A night to remember

The 14th Annual Cherokee County Recognition Banquet held March 14th, 2009 was a great success, with a record-breaking crowd. The music of Jim Davis, Randy Martin and Charlie Liessler filled the air at the WITCC Convention Center as the Banquet social hour began at 5:30 PM. During this time people had the opportunity to talk with old friends and business acquaintances and meet new people in Cherokee County.

The recognition of business leaders and volunteers is the very heart of this special evening. To follow is a full listing of those receiving recognition.

Congratulations to all of the honorees!

Certificate awards from Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation went to: Joan Ballantyne and Jane Miller for Delta Properties; Kim Barrett & Ginny Bunt for Quilt-n-Kaboodle; Tim Bonstetter for Godfather's Pizza; Chad & Carol Carey for Carey's Furniture; Cindy Haner for the Aurelia Star; Jackie Johnson and Darcy Reuter for the Marcus Hometown Guesthouse; Jeff Kollbaum for Topline Feed and Supply; Helen Larson for Staples Promotional Products; Ron & Chris Loftus for the Aurelia Café; Jerry & Barb Martin for the Martin House; Jan Morton for Hill of Beans Coffee Shop; Jerome Petty for Jerome Petty Trucking; Pat & Roger Redig for the Aurelia Community Center; Jane Schmillen for Jane's Sanford Lane Salon; Ivy Sivinski for Headline's; James Steffan for Shell Food Mart; Jerry Townsend for Shade Tree Repair; and Darren Zwiefel for Darren's Clothing.

Receiving plaques where: Cherokee Regional Medical Center from Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation; First Cooperative Association from Aurelia Economic Development Corporation; Mongan Painting from Cherokee Industrial Corporation; Cherokee Guitar Shop, The Gardens, Hinkhouse Hearing, Trash & Treasures, and Wilson's TV from the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce; Verdell Johnson from Cherokee County Farm Bureau; Francis "Smitty" Smith from the City of Cleghorn; Sarge's Quimby Inn (Terry and Donna Sargent) from the City of Quimby; Jim Dewitt from the City of Washta; Charles Knudson and Grandma's Garden & Flower Shoppe(Brian & LuAnn Miller) from Marcus for Progress; Aimee Barritt from Business & Professional Women; Bev Anderson Zieman from the City of Cherokee. Thank you to everyone who made this evening one to remember.

A special thank you to all the Cherokee County banks, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Mid-American Energy, Alliant Energy, Blaine's Culligan and Julie Hering-Kent. We also thank all those who attended for your support of this important event for our County. Hope to see you next year for the 15th Annual Cherokee County Recognition Banquet.