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Annual Chamber Awards

Chamber Director Al Mitchell invites the community to attend the Mardi Gras-themed Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 114th Awards Banquet on Saturday, Feb 8, at the Interstate Building at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds.

Get your Glitz on… It’s Mardi Gras with the Chamber time! Mardi Gras is the theme for the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 114th Awards Banquet a celebration of business and community on Saturday, Feb 8, at the Interstate Building at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds.

Chamber Director Al Mitchell said the move to a bigger venue opens possibilities.

“We’re giving up the intimacy for some open space and we are opening it to the public,” Mitchell said. “In the past it has been only for chamber members.”

The festive and honoring evening lasts from 6 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for no host cocktails, live and silent auction, 50/50 raffle. At 7 p.m. is dinner and the silent auction ends at 8 p.m. The awards begin at 8:15 p.m.

Darby’s Little Blue Joint is catering the Mardi Gras themed meal and serving Boudin (pork and rice sausage), grilled king shrimp, blackened catfish, chicken jambalaya, red beans and rice, pickled okra, chapped salad with French dressing, king cake and johnny cake.

The live auction items are amazing donations from Mikesell’s Fine Jewelry and Terry Ryan. Mikesell’s is donating a 14k Rose Gold Montana Sapphire and diamond pendant valued at $2,337 and Terry Ryan is donating one semester of resident tuition and fees at Bitterroot College maximum value of $2,000.

The silent auction items are donated by local businesses. The awards, usually kept secret, have been shared ahead of time to allow friends to come support the winners.

Business of the Year is the Burnt Fork Market – Jimmy Edwards; Business Person of the Year is Ann Bethea – Florence Ace Hardware and Eastside Ace Hardware; the New Business(es) of the Year are Bitterroot Crossfit LLC with Jeff and JJ Lewis and Bitterroot Bouncers with Brian and Heather Appel; the Community Service Award goes to Exit Realty with Max and Tina Coleman; the Unsung Hero award goes to Katelyn Andersen; the Community Asset is Dominic Farrenkopf; the Volunteer of the Year is Susan Wetzsteon, the Economic Development award goes to Northwestern Energy and Tim Moody, Hamilton District Manager; the Spark Plug

Photo DOUG MCCONNAHA Amy Linton and Dominic Farrenkopf added to the excitement of last year’s banquet with the sales of 50/50 raffle tickets.

award goes to Andrew Kilian; the Laurel award (in honor of past mayor Laurel Frankenfield) goes to Mary Lyn and the Chamber Volunteer of the year is Marvin Edstedt.

“People should come to support the winners,” Mitchell said. “We have good award winners, spread out up and down the valley. It’s a good party and a lot of fun. People can come and see what the chamber is all about, we don’t’ use it as a recruiting tool but people are welcome to check it out.”

Mitchell said the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce has been an entity for 119 years, but the awards celebration was skipped for a few years “due to lean years or war,” he said.

Steve Fullerton will be the event emcee.

Call the chamber for an invitation and to RSVP at 406-363- 2400. Purchase tickets by Feb. 3, each ticket costs $50 and a table of eight costs $360.

Attend the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 114th Awards Banquet, Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Interstate Building, 100 Old Corvallis Rd, in Hamilton.