The Record selected as the business of year

ODESSA – The Odessa Record was named Business of the Year for 2019 during a Chamber of Commerce program at noon Tuesday, March 9.

The Record and Volunteer of the Year Dale Ramm received their honors a year late due to the coronavirus shutdown ordered by Gov. Jay Inslee.

That shutdown prompted the cancelation of last year's banquet. Because of the ongoing restrictions, the chamber is not planning a 2021 banquet.

The Odessa Record's award came as a big surprise owners and staff.

"I was very surprised and actually very pleased," said Terrie Schmidt-Crosby, owner, publisher and editor of The Record from 2008 to February 2020. "My staff and I worked hard throughout 2019 and tried to keep the news going in Odessa.

Schmidt-Crosby accepted the award during Tuesday's program.

"We're very appreciative of the award, and of the chamber," she said Wednesday.

Last year, the newspaper merged with Free Press Publishing, which operates seven community newspapers in five Eastern Washington counties.

Schmidt-Crosby remains editor of The Record while also contributing to other newspapers around the region, including The Davenport Times and Ritzville-Adams County Journal, among others.

"Terrie is an outstanding community editor and a strong advocate for the Odessa community and Lincoln County," Free Press Publishing Co-owner and Publisher Roger Harnack said. "She and her staff set an example for all community newspapers to follow."

Throughout 2019, the newspaper consisted of Schmidt-Crosby, Linda Goodman, Lauren Crosby and Carrie Greenwalt.

In addition to recognition for The Record, the chamber also named the now retired Ramm, previous owner of Ramm Hardware, as Volunteer of the Year.

He was unable to be present as he is currently undergoing medical treatment.

Chamber board member Michelle Melgren delivered his plaque to his wife, Kim Ramm, last week along with the organization's best wishes for both of them.

Dale was very active in 2019 installing windows in the Old Town Hall with some help from other volunteers.

Throughout the years, he has always been an avid volunteer for various community endeavors, and many chamber members believe the award is long overdue.

The awards program came during Jeff Huiras' new presidency.

In his first meeting presiding, the chamber president heard a report by Treasurer Larissa Zeiler regarding grant money received from the Lincoln County Economic Development Council for coronavirus-related expenses.

She reported her concerns about being able to spend the money by the government-imposed deadline, which resulted in a call to the council's Margie Hall, who proposed writing a letter explaining that the money would be placed in a separate savings account until such time as chamber events again became a reality and the money could be used for sanitation and health-related expenditures.

In a separate report, Huiras announced that planning for the 50th Deutschesfest anniversary celebration is under way.

Contingency plans will also be put in place to allow for any changes in pandemic-related developments.

Committees will be formed for the various aspects of the festival.

In other business, he said the Chamber's bylaws will be revised to permit a change in the meeting time to 6 p.m..

Next month's meeting will still be at noon.