Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce holds banquet to present awards

Photos by Shirin McArthur and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Bruce Ashburn, Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce board member, served as the emcee for the chamber awards banquet held Nov. 19, 2015 at the Western New Mexico University cafeteria.

"We have had no awards banquets in a number of years," Ashburn said. "We get to celebrate people who have made an impact on our community. I think you will agree that this should be an annual event. Thanks to Scott Terry, our chamber director and his wife, Cathy, who have planned the event. I applaud the citizens and businesses, who will receive awards this evening."

The sponsors of the event were PNM, WNM Communications, Western New Mexico University and Morones & Knuttinen LLC.

"Byron Trammell has provided the music during the meet and greet and will play during dinner," Ashburn said.

He introduced the chamber board members and had them stand. They include Dave Thomas, Jack Herndon, Lori Ann Bonomo, Dan Cook, Joe Shepard, Jeannie Mitchell, Melanie Reese, Tony Trujillo and William Knuttinen.

Randy Salars of the Gospel Mission blessed the meal with a prayer.

The first awards given out, after the meal, were the PNM Energy Star awards.

In the large business category, the top award went to W&N Enterprises, which, in Silver City and Bayard, replaced 1,996 light fixtures and 1,227 refrigeration fixtures, which will save 591,193 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

CVS Pharmacy Store Manager Alan Dunn received a PNM Business Efficiency Star Award for the store's new construction using energy efficiency lighting.

The Shell food Mart replaced fixtures, including lights, exit signs and refrigerator cooler motors, doors and lights.

Home Furniture received an honorable mention in the small business category for replacing 199 lighting fixtures.

In the non-profit/government organization category, the top award went to the town of Silver City for replacing 847 lighting fixtures.

WNMU President Joseph Shepard received a PNM Business Energy Efficiency Star Award for going all LED across the entire campus.

"PNM gave out 54 non-profit awards across the state," Ashburn said.

In Silver City, recipients included the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, received by county membership manager, Annette Toney. The Girl Scouts will install LED lighting in the Scout Hut.

LifeQuest executive director, Debra Frasca, accepted the award to replace single-pane windows.

Randy Salars of the Gospel Mission received a PNM Non-Profit Energy Efficiency Star Award to replace old appliances.

The Spirit of Hidalgo also received a Non-Profit Energy Efficiency Star Award to replace doors and lighting.

Ahsburn recognized Dan Cook, who last year served as chairman of the board. "He teaches in Cliff, does real estate after teaching and has been a member of the board for many years." Cook was given an award.

Cook said he has always been a strong supporter of the chamber. "I believe the mission statement of the chamber is strong.

Ashburn also thanked "for a job well done," the chairman of the board, Tony Trujillo, who could not attend.

The Community Awards came next.

Ansel Walters was named the Volunteer of the Year. He cooks a Lion's Club breakfast for people attending the Farmers' Market during the season; helps line up the Fourth of July and Lighted Christmas parades; puts up flags on Flag days and holidays; serves on the boards of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society, the Fort Bayard Restoration and Development Coalition and the Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society; helps with Lion's Club eye clinics; he plans and implements field trips for the gem and mineral society; helps with each year's Gem and Mineral Show; helps with Bingo programs for veterans; is an active member of the Silver City 49ers; and helped the chamber clean up the Fort Bayard Paupers' Cemetery.

Ashburn said the next award was special because it was named after Linda Kay Jones, "who truly believed in this marvelous area called Grant County. She gave of her time and finances to forward her ideas of developing a community that meets the needs of its citizens." Randy Salars of The Gospel Mission was the recipient of the Linda Kay Jones Humanitarian of the Year.

The Small Business of the Year was awarded to The Grant County Beat and was accepted by this author. "It was founded in 2010 as an online operation offering news throughout Grant County. There is no doubt that The Grant County Beat has earned our community's trust and respect for fair and balanced news coverage," Ashburn said. He said she is a member of the Grant County Community Health Council and Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. He also cited awards for journalism she has received over the years, as well as being named a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest this year.

The 2015 Grant County Business of the Year was awarded to what began in 2012 as Little Toad Creek Inn and Tavern at Lake Roberts. It has grown and expanded to the Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery in downtown Silver City, where in one year the demand for Little Toad beer tripled. The company has purchased the old Silver Skate building to turn it into a state-of-the-art brewery and distillery. Today, Little Toad employs 45 people. Their latest purchase is the El Sol Theater, which owners David Crosley and Teresa Dahl-Bredine plan to turn into a performing arts center. They are also opening a retail outlet next to the Little Toad downtown.

The "big awardâ€”Grant County Citizen of the Year goes to Priscilla Lucero," Ashburn announced. "One person wrote, Priscilla's knowledge of our community is thorough and at times overwhelming. She is so willing to share her knowledge and experience." She has been a tireless proponent for all aspects of Grant County for years. Priscilla is also a "soccer mom, working as a volunteer during soccer registration each year. She brings the same great level of passion, commitment and caring for the community she serves. She makes sure Grant County and its communities have a seat at the table, when it comes to quality of life, needed funding and economic development opportunities."

Ashburn ended the evening by thanking all those you attended.