Chamber honors local businesses at its sapphire anniversary

Blue was the color of the evening as the Fallon Chamber of Commerce celebrated local business and its sapphire anniversary during its annual awards dinner this month.

When the Chamber was incorporated 75 years ago on Dec. 26, 1947, Harry S. Truman was president, gas was 26 cents a gallon and Operation Haylift would occur the next December.

The Chamber Board of Directors took turns announcing the nominees and winners from 14 categories:

• Outstanding Customer Service-Food and/or Beverage Business nominees were La Fiesta, Maine Street Cafe and winner The Courtyard Cafe & Bakery.
• Outstanding Customer Service-Retail Business nominees were Louie’s ACE Home Center, The Village Garden Center and winner Boot Barn.
• Outstanding Customer Service-Retail Business with five employees or less nominees were Life’s Little Treats, Great Basin Apothecary and winner Memorie Boutique.
• Outstanding Business Innovations nominees were Huck Salt, Fallon Theatres and winner Frey Ranch and Distillery.
• Recognized Agriculture Leader of the Year nominees were Western States Hemp, Two Ravens Farm and winner Lattin Farms.
• Outstanding Customer Service-Health and/or Beauty Services Business nominees were Banner Churchill Community Hospital, Matt West Coaching and winner Nevada Dental Arts.
• Best Business Start-up nominees were Arby’s, Boot Barn and winner Bottle & Brie.
• Outstanding Helping Heart Award nominees were Churchill Community Coalition, William N. Pennington Life Center and winner Fallon Ford Pay It Forward program.
• Outstanding Home-based Business nominees were Fenyx Home Decor, Squish’s Pressure Washing and winner Cavanaugh Confections.
• Outstanding Customer Service-Services and/or Repair Business nominees were Cheek Construction, Nevada Computer Works and winner Tedford Tire and Auto Service.
• Outstanding Local Non-profit Organization nominees were Churchill Community Hospital Foundation, American Legion Post 16 and winner Fallon Theatres.
• Best Place to Work nominees were Sierra Nevada Properties, New Millennium Building Systems and winner Banner Churchill Community Hospital.
• Outstanding Beautification Project of the Year nominees were CC Communications, Boot Barn and winner Rafter 3C Arena.
• Businessperson of the Year nominees were Garrett Diegel of COUNTRY Financial, Eric Gothan of Sierra Nevada Properties and winner Tami Lynn Edgmon-Bickel, owner of The Village Garden Center.

After the cocktail hour, the dinner began with the colors presented by Marine Corps League High Desert Detachment 762, while Cynthia McGarrah sang the National Anthem. A silent auction, bar, champagne table, photo booth and several live auctions presented by auctioneer Ted Guazzini rounded out the night.

The lavish sold-out event was sponsored by CC Communications, Tedford Tire and Auto Service, Big R, Cheek Construction, City of Fallon government, The Fallon Post and the Lahontan Valley News. Catering was provided by 3Cs Catering with dessert made by Cuppiecakes and coffee provided by Telegraph Coffee & Tap.