Honorees were Large Business or Organization of the Year North Webster Community Public Library and representatives are from the left, Paula Markley, Pam Long, Beth Smith and Teresa Brown; Person of the Year Steve Ward; and Small Business or Organization of the Year North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Fire Chief Jeremy Likens.

A trip to sunny Mexico was the theme of the 2015 North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce awards dinner Monday evening at the North Webster Community Center Banquet Hall. The dinner is held annually to recognize leaders of the community and promote community spirit.

The award winners were Person of the Year Steve Ward, Large Business or Organization of the Year North Webster Community Public Library, and Small Business or Organization of the Year North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Fire Department.

Steve Ward was selected as person of the year by the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce Monday. The Ward family is shown. From the left are Ashley Ward, Sue Ward, Jaxon Nabinger, Steve Ward, Nicole Ward Nabinger holding newborn Colton Nabinger. Son-in-law Trent Nabinger was not present.

Ward was chosen for his more than 30 years of volunteer work primarily through the North Webster Lions Club, his commitment to the community as a long time business owner, and his work as Tippecanoe Township Trustee. He has spent countless hours working for the betterment of North Webster and the surrounding area. Perhaps, he is best known as the “voice of the Mermaid Festival.”

The library has progressed from a completely volunteer organization to a tax funded state of the art facility with 20 full and part-time employees and a full range of programming while the fire department offers untiring and around the clock service with its professional staff of two and volunteers. Both serve Tippecanoe Township.

Speaker for the evening was Phil Huffman, coordinator of technology for Wawasee Middle School and instructor of TV-radio for Wawasee Community School Corp. He enlightened those in attendance about the radio and TV station that exists within a 15 mile radius of Wawasee High School.

Phil Huffman, Wawasee Community School Corp., enlightened the crowd about WRWT Warrior Radio and TV 93.7.

“It is on the air 24/7, 365 days a year by instructors and students,” he noted. The station is known as WRWT Warrior Radio and TV 93.7. Students are learning all aspects of the technology as well as writing, assembling and producing segments and playing music from the ’80s to today. Video, radio and other audio visual skills are taught by instructors Huffman and Jeremy Van Lue.

Businesses have an opportunity to sponsor special segments such as sports or weather by underwriting them while non-profits can have events listed on the station for free. Students at the high school, Wawasee Middle School and Milford Middle school participate by taking the class as an elective.

Chamber President Sue Ward, Sue’s Creations, welcomed guests and presided during the evening. The Cake Lady catered a Mexican meal while The Sleepy Owl provided the cash bar. Numerous silent auction items donated by members were bid on and distributed. The evening was coordinated by chairmen David Colquitt, Eastlund Funeral Home, and Brenda Peterson, Lake City Bank.

Gathering at the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner were board members in front, from left, Vice President David Colquitt, Eastlund Funeral Home; President Sue Ward, Sue’s Creations; Treasurer Stacey Cox, Pletcher Insurance; and Martha Stoelting, The Papers Inc. In back are Don Roulo, Life Quest; Karilyn Metcalf, Dixie Sternwheeler Inc.; Brenda Peterson, Lake City Bank; Secretary Jen Ducey, Tippecanoe Township; Ben Ashpole, Updenity; and Jeremy Likens, North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Fire Department. Laura Eyer, Massage Therapist and Spa; and Greg Snavely, Precision Wire Inc., were not present.