Special night for Prairie du Chien chamber
Louanne Davis, who owns The Pickett Fence along with husband Ken, received the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce’s most prestigious and longstanding award during the annual meeting Tuesday night. The C.F. LaPointe Award, named after Fred LaPointe, who was the Chamber’s executive director from 1976 through 1994, is given to an employee of, or an owner of, a Chamber member business who goes above and beyond their normal job-related duties to enrich the Prairie du Chien business community. Louanne and Ken are pictured with Chamber Director and CEO Bob Moses.
The Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards presentation Tuesday evening at Lady Luck Casino’s Lone Wolf Bar in Marquette. Over 150 Chamber members and guests attended. Board members, ambassadors, tourism council members and economic development board members were recognized for their contributions toward the business community of Prairie du Chien. Special recognition was given to a number of local businesses that hit milestone years of being in business, while others were honored for going above and beyond for the community. Those businesses were represented by the people pictured (front row, from left): Ross Ritchie, son of Don and Edith Ritchie, Ritchie’s Jewelry Store, 65 years in business; Curt Zinkle, chamber president; Louanne Davis, The Pickett Fence, C.F. LaPointe Award; Bob Moses, chamber director and CEO; Rick Morovits, Cabela’s, 20 years in business; (back row) Rick Powell, Walmart, 30 years in business; Steven Lidberg, Solomon Corporation, New Business of the Year; Mike Valley, Valley Fish and Cheese, President’s Award; Randy Weeks, Design Homes, 50 years in business; Brent Posten, Spahn and Rose Lumber Company, 25 years in business; and Mike Garrity, Garrity Funeral Home, 70 years in business. (Photo by Correne Martin)
Chamber Board President Curt Zinkle (left) presented the 2016 President's Award to Mike Valley of Valley Fish and Cheese for his contributions to both the board and the business community.
The crowd that attended was over 150.
The Lady Luck Casino Lone Wolf Lounge hosted the evening's meeting and dinner.
Door prizes were donated by local businesses.
By Correne Martin
The Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards banquet at the Lady Luck Casino Lone Wolf Bar in Marquette Tuesday night. Over 150 members and guests attended from the membership of 350.
Chamber Director and CEO Bob Moses emceed the event and shared some information about the organization’s past year.
“Because Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce members invest in the organization, opportunities such as new programs, services, member referrals, events, networking opportunities, marketing strategies and sponsorships are available as a return investment,” he said.
Being a community with one of eight Travel Wisconsin Tourism Information Centers, the chamber has an opportunity to promote its businesses to over 40,000 tourists who stop at the information center each year. That number for 2016 continues to rise. Thanks to a dedicated staff and volunteers, Moses said, over 37,870 tourists have been assisted.
“We are hopeful to exceed last year’s number of 43,000 as we look forward to the fall leaf lookers,” he commented.
Dignitaries, chamber board members, ambassadors, tourism council members, economic development board members and new chamber members were recognized. Special honors went to local businesses hitting milestones in 2016:
Garrity Funeral Home, 70 years; Ritchie’s Jewelry Store, 65; Design Homes, 50 years; Walmart 30 years; Spahn and Rose Lumber Company, 25 years; and Cabela’s, 20 years.
Perhaps one of the most touching moments of the night was when Ross Ritchie accepted the award for his parents, Don and Edith Ritchie, who ran the jewelry store downtown with clear, exemplary dedication.
“He had this commitment to Prairie du Chien, because it was his family,” Ross stated.
Ritchie’s Jewelry Store went out of business this summer, due to health issues. “Dad was quiet but steadfast in being there seven days a week the last few years. He may not have been open all day, but he was there,” Ross added.
Acknowledgement was also given to Solomon Corporation as the New Business of the Year.
The President’s Award, handed out by Board President Curt Zinkle, of Zinkle’s Piggly Wiggly, went to Mike Valley of Valley Fish and Cheese for his commitment to the board the past six years and to area communities.
The C.F. LaPointe Award, which goes to the business or employee who demonstrates efforts above and beyond the call of duty in the interest of the business community, was a surprise until the end of the night. Moses presented the honor to Louanne Davis, who owns The Pickett Fence with her husband Ken Davis. She has had the business in Prairie du Chien for 18 years, including the last 10 years downtown.
“We love being downtown and enjoy everyone in our business community,” she said.
