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Manns, trails committee receive accolades
Several area business people and companies were honored in front of about 200 people during the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner and awards celebration Thursday night at the Liberty Theatre.
Local business people Dean and Becky Mann were presented with the Keystone Award, which honors a person or couple who has continually been a source of support to their community. The Manns, owners of Citizens Bank, are involved with several projects and committees in the community, including the Riverfront Project and the construction of the Heritage Park Pavilion downtown.
In a video presentation, Dean said he and Becky met in 1965 in Arkansas and later came to Fort Scott in 1989.
"We thought it was a really neat town," he said.
Dean said the bank was for sale at the time and he spent about six to eight months trying to convince the federal reserve that he should be the owner. A short time after, he and Becky became owners of the bank.
The couple have two daughters and several grandchildren.
Dean said he and Becky have lived in larger cities but never found the same experience of the community supporting the town like they have in Fort Scott.
"We never found that living in a big city," Dean said.
Dean said Citizens Bank is truly a "community bank" and they are part of a "wonderful community."
"Everybody in this room is involved (in this community)," he said. "That's the special thing about Fort Scott and an experience a lot of people don't get to have. This is a great award and we're proud to be the recipients."
Local residents Shawn Goans and Fred Prather were present to receive the Mayor's Citizenship Award, which is chosen by city commissioners and staff. They accepted the award, presented by Mayor Jim Adams, for their work as volunteers on the Gunn Park trails project.
If not for the Gunn Park Trails committee, the project would have cost $100,00 in public funds to build, Adams said.
"I want to salute all of our dedicated and selfless volunteers," he said.
The Gunn Park Trails committee consists of five to 10 volunteers who completed and financed all the layout, design and construction of about five miles of trails in the park that can be used by walkers, bikers and runners.
Goans and Prather thanked the city and City Manager Dave Martin for giving their permission to build on city land, and thanked everyone involved with the project.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we think it would get this much attention," Prather said.
Frank Halsey, also a member of the committee, was unable to attend the dinner, but was recognized by Prather and Goans.
Bryan Holt, chairman of the chamber board of directors, and FSACC Executive Director Lindsay Madison thanked the crowd for their attendance and recognized chamber staff for their efforts the past year.
"This is one of the most exciting nights for the chamber," Madison said.
Holt briefly discussed statistics provided in a PowerPoint presentation that are highlights of the local economy in 2012. Holt said the local unemployment rate fell from 7.8 percent in February 2012 to 5.6 percent in December 2012. More than 100 new jobs were added between April and September of last year. Five businesses had major expansions and 10 new retail businesses were added.
The number of vacant buildings on Main Street also dropped to five, Holt said.
Attendees also watched a brief video on the history of the chamber.
The night also included both a live and silent auction featuring items donated by individuals and businesses. The event is organized each year by a committee of chamber members.