|
June 2008 Highlights
Newsletter
Click on picture!
Aimee and Andrea Caudill named
Vinton County Persons of the Year
Each year, the Chamber
of Commerce recognizes a person or persons who have made outstanding
contributions to the community. This year, the Chamber chose local
volunteers Aimee and Andrea Caudill for their longtime commitment to
Vinton County's youth. The Chamber of Commerce believes that they are
role models for anyone interested in becoming volunteers.
The Vinton County
natives have volunteered their time with local groups for several years.
They have worked with Girl Scouts for 13 years and the Junior Miss
Program Committee for six years. But they are best known throughout the
community for their work with the Vinton County High School Athletic
Boosters. The sisters began working with the boosters in the late
nineties, helping to stage the 4th of July Celebration's
little miss pageant and parade. They eventually became more involved
with the organization, becoming officers. Aimee currently serves as the
organization's treasurer and Andrea serves as secretary.
Chamber of Commerce
President Paula Henderson commented on the sisters' attributes. "I have
known Andee and Aimee for a very long time. When the committee chose
them from the nominations received, I was very pleased and felt they
couldn't have chosen better recipients," she said. "Andee and Aimee have
given countless hours to the community on various projects, especially
with our youth. If you need help with anything, they are there with a
smile and ready to assist with whatever is needed. The youth of today
are our future and I think Andee and Aimee have definitely been a
positive influence over the years,"” Henderson explained.
But the sisters are
extremely humble and hesitant to accept credit for their efforts. Andrea
said that "there is nothing outstanding about what we do" as she
discussed their community involvement. "There are so many people that
work to get things done. We’re not out there working alone because there
are lots of us. It's the group force that makes things happen," she
said.
The pair agrees that it
is important to support local young people. "We want to give the youth
every opportunity we can," Aimee said. "We want to be able to help the
kids and their parents because our future depends on the youth."
Aimee is a 1990
graduate of Vinton County High School. She holds a degree in English
from the University of Findlay and is a former employee of the Jackson
Publishing Company. Aimee has worked for Knox Insurance in McArthur for
nearly 12 years.
Andrea is a 1988
graduate of Vinton County High School. She holds a degree in English
from Wilmington College and a Masters in Library Science from Kent State
University. She worked for the Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library until
becoming the Project Boost Coordinator for Vinton County Schools eight
years ago.
Both Aimee and Andrea
say that they volunteer because they love the community and enjoy being
able to help. "It's where I’m from. It’s where I live. I got to go away
to school but chose to come back. I like the small town. It's far enough
away but close enough to be somewhere," Andrea said. "We choose to be
here and we choose to help whenever there’s a need. But we prefer to
just blend into the background and do what we're here to do," she said.
Chamber of Commerce honors the
Hamden Fire Department
This year's Community Spirit award will
go to the Hamden Volunteer Fire Department for their longtime dedication
to community and the recent construction of a new fire station.
The fire department has been a central
part of the community since shortly after the village was founded in the
nineteenth century, according to Fire Chief Jim Beckner. With a roster
of 22 firefighters, including three women, the department serves
approximately 2,400 residents in a 68 square mile area.
The department operates a recently
constructed four bay fire station on Wilkesville St. in Hamden. The
5,600 square foot fire station has office and training space as well as
four truck bays and is double the size of their former facility. The
Chamber of Commerce believes this beautiful new facility is a monument
to community mindedness and the possibilities that come with teamwork.
Beckner, who has been Hamden's fire
chief since September 1978, said the new station was a dream more than a
decade in the making and that it has been a great boost to morale.
"Everybody is very happy with the new fire station. The community, the
volunteers, everyone is really proud of it," Beckner said. "When you
work with volunteers, it’s all about pride. And having a new station,
good equipment to work with, well, it just makes us all proud", he said.
It is pride in community and pride in
work that keeps many of the department's volunteers coming back,
according to Beckner. While the department has several younger members,
it has many members who have been around for thirty to forty years.
Beckner has logged nearly 40 years and Assistant Chief Chuck Boyer has
put in almost 36 years with the department. David Jayjohn Sr., Dale
McManus and Susan Jayjohn all joined the department in June 1976 and
have also continued to serve the citizens of the Hamden area.
"These people are here to help our
community. I’m here because I was raised by my parents to give to the
community as much as possible. These volunteers aren’t here for the
pittance they're paid for their services. They’re here because it makes
you feel good to help your neighbors," Beckner said.
But the fire department does more than
answer fire calls. "We’re not just a fire department, we're really a
community service organization," Beckner said as he described some of
their activities. The department sponsors a Halloween party for kids,
hangs the Christmas decorations in the village, sponsors ball teams and
helps with countless other community activities.
Next to putting out fires, the
department is probably best known for their bingo games. Bingo is
operated by the Hamden Volunteer Firefighters Association and funds most
of the department's activities, new equipment and the village's share of
the new station construction. "Our only fundraiser is bingo and we
would be nearly penniless without it. We do have a levy that generates
about $6,000 a year. But when you consider that a new fire truck costs
about $300,000, well $6,000 just doesn’t go very far," he said.
Beckner said that he and all of the
firefighters are grateful for the steady support they receive. "We
always appreciate all the support we've had from the citizens and from
the bingo players who show up every week to support us financially. The
village fathers have always been very supportive of the fire department
and we have a great working relationship that allows us to succeed. We
also have received a lot of support from the county officials, like with
grant funding for the new station," Beckner said. "It just seems like if
we ever need help, we always manage to get it."
He went on to point out that the
department's work is not the work of just one person but of many people.
"Lots of people share in our successes because it is a combined effort
that involves many. We are very proud of what we've accomplished in the
last thirty years and as long as people support us, we’ll be able to
keep going for many more years," Beckner said.
The public is encouraged to support the
Hamden Fire Department by participating in the weekly bingo games. The
firefighter's association hosts bingo every Thursday night at 6:45 p.m.
at the Hamden Firefighters Community Building on
Railroad Street.
For information about
the Hamden Fire Department, visit them on the web at
www.hamdenfd.org.
Remy's Mobile Homes named Business of
the Year
This year's Business of the Year Award is being given to Remy's Mobile
Homes, a Vinton County tradition since 1978. Owners Kenny and Linda
Remy have seen it all over the years as the business has evolved from
one small lot with just a handful of homes to two large lots that draw
business from all over the region.
Remy's Mobile Homes
began almost 30 years ago with just one employee, four houses and a tiny
one-bedroom house trailer as an office. At that time, Ken Remy Sr. and
employee Mike Lawhead ran the entire operation. Linda became involved in
the business when they incorporated in 1982 and it seems the business
has seen nothing but steady growth ever since. The most notable growth
has been the 1990 addition of a second location in Chillicothe which is
run by son Ken Remy, Jr. Today, Remy's Mobile Homes has 12 employees in
two locations and is well known as one of the best manufactured home
retailers around.
Linda explained some of
the changes the business has seen over the years. "Well, we have
certainly grown over the years but we have also seen a lot of changes in
the industry. We've actually gone from the trailer business to the
manufactured home business. These new houses have higher roof pitches
and drywall throughout. They are all vinyl sided and shingled and have
2x6 walls and thermal paned windows. They've come a long way," she said.
In fact, these homes
have come so far that they are the obvious choice for many. "It’s the
way to go. People work hard for their money and who can afford $1,000 or
$1,500 a month for a home? Even Dale Earnhardt, Jr. lives in a
manufactured home. It's just a smart choice," Linda said.
Today, Remy's sell
homes from three major manufacturers: Redman, Dutch and Mansion. But the
don’t just sell houses, they can actually help customers through the
entire process beginning with financing all the way through excavating,
foundation services, delivery and all the work necessary to prepare the
house for move-in.
During the last 30
years, Remy's Mobiles Homes has become a destination for new home buyers
from around the region. In the last year, they have sold homes that were
sent to many places outside the county, including Nashville, Ohio and
the Atlantic City area. Extensive advertising and word-of-mouth praise
have brought many people to Vinton County for a new manufactured home.
"We have people come in from all over and we have sent houses to all
kinds of places," Linda said.
One thing that hasn't
changed over the years is the family involvement in daily operations. In
fact, the third Remy generation just started working at the Allensville
location. Chelsey Remy has joined her dad and grandparents in the family
business and is now working part time after school.
Ken Remy Sr. graduated
from Allensville High School in 1963 and worked at the Mead Corporation
before opening the business. Linda, who is from Chillicothe, said that
she stayed busy raising their three children while Ken ran the business
during the early years. In addition to their children Teresa, Ken Jr.
and John, they have eight grandchildren.
Visit
Remy's Mobile Homes online at
www.remysmobilehomes.com or visit them in person at 58953 US Highway
50 East of Allensville. Call them at 596-4024.
|
