Logan County Chamber celebrates community

STERLING, Colo. -- The Logan County Chamber of Commerce Friday recognized supporters and community leaders in the annual banquet.

Three awards were presented this year: the Citizen of the Year, Chamber Supporter of the year and Business of the Year. The theme of this year’s banquet was “Feeling Loco” with Fiesta Chic attire encouraged.

Following the event, Chamber Director Caitlyn Baseggio talked about the awards.

“Tonight was our annual Logan County Chamber of Commerce Banquet. We had a lot of great awards. We had a lot of great awards this evening,” she said Friday.

Citizen of the Year went to Tom and Sandy Kiel, Chamber Supporter of the Year went to Geri Estrada and Melanie Buckler, and Business of the Year was presented to Steele Terrain.

Tom and Sandy Kiel, and Amanda and Brandon Steele, were not present to receive their awards.

Geri Estrada, one of two recipients for Chamber Supporter of the year, said she was surprised by the recognition.

“I was awarded the Chamber Supporter of the Year. I wasn’t expecting it. You know, you do a lot of work, and, always behind the scenes, so it's fun to be recognized, but I didn’t do it for that. I mean, I just enjoy it.”

She has been working with the Chamber about five years.

Melanie Buckler, the second recipient of the Chamber Supporter of the Year award, said this is her second time on the Chamber board.

“I am Past President, well, no, Past-Past-President, of the Chamber. I also own Shipping and Stuff, and Tiny Humans Thrift Boutique in town. I’ve been a Chamber member for a very long time,” Buckler said.

She said she has served about four years, now her second time with the Chamber.

"I just enjoy, as being a business owner, I enjoy the help the Chamber provides and getting word out there and kind of help marketing the business and I promote the Chamber because it benefits ... I enjoy the Chamber but it also benefits my business,” she said.