Chamber honors civic leaders

By OLIVIA KOERNIG / Whitefish Pilot

For more than 20 years, the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce has honored citizens for their dedication and commitment to the community. Usually the awards banquet is a semi-formal event hosted by a local restaurant. This year, a casual chili and hot dog feed geared for families is planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 9 at the O'Shaughnessy.

? The 2008 Business of the Year award went to Nelson's Ace Hardware. One of the longest-standing businesses in Whitefish, Nelson's celebrates 60 years in Whitefish this year.

When Nelson's opened for business in 1948, it was one of seven hardware stores in Whitefish. Today, only Nelson's remains,

"By all rights, we should have closed up shop several times," said Marilyn Nelson, who runs the store with husband Rick. "When most sensible people quit, our friendly bankers kept us going."

Rick agreed. In the late '70s and early '80s, when Rick and brother Don ran the store together, the two made due with double-digit interest rates in a time when builders were exiting Whitefish by the drove. Turns out their decision to stay the course was worth it in the end.

"We had our best year in history last year," Rick said.

But the Nelsons know they don't deserve all the credit. They say their top-notch staff, loyal customers and industry affiliation with Ace has helped them weather the changes in Whitefish and remain relevant through the years.

"We had to carve our niche in order to survive the big box invasion in the alley," Marilyn said. "That's been that we're friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and consistent."

And although the store's rich history in Whitefish has made it a household name, Nelson's got the chamber award not for business but for charitable contributions it doles out each year. Among them are donations to the Middle School auditorium, auction items and numerous pledges to the Whitefish Community Foundation.

"We pledge as much as we can, mostly to Whitefish-based groups where the gift stays in Whitefish," Marilyn said.

? The Citizens of the Year award went to Dr. Kurt Blades, Dr. John Kalbfleisch, Tim Murphy, Shawn Havens and Lin Akey. The group was chosen because of their dedication to raise funds for new gym floors at the middle school.

"It's probably the most-used facility in town," Akey said. "It's in use every night of the week."

The men had all been on the front line, serving in the gyms coaching teams and attending games. They knew the floor was inadequate for sporting needs.

Blades remarked that teaching kids the fundamentals of basketball was tricky because it seemed like they were playing in their socks. Murphy said he found it a liability not only to knees and elbows but also heads.

Yet the $10 million middle school bond did not include funding to address the floors. So Blades rallied the troops, enlisting the other four men to join him on a committee to find a way to get the kids the floor they deserved.

They drafted a letter and, like wildfire, word spread all over town. Pledges came in, ranging from $5 to $20,000. Others called to say they'd do whatever was necessary to help.

"We're very fortunate to have such tremendous support here," Blades said.

The group was also chosen because of each individuals' community dedication beyond the gym floor. The men have all been involved in other community efforts, like building new baseball fields and dugouts, sitting on numerous committees and installing a new track field at the high school.

"We all grew up in small towns watching older people giving so much, and it rubbed off on us," Murphy said. "You get into a position to give back, and you do."

? The Great Whitefish Award was given to Marguerite Schenck because of a lifetime of contributions in the community. Schenck was born and raised here and was married to Big Mountain's founding father, Ed Schenck.

"I think there are other people who might deserve it more," Schenck said humbly of the award.

And if that's true, it's tough to believe.

She has spent time volunteering with Hospice, Red Cross, Flathead County Health Department, North Valley Hospital, St. Charles Catholic Church and Stumptown Historical Society. She's been Whitefish's First Lady, a recipient of a Florence Nightingale nursing award and Winter Carnival's Grand Marshal. She's also volunteered with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

"Maybe because I've been around longer, it seems like I've done more," Schenck said. "The things I really like doing, I haven't done for years."

But considering she's almost 82 and still serves at North Valley Hospital two days a week, Schenck still does plenty.

? The School District 44 Resource Officers Appreciation Award was renamed this year to honor resource officers past and present. Bridger Kelch was the first, followed by George Kimerly. Rob Veneman is the current resource officer.

Steve Bryson, CARE president for 19 years, admitted he felt trepidation about having a uniformed officer on campus. Thankfully, his fears were unfounded.

"We have a safer school now," Bryson said. "These officers have worked to show that they really are there to protect and serve."

Bryson said Kelch specifically had some fences to get over, an act he performed with patience and composure. Kimerly became every kid's best friend.

"Students told me, 'I was thinking think about doing this or that, but then I'd have to explain to George,'" Bryson said.

Of Veneman, the words consistent and trustworthy came to Bryson's mind.

"They have infinite patience and are kid-friendly," he said. "But they all three uphold and respect the law."

? The Whitefish Government Worker of the Year is assistant city manager and financial manager Mike Eve. City manager Gary Marks said Eve is the guy you want to get an award when you're asked who deserves one.

"Mike's the kind of guy taxpayers want guarding the public purse," Marks said. "He's honest, hardworking, diligent and has great people skills."

Under Eve's watch, the city's internal audits for the past two years have been "without comment."

What this means is that the auditor fond nothing in the city budget that needed improvement, a distinction fewer than 10 percent of those audited receive.

Factor in that Whitefish was experiencing serious growth during those audits and the feat is nothing short of remarkable.

"In the midst of growth is usually when errors occur," Marks said. "To sum it up, he's the public servant every community wishes they had."

? The Youth Activities Volunteer of the Year award went to Michelle "Shelle" Kuntz.

In addition to working full-time at the high school as CARE director, Kuntz crams another full-time job's worth of volunteer work into every week.

"I love kids and I have a passion to make a difference," she said. "One of God's gifts to me was organization."

She remarked that whenever she left part-time jobs, full-time employees were always needed to replace her.

Easy to believe. She's involved with her church as a youth minister, hosts a foreign exchange student, helps the booster club, and sits on the Whitefish Education Foundation Board.

"I'm not into recognition," Kuntz said. "I do it for the kids."

Of course, her family deserves kudos as well. She admits there have been more than a couple nights when they have to make their own dinner. But it's rubbed off on not only her family but other kids she encounters.

"It's cool," she said.