Search
Search
Close this search box.

Chamber Celebrates the 2021 Business Appreciation Breakfast

After having to cancel the 2020 event, the Doniphan County Chamber of Commerce was excited to celebrate area businesses and leaders at the annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the Highland Community College Walter Wellness Center. The presentation of awards included the following recognitions.

 

Doniphan County Community Foundation

The Doniphan County Community Foundation presented the Doniphan County Library District #1 with a $500 grant for their summer reading meal program.

Picture (L to R): Ester Gormley, Teresa McAnerney, Laura Tharman, Lisa Popple, Peggy Franken.

 

The Champions of Education Award

The Doniphan County Chamber of Commerce wanted to recognize the public schools in the county and the Doniphan County Educational Cooperative. Doniphan County Public School Districts were nominated for their dedication to students and families.  It is with great pride we recognize all our county schools and ALL their employees for the work they do every day, but specifically for the work they did the past 18 months.

The three county schools district along with the Doniphan County Educational Cooperative educate approximately 1,200 children, employ approximately 300 full and part time employees. Within these numbers are 150 certified educators.

Picture (L to R): Deborah Fox, Keith Edmonds, Shelly Cluck, Michelle Estes, Jena Tharman, Mike Estes, Dallas Keller, Jeremy Prudden, Travis Githens, Trish Gibson and Chris Lackey.

 

Student Scholarship Awards 2021

  • Taylor Franken – Troy (to attend K-State)
  • Sadie Leach – Doniphan West (to attend HCC)
  • Kyla Reel – Troy (to attend HCC)
  • Grace Estes – Troy (to attend HCC)
  • Emma Koranda – Riverside (to attend HCC)
  • Collin Studer – Riverside (to attend KU Law School)
  • Alexis Wilson – Doniphan West (to attend HCC)

 

Picture (L to R): Sadie Leach, Grace Estes, Kyla Reel, Alexis Wilson.

 

Quiet Hero 2021

When the first article about the 2021 Quiet Hero Quiet Hero was published in the Kansas Chief in October of 2018, the story was simple – a lady with a vision of what could be.

She began to buy old dilapidated buildings and keep them from falling down. In 2016 she bought the first building in White Cloud at the corner of 1st and Main, soon others joined the Kelley’s General Store building receiving her loving touch.

Now five years later, the City of White Cloud boasts not only a revival of old Foster Memorial Church, Green Implement, Kelley’s General Store and the Macy house and barn buildings but a mural telling the story of White Cloud as a once bustling River Town.

The dream of our Quiet Hero is to make White Cloud a tourist destination similar to Weston or Parkville, MO with a bustling Main Street reminiscent of its bustling river town days. The 2021 Quite Hero is Dr. Deb Bryan.

Picture (L to R): Dr. Deb Bryan and Doniphan County Economic Development Director Leah B. Johnson.

 

True Leader 2021

When you think of the 2021 Jack Euler True Leader your first thought is sports.

As a coach he has influenced kids of all ages during his 38 years of coaching throughout the county from middle school through college. On the Basketball court he started the Key to basketball league teaching fundamentals to children at a young age. He coached junior high girls’ basketball for years too numerous to count. Organized and coached the middle school girls summer league for many years. He is well known as a coach for the Highland Scotties football team, still serving as an assistant coach complete with his stogy clenched between his teeth. His track attributes include organizing and running the Discus competition at the Kansas State High School Track Meet held in Wichita annually for the past 23 years. He and his team of family members are held in the highest esteem across the state.

However, there is another community side that must not be forgotten. Our true leader has served on the Highland City Council including terms as Mayor, he serves as treasurer and lifelong member of Highland Christian Church, Northeast  Kansas Enterprise Facilitation Board Member, Doniphan County Historical Society Board member, Doniphan County Services and Workskills Board of Directors  well as an HCC Alumni Board member, a volunteer delivery person for Meals on Wheels and longtime member of the Doniphan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board and serving as President the last several years.

Last but not least, Family always comes first. Married for over 50 years, he, his wife, Judy, children, Tammy, Amy, Marti Ann and Mark and 8 grandchildren and now 3 great grandchildren have served Doniphan County in another long list of community contributions.

The True Leader Award inscription says “A True Leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. One does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent “

The 2021 Jack Euler True Leader is Marty Allen.

Picture (L to R): Marty Allen and Theresa Rohrer.

 

New Businesses (2020-2021):

  • Kirkwood & Co. Table & Tap Restaurant – Highland
  • Shack House Designs – Elwood
  • Berwick Oil & Co. – Troy
  • Queen Marie’s Gluten Free – Wathena & Elwood
  • Girton Truck Wash – Elwood
  • Ernie’s Bar & Grill – Highland
  • Magnolia Creek Designs – Troy
  • The Wildflower – Bendena
  • Sunflower Fields – Wathena
  • Home Grown & Co. – Highland
  • Anderson Meats – Troy
  • Home & Company – Wathena
  • 989 Nutrition – Wathena

 

Picture (L to R): Bryer Miller, 989 Nutrition, Jill Hontz, Home & Company, Brian and Natalie Simpson, Sunflower Fields, Vanetta and Blair Geiger, Home Grown & Co., Brian Waggoner and Austin Stock, Kirkwood & Co., Megan and Jeff Shackelford, Shack House Designs

 

Milestone Businesses (2020-2021):

15 years:

  • Summit Truck Bodies – 2021
  • MCON, LLC – 2021
  • Grant’s Repair – 2020

20 years:

  • Johnson Ag – 2020

30 years:

  • Collins Law Office – 2021

40 years:

  • Kiefer Excavating – 2020
  • John R. Eplee, MD – 2021
  • Taylor Seed Farms – 2021

55 years:

  • NEK-CAP, Inc. – 2020

70 years:

  • Ace Scale Co. – 2020
  • Amberwell Health – Hiawatha (formerly Hiawatha Community Hospital) – 2021

75 years:

  • Farm Bureau Insurance – 2021

160 years:

  • City of Troy – 2020

 

Picture (L to R): John R. Eplee, MD, Robyn Johnson on behalf of Johnson Ag, Ted Collins, Tyler and Lindsey Miller of MCON, LLC