Chamber of Commerce Award Winners Honored On Wednesday

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMBASSADOR AWARD was given to the Summerfest Rodeo Committee.
Pictured are (l-r): Junior Young, Gene Kelly, Garrett Lake,Gerry Bouska, Lauri Havranek,
Bill Langan, Jacque Murray, Scooter Engelhaupt and Tammy Tinken.

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IRISH SPIRITS owners Don and Sue Baker were honored as Chamber of Commerce retirees on Wednesday by Lauri Havranek, O'Neill Chamber Director.

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CHAMBER CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD was given to Kim Metschke, an employee at O'Neill Family Pharmacy.

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SUNRISE FLOWER AND GIFT owner Corrine Winings was honored as a Chamber of Commerce retiree last Wednesday. Pictured are (l-r): Jeff Winings, Corrine Winings, Tyson Winings and Crissie Winnings.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Kim Metchke at O'Neill Family Pharmacy – Kim has been a part of O'Neill Family Pharmacy for 19 years. In that time, she has been an unwavering and constant figure to any customer that walks in the pharmacy door. Her bright smile and energetic personality have been a shining example of how we should all approach each day.  Since her first days at O'Neill Family Pharmacy, she has been willing to go above and beyond the regular call of duty for every one of her customers. If it took driving around in the dark cold winter night to find someone's house to deliver a package, she would do it.  If it meant making a house call to help someone feel more comfortable with their treatment, she would do it. Over the years, many in our community have crossed paths with her outside of the pharmacy, that doesn't matter to Kim! She will still take your information and get you what you need when she gets to the store.  She will frequently stay on the phone on hold for hours at a time to help someone with their insurance issue.  She frequently takes the time to listen to someone who can't afford their medication and communicates with prescribers and manufacturers to help get them something more affordable.  Many people come to her each year to have her help them find a Medicare D plan that fits their needs. Her honesty and knowledge base helps customers feel comfortable in coming to her for direction. Her leadership with others has been one of her finest attributes.  She takes the time to teach the people around her, while also expecting their level of customer service to equal her own. Kim is synonymous with O'Neill Family Pharmacy and her customer service has won the hearts of many people that have come to the pharmacy through the years.  Kim truly is a shining example of how you should treat each and every person every day. Congratulations Kim!!

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Amanda Nekolite of Neko's Pub.  Amanda gives back to the community with the many fundraisers she holds at Neko's Pub.  She has raised funds for many projects throughout the community, including the Irish Capital Feline Foundation, school supply drives, the great Easter Egg Hunt, Celtic Riders and Irish Walk of Fame, but the biggest one has been for the school lunch programs.  With the partnership with the O'Neill Rotary club, Amanda exceeded her $5000 goal by raising $5,820!  She's also offered deals to the Veterans in our community on Veteran's Day.  Congratulations Amanda!

AMBASSADOR AWARD

Members of the Summerfest Rodeo Committee travel around to parades in Ewing, Verdigre, Lynch, Butte, Stuart, Chambers and Atkinson promoting the annual Summerfest Celebration. Volunteers fill koozies with candy and promotional material that are thrown out to the audiences at all the parades. The Summerfest Rodeo Committee represents O'Neill well and do a wonderful job getting the word out to the surrounding area about our celebration.  Congratulations to the O'Neill Summerfest Rodeo Committee. 

RETIREES - IRISH SPIRITS

Don and Sue Baker of Irish Spirits.  They purchased Dave's Package Liquor in early 2006.  After some discussion with family it was decided to give the store a new name that worked with O'Neill's Irish heritage. Irish Spirits opened on St. Patrick's Day, 2006. Their first St. Patrick's Day weekend welcomed a blizzard on Saturday and Sunday that kept a lot of people in town for an extra day.  They tried to stay customer focused and people friendly, selling a large selection of wines, beers and liquors.  They especially tried to keep as many Nebraska products as they could.  They made many friends in the 16 years they operated Irish Spirits and appreciate all of their loyal customers.  Thank you all!

RETIREES - SUNRISE FLOWER & GIFT

Corrine Winings.  In 1985, Allan and Corinne Winings purchased Nissen's Flower & Gift at 408 East Douglas from Ivan and Carla Nissen. Corinne had experience working at Atkinson Floral and felt it was time to own her own shop. Allan, Corinne and their son Jeff moved from Atkinson to O'Neill to embark on a new journey. Shirley Keyes was an employee of Nissen's and Corinne was able to retain her for her business at Sunrise Floral. Working together led them to become friends and be a dynamic team. Corinne is forever grateful for Shirley and all that she did to help with the shop. For 38 years, they enjoyed meeting new people and fulfilling customers' floral and gift needs- many customers became really good friends. After contemplating retirement and then putting the shop on the market, in the fall of 2023, Megan and Tyler Mitchell of Atkinson purchased Sunrise Floral from Corinne. Both Corinne and Shirley have been able to stay on part time at Sunrise Floral and have been able to help assist with the transition. Corinne now works two days a week and is enjoying being semi- retired. She is thankful for the business, and loyal customers these past 38 years! 

RETIREES -HOLZ LUMBER

Virgil Holz Family.  The Virgil Holz Family would like to take this final opportunity to thank O'Neill and all the surrounding communities for their business and friendship over the years.  The Holz family has owned and operated their lumber yards in Holt, Brown and Antelope Counties for 60 years.  After a liquidation sale, online auction and complete dispersal auction, Virgil & Carol Ann, Mike & Marilyn and Tim Holz once again say thank you and good bye from Holz Lumber.

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