05/29/2015

Sugarcreek honors Budget Editor Bev Keller and other community members

by Jeffery Williams, The Budget News Correspondent

It was a mix of shock and honor at the eighth Annual Celebrate Sugarcreek Dinner and Awards Ceremony last Friday night at Dutch Valley Restaurant as four area men and women were given awards honoring their service to the Sugarcreek area and Garaway’s Teacher of the Year was honored by one of his own students.

The Budget Editor Bev Keller was honored with the Ranson Andreas Award while Jon Brown from Baltic State Bank won the Wilson Eckert Award. Ralph Greer, long time Lions treasurer and former Sugarcreek Postmaster took home the Clifford Moomaw Award and Tiffany Gerber of the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau was honored with the Adelbert Ladrach Award. Jason Wallick was presented the Garaway Teacher of the Year Award while Amber Immel was presented with the 2015 Sugarcreek Business Association Belden Brick of the Future Scholarship Award for $500.

Sugarcreek Mayor Clayton Weller spoke of the improvements Sugarcreek has seen in the past year and the momentum that the city is gaining. “Indeed, our doors are open and we are here to improve our community,” he said. “We need all of your help to do just that.”

As in year’s past, the people honored have done just that and lived up to the greatness that Sugarcreek strives for. “Tonight we are here to honor four individuals who have, molded, grown, crafted, innovated and driven Sugarcreek,” Milo Miller, president of the Sugarcreek Business Association, said.

There were 38 nominees and 192 nominations for this year’s awards which is the largest the pool has ever been.

Keller was up first as she was honored by former Sugarcreek Mayor Jeri Middaugh. She spoke of Keller as, “caring, compassionate and someone who is never afraid of taking on responsibility.

“When you think Sugarcreek, one of the first names that comes to mind is that of Bev Keller,” Middaugh added. “Not only is she a cheerleader for the village, but she hasn’t been afraid to get involved. She has been an active part of the story of Sugarcreek for more than 10 years.”

Keller’s list of projects is extensive. She is secretary for the Ohio Swiss Festival Board, the Baltic Business Association, the Garaway Lions, the Pathway to Wellness Public Relations Committee and Relay for Life of Northern Tuscarawas County Leadership Team. She is also Executive Vice President of the Sugarcreek Business Association and is chair of its annual auction, membership and Christmas. She works on the website for the Association as well as the Ohio Swiss Festival and the Community Arts Council.

A nomination of Keller stated, “Bev is a hometown girl. She wears Sugarcreek and the Garaway communities in general on her sleeve. There is no bigger cheerleader for communities like Dundee, Baltic, Ragersville and Sugarcreek than Bev.”

When given the award, a teary-eyed Keller said, “Everything that I do is for this community and my family. I couldn’t do anything without them. I thank you all for tonight. It means the world to me. I love this community and I hope I can leave it a little better than when I came.”

Tom Gerber presented Brown with his award. He said, “The size or scope of a task doesn’t intimidate Jon as he simply completes the task with gusto.”

Nominations highlighted Brown’s ability to pinch hit in any area that was needed, whether it was bagging chicken at the Ohio Swiss Festival or taking orders for fries and hot dogs at the Fabulous 50’s Fling.

Brown is a member of the Sugarcreek Business Association, Finance Committee for the Ohio Swiss Festival and the Plainfield Masonic Lodge 224.

“It is my pleasure to give back to the community that has so kindly accepted me into its ranks,” Brown said. “As a proud associate of Baltic State Bank I have had the incredible opportunity to work with outstanding customers and businesses in Sugarcreek and the surrounding areas.”

Keith Rathbun, publisher of The Budget, presented Greer with his award and lauded the former Postmaster of Sugarcreek for his ability to dive headfirst into any opportunity to help the community.

One nomination stated that Greer is “trustworthy, honest and candid. He has a smile that puts others at ease.”

When asked what makes him happy Greer said, “Family, friends and helping others.”

Rathbun echoed those sentiments. “And it is his willingness to help others that came up in nomination after nomination over the past several years.”

When he received his award, Greer mentioned that he filled in for Moomaw in February of 1982 and found the man to be “a really great guy” and added that he was honored and appreciative to receive an award named after Moomaw.

Weller presented Gerber, the Tourism Manager for the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, with her award, stating that, “She goes above and beyond to not only sell Tuscarawas County but has worked to learn all she can about the puzzle pieces that make this area unique.”

Another nomination stated that “Tiffany is an unsung hero. Many don’t know the hours behind the scenes it takes to get ready for tour shows where she presents Tuscarawas County and Sugarcreek.” She has dedicated the last 24 years to the hospitality industry in the county and is a member of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Board.

Gerber mentioned making the community better for the next generation, such as her children Morgan and Jordan. “This is my anniversary at the Convention and Business Bureau,” Gerber, who started as a Buckeye Career Center Intern at the Bureau, said. “Hopefully I’m making a difference. A lot of what we do is not within county lines. We’re out promoting this great area we live in. This is wonderful for our entire office to be recognized.”

Gerber went on to thank mentors Dee Grossman and Mary Beachy who “taught me how to tell the story of this county.”

Wallick was presented his award by Garaway sophomore R.J. Jacobs, who has been the quarterback of Wallick’s Pirate football offense the past two seasons.

“He has made a name for himself at Garaway,” Jacobs said. “He is one of the teachers who can call the halls of Garaway a second home as he just may spend more time there than at home during certain seasons.

“He isn’t afraid to get involved. He has a passion for teaching and guiding his students. He has worked hard to become a role model for those who are in his sphere of influence at Garaway.”

“I am very honored and very humble to be accepting this award,” Wallick said. “I am honored and blessed to be a part of the lives of everyone who has been a part of my life at Garaway. I have enjoyed making an impact in those student’s lives and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Every day presents new challenges but it’s been a pleasure to be a part of those challenges.”