President’s Award to Shane Alexander. [PN Photo/Kacie Svoboda]
By Kacie Svoboda
The newly constructed events center at Prairie Berry was full of people, laughter and a touch of sadness at the annual Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner.
The chamber brought back the President’s Award to honor Shane Alexander for his service to the community. This honor was bestowed at the end of an emotional week as the town mourned the loss of Alexander family patriarch 76-year-old Warren Alexander. Warren was known for always being willing to lend a helping hand around the community.
“At his (Warren’s) service, the statement was made that he was one of the ‘go-to guys’ in our town,” Bob Stanfiel said. “Our community should be proud of the next generation of ‘go-to guys’ because this gentleman (Shane) has already proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is a ‘go-to guy.”
Stanfiel’s tearful presentation was met with a standing ovation from the other attendees.
Stanfiel wanted the award to go to someone well rounded in both family and community and who is at every community event. He also acknowledged the importance of the President’s Award recipient being dedicated to helping Hill City grow and prosper.
“Shane does a lot of stuff behind the scenes and I wanted the community to recognize that,” said Stanfiel.
The Alexander family was well represented as Warren’s son, Dallas Alexander, was honored with the Volunteer of the Year award.
According to Stanfiel, it’s town members like Shane, Dallas and the other award-winners that will continue to drive Hill City to be the best community in the Black Hills.
Other winners at the annual dinner were: Holly House Bed & Breakfast, Governor’s Service award; Hill City Mercantile, Hill City Retail Business of the Year award; Black Hills Plumbing, Hill City Service Business of the Year; Dakota Stone, Hill City Employer of the Year; Harney Peak Inn, Hill City Community Pride award; Rod Shaffer as the second Hill City Volunteer(s) of the Year award winner; Dan Dickey, Vic Jepsen award; Pete Larson, Neil Larson and Bob Farrar, Lifetime Achievement award; and Doug and Anita Peters, Prairie Business Family award.