The Mitchell Chamber and Development annual banquet honored area individuals and businesses for their contributions Friday evening at the Ramada Inn & Suites in Mitchell.
Starting with dinner and “The Late Show with Mitch Ell,” the evening was rounded out by the annual awards presentations.
The Fraser family of JD Concrete received the Family Business of the Year award; Brian Klock of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles received the Tourism Excellence Award; Greg Von Wald, Chris Paustian, Joe Graves and Robert Duffett took home Harold Hagen Awards; and Terry Sabers was named recipient of the Community Service Award.
Lance Koth presented the Harold Hagen award, which is in recognition of contributions to the field of economic development in the Mitchell community. The award is named for Harold Hagen, who Koth said was “instrumental” in bringing Cabela’s to town.
In presenting the awards to educators, Koth said the impact is indirect, though just as vital, to economic development through their work with the future generations.
“These individuals are impacting the lives of our children and youth through education,” he said.
Though Koth noted each person’s resume extended beyond his remarks, Von Wald and Paustian were named for their involvement with Mitchell Technical Institute, Graves for the Mitchell School District and Duffett for Dakota Wesleyan University.
Paustian was nominated to speak on behalf of all four award recipients, which he joked was a “triple, double cross,” but thanked the chamber for the recognition.
“Thank you for recognizing education in this community,” he said.
(Excerpted from an article by Candy DenOueden in the Mitchell Daily Republic, January 26, 2013)
