The Audubon Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebrate Audubon event last week, awarding individuals who have been nominated for Citizen of the Year, Jr. Citizen of the Year, and the Live Large awards. Audubon Chamber Executive Director Mercedes Johnston says this night is all about celebrating the businesses and individuals who make Audubon the place it is.
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Winners for the Citizens of the Year award went to Jan Hilsabeck and Linda Koenig from the decades-long business of Jan’s Catering. In one of the nomination letters, Hilsabeck and Koenig were said to cater many organizations such as Lions Club, Chamber groups, Audubon Fair Board, and Audubon Country Club, along with many weddings, funerals, reunions and graduations. The Jr. Citizen of the Year was awarded to Alexis Obermeier for all her volunteer hours working concession stands at sporting events, at the church for bible school, and any extra projects the church or the school may be having. Her caring personality is known around the school and the community, and she displays kindness, passion and a drive that Audubon is looking for in the future citizens of the community. The Live Large award was nominated to two individuals, Molly Christensen at Audubon Real Estate and Tracy Armentrout at Comfy Corner B&B. Johnston says besides the dedication Armentrout and Christensen have to the community, they are also a huge help to the Chamber of Commerce board.
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Along with the awards, local businesses in town donated items to be raffled off to raise money for the Chamber to assist with funding more events that will be held this year. Johnston says the raffle brought in over $2,000 and the number of donated items set a record that Audubon Chamber hasn’t seen in a while.
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Pictures of the award winners have been included below.
Citizens of the Year: Linda Koeing and Jan Hilsabeck
Elizabeth Brittian, one of the nominators for Alexis Obermeier for the Jr. Citizen of the Year
Live Large Winners: Molly Christensen and Tracy Armentrout
