for 35 years and in that time has volunteered thousands of hours to her community through projects ranging from seasonal holiday events to fundraisers.

Utilizing her employer through Walmart’s Volunteerism Always Pays program, Drake was able to submit 70 hours of extra volunteerism this year. Walmart pays matching grants of $10 per volunteer hour, meaning $700 this year were donated. Drake says her funds through this program were donated to the University of Iowa Health Care

Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which was one of her favorite organizations to raise money.

The small business Karen’s Crafty Corner draws on the owner’s name and is one of the places where Drake works on her crafts for various events. Local groups Drake has helped raise money include Crestubilee, the after-prom organizers, and Crush Cancer, which helps raise money for research into developing cancer treatments.

Payton Davis was named the Creston Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year. The Creston High senior was nominated and awarded the Creston Chamber of Commerce’s Youth of the Year for her empathy, dependability, humility, diligence, hard work and leadership. Davis has been involved in a number of service projects including Lead Un

ion County Youth and the Appalachia Service Project (ASP).

ASP is a nationwide program that coordinates mission trips to one of the poorest areas in the United States. Each year, more than 15,000 volunteers around the country serve in the program. The volunteers build and repair homes to increase quality of life for the people that live there.

The program has been in Creston for more than 40 years, and Davis was inspired to participate after her sister came back from one of her many trips.

A 2023 Lead UC Youth graduate, Davis was a part of a community service team designed to empower teens to become confident leaders through various acts of service and by increasing community awareness while encouraging them to help create a more enjoyable community.

Creston Mayor Waylon Clayton, in the first year of his term, spoke. He noted the completion of the water main replacement project in the 100, 200 and 300 block of North Maple Street. He said he wants a Creston where citizens are happy with all projects and they are worth paying.

“I’m super excited for Creston and what we are building for the community,” he said.

Clayton noted a discussion item of a new marketing push and brand for Creston.

“It’s time for us to turn a new leaf and come under on vision, under one banner,” he said.

In other chamber news...

People nominated to the board for three-year terms are: Amanda Davis, Darin Goins and Catilyn Maitlen. Michelle Crill is retiring from the board.

Chamber officers for 2025 are: president, Danna Buls; first vice president, Josh Thompson; second vice president, Nate Maiers; treasurer, Adam Snodgrass; past president Bruce Pearson.