Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Chuck and Peg Lawrance received the "Person of the Year" Awards Tuesday during the North Webster Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet at the Tippecanoe Lake Country Club.
The couple, owners of Fisherman's Cove and ABC Storage, thanked fellow members for the recognition.
"When we moved here we thought we'd found the perfect place," Peg said. "Twenty-four years later it's still great."
The Lawrances were joined by their sons, Kenneth and Scott, both of Indianapolis.
Chuck, a real estate salesman, also drives a school bus route.
"Thank you for this distinctive honor," he said.
Peg served for many years as the town clerk. "It was a great pleasure to work with everyone in town during my years in town hall," she said. "I miss it every day."
The Lawrances are co-founders of the chamber.
Speakers for the evening were Tom Garland, of the Kosciusko Community YMCA, and Brenda Rigdon, of the North Webster Tippecanoe Township Library.
Both organizations have space in the just-opened North Webster Community Center.
Garland reported 125 YMCA memberships to the facility have been sold, representing 300 to 400 people.
"I've never seen a town pull together like North Webster has," he said of the great response to the Y's presence. "I couldn't be happier with the way things are going."
Garland said for now, the focus is on adult programs and the schedule will change over the next six months.
Rigdon announced that the library, which has been a "library authority," is eligible to become a Class I public library because of reassessment.
"We don't need special legislation. All it takes is a resolution by the township advisory board to switch us from an authority to a Class I library," she said.
Currently, the facility is given $15,000 by the township and $15,000 by the town. Among other things, the library would be able to set its own tax levy.
She said $325,000 in grant money has been raised by volunteers. The new library should be open April 1.
Chamber president Connie Beery said the organization has undergone a metamorphosis this year, from "burned-out" to active.
"We're in a renewal stage with a new logo, a new look, divided into four committees with plenty of members serving." she said.
The chamber's latest project is to purchase "Welcome to North Webster" signs at the north and south ends of town. A fish fry, held in cooperation with other organizations is set for Memorial Day weekend, to fund the sign project.
Members of the executive board are Connie Beery, president; Lynn Stevens, vice-president; Dee Huff, secretary; and Chris Bruno, treasurer.
