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The 2012 Chamber of Commerce Banquet Held

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The Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Banquet at the Beloit Country Club, Saturday night, February 4, 2012.

Board member, Wade Gerstner, introduced Lydia Becker-Housh, who has served as the organizations president for the past two years. He said Housh spearheaded the Garden Show Committee and the Beloit Bridal Fair among her other shining accomplishments while she served as President of the Chamber. Housh will continue to serve on the board for the coming year.

The Welcome was given by Becker-Housh who introduced the 2011 Board Members who included: Michelle Haeffele, who served as Vice President and Mandy Fincham who served as Treasurer. Other Board Members included: Katie Cheney; Wade Gerstner; Blake Housh; Dale Twaddell; Stacy Stauffer; and Tammy Vetter.

Becker-Housh introduced the outgoing board members, Blake Housh and Dale Twaddell. Becker-Housh will continue to serve on the board for the coming year.

Newly elected Co-Presidents for 2012 are Wade Gerstner and Michelle Haeffele with Katie Cheney serving as Treasurer. Newly elected board members who will serve for 2012-2014 Chamber year include: Su-Mi Sneath, Pepper Roberg, Venette Davis and Wade Richards. Becker also introduced Murray McGee, Community Development Director and Chamber Office Staff member Linda Stewart.

Receiving the award for the 4th Quarter Image Award was Lilah Lee Mitchell who has been employed at the Super 8 Motel for the past 15 years, going to work in 1997. Housh praised Mitchell for her work ethic and showing great pride in her work.

Winner of the Distinguished Service Award went to Mary Jane Chapman. She has been an R.N. working in the Emergency Room at the Mitchell County Hospital for many years. During the past year she has been part of the Beloit Trail Committee working to raise funds to build a designated walking trail that will be set up for local walkers to be able to enjoy.

Gerstner, the new Co.-President for 1012, introduced the Keynote Speaker for the evening, Brenon Odle, newly appointed Beloit Police Chief. Born and raised in Beloit, Odle graduated from Beloit High School in 1976. He attended Bethany Collage before transferring to Kansas State University where he obtained a degree in Political Science. He received his legal education at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, served as Asst. County Attorney of Riley County in 2003-2004, Served as a Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service from 2004 to 2009.

Chief Odle moved back to his hometown of Beloit, in 2009, where he became a partner in the Law Establishment of Gantenbein & Odle, serving as City Attorney for the City of Beloit and the City of Glen Elder in 2011. He is a member of the Kansas Bar Association and was a Title Insurance Agent while working as a partner in the Gantenbein Law Office. Chief Odle left the law profession to take over as Chief of Police for the City of Beloit in October 2011 after the death of Chief Ryan Stocker. Chief Odle said while he was proud to serve in the Secret Service after much soul searching he and his wife Jamie made the decision to move back to Beloit because they wanted their children to grow up in a safe environment of a small town the way they did. Jamie teaches Sophomore English at Beloit Jr.-Sr. High School.

Many people have asked Odle why he made the decision to leave the law profession to take over as Chief of Police for the City of Beloit in October 2011. "I found I really missed being part of the Law Enforcement profession and after the death of Chief Ryan Stocker, I made the decision to change jobs," Odle said.

Chief Odle told the audience that big city crimes do exist in rural areas. There are drugs of every shape and size here. These drugs come from all over the U.S. and even foreign countries, he said. He talked about these and other criminal threats that face small towns. He wants to preserve the values that Beloit has always had by continuing to improve the Beloit Police Department and make it more proficient.

One of Chief Odle's goals is to have all of his officers get to know the business owners in Beloit, as well as getting acquainted with the kids in town. He wants to meet with the schools and revamp their security systems. In short, he wants the citizens of Beloit to have a strong association with their police department and said he is going to make a conscious effort to do so.

"I believe in Beloit and in the people of Beloit," Odle said. Many of my generation are moving back to this area to become teachers, doctors, coaches, farmers and ranchers, business owners, and other professions. He attributed this to the values they instilled by their parents when they were growing up.

Odle ended his speech by saying, "I am committed to keeping you and your children safe. Do I miss the life of a Secret Service Agent? Yes, but then I just protected one person for several days at a time. As the Chief of Police of Beloit, I am responsible for keeping thousands of people that I am extremely connected to safe and I am committed to doing that," he said.

The Chamber had a drawing and gave away $100 certificate in Chamber Bucks, which went to Linda Stewart and a $50 certificate that was won by Kenny Garst.

Sponsors of the 2012 Banquet were Becker Autos & Trailers and the Waconda Trader.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA